2012-30926. Hydrographic Services Review Panel

AGENCY:

National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of membership solicitation for Hydrographic Services Review Panel.

SUMMARY:

This notice responds to the Hydrographic Service Improvements Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107-372, which requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to solicit nominations (on a yearly basis) for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP). The HSRP, a Federal advisory committee, advises the Administrator on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (as amended) and such other appropriate matters as the Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. The Act states, “the voting members of the Panel shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more of the disciplines and fields relating to hydrographic data and hydrographic services, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, coastal and fishery management, and other disciplines as determined appropriate by the Administrator.” The NOAA Administrator is seeking to broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel and encourages individuals with expertise in navigation data, products and services; coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-related fields to apply for Panel membership. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants should submit a current resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. A cover letter highlighting specific areas of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Panel is helpful, but not required. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

DATES:

Resume application materials should be sent to the address, email, or fax specified and must be received by January 31, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit resume for Panel membership to Kathy Watson via mail, fax, or email. Mail: Kathy Watson, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm 6126, Silver Spring, MD, 20910; Fax: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]; or [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Watson, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm 6126, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910; Telephone: [phone] x158, Fax: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]; or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under 33 U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) is responsible for providing nautical charts and related information for safe navigation. NOS collects and compiles hydrographic, tidal and current, geodetic, and a variety of other data in order to fulfill this responsibility. The HSRP provides advice on current and emerging oceanographic and marine science technologies relating to operations, research and development; and dissemination of data pertaining to:

(A) Hydrographic surveying;

(b) Shoreline surveying;

(C) Nautical charting;

(d) Water level measurements;

(e) Current measurements;

(f) Geodetic measurements;

(g) Geospatial measurements;

(h) Geomagnetic measurements; and

(i) Other oceanographic/marine related sciences.

The Panel has fifteen voting members appointed by the NOAA Administrator in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 892c. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. The Co-Directors of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center and two other NOAA employees serve as nonvoting members of the Panel. The Director, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO).

Although there are no current vacancies on the HSRP at this time, this solicitation seeks to update the current pool of candidate applications for consideration of appointment for potential future vacancies on the Panel.

Voting members are individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more disciplines relating to hydrographic surveying, tides, currents, geodetic and geospatial measurements, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, coastal or fishery management, and other oceanographic or marine science areas as deemed appropriate by the Administrator. Full-time officers or employees of the United States may not be appointed as a voting member. Any voting member of the Panel who is an applicant for, or beneficiary of (as determined by the Administrator) any assistance under 33 U.S.C. 892c shall disclose to the Panel that relationship, and may not vote on any other matter pertaining to that assistance.

Voting members of the Panel serve a four-year term, except that vacancy appointments are for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy. Members serve at the discretion of the Administrator and are subject to government ethics standards. Any individual appointed to a partial or full term may be reappointed for one additional full term. A voting member may serve until his or her successor has taken office. The Panel selects one voting member to serve as the Chair and another to serve as the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair but will not automatically become the Chair if the Chair resigns. Meetings occur at least twice a year, and at the call of the Chair or upon the request of a majority of the voting members or of the Administrator. Voting members receive compensation at a rate established by the Administrator, not to exceed the maximum daily rate payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, when engaged in performing duties for the Panel. Members are reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in performing such duties.

Individuals Selected for Panel Membershp

Upon selection and agreement to serve on the HSRP Panel, you become a Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. 18 U.S.C. 202(a) an SGE (s) is an officer or employee of an agency who is retained, designated, appointed, or employed to perform temporary duties, with or without compensation, not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days, either on a fulltime or intermittent basis. Please be aware that after the selection process is complete, applicants selected to serve on the Panel must complete the following actions before they can be appointed as a Panel member:

(a) Security Clearance (on-line Background Security Check process and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce Management); and

(b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report—As an SGE, you are required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. You may find the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following Web site. http://www.usoge.gov/​forms/​form_​450.aspx

Dated: December 12, 2012.

Rear Admiral Gerd F. Glang,

NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.