[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9210-9211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3697]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB003
International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of nominations.
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SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for two individuals to serve as
United States Commissioners to the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC). This action is necessary to ensure that the
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the
Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect
of this action is to improve transparency and stakeholder participation
in the nomination process.
DATES: Nominations must be received by March 19, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to the IPHC should be
made in writing to Mr. Patrick E. Moran, Office of International
Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, at 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations can also be sent via fax (301-713-
2313) or email ([email protected]).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick E. Moran, (301) 427-8370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization
established pursuant to the Convention between Canada and the United
States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific
Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The Convention was signed at Ottawa,
Ontario, on March 2, 1953, and was amended by a Protocol Amending the
Convention signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979. The
Convention's central objective is to develop the stocks of Pacific
halibut in waters off the west coasts of Canada and the United States
to levels that will permit the optimum yield from the Pacific halibut
fishery
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and to maintain the stocks at those levels. The IPHC fulfills this
objective in part by recommending Pacific halibut fishery conservation
and management measures for approval by the United States and Canada.
Pursuant to the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Secretary of
State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce, may accept or
reject, on behalf of the United States, conservation and management
measures recommended by the IPHC. 16 U.S.C. 773b. Measures accepted by
the Secretary of State are adopted as binding regulations governing
fishing for Pacific halibut in Convention waters of the United States.
16 U.S.C. 773c(b)(1). More information on the IPHC can be found at
http://www.iphc.int.
Section 773a of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (16 U.S.C.
773a) requires that the United States be represented on the IPHC by
three U.S. Commissioners. U.S. Commissioners are appointed for a term
not to exceed 2 years, but are eligible for reappointment. Of the
Commissioners:
(1) One must be an official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and
(2) two must be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the
Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these, one must be a resident of
Alaska and the other shall be a nonresident of Alaska. Of the three
commissioners described in paragraphs (1) and (2), one must also be a
voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
(3) Commissioners who are not Federal employees are not considered
to be Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation
or tort claims liability as provided in section 8101 et seq. of title 5
and section 2671 et seq. of title 28.
In their official IPHC duties, Commissioners represent the
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the
Pacific halibut fishery. These duties require a modest amount of travel
(typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a week), and
travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of State. Commissioners
receive no compensation for their services.
Nomination Process
The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently accepting nominations
for two U.S. Commissioners for the IPHC who are not officials of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Successful
nominees will be considered for appointment by the President and
(pending Presidential action) interim designation by the Department of
State.
Nomination packages should provide details of an individual's
knowledge and experience in the Pacific halibut fishery. Examples of
such knowledge and/or experience could include (but are not limited to)
such activities as: Participation in commercial, tribal, Community
Development Quota (CDQ) and/or sport and charterboat halibut fishing
operations; participation in halibut processing operations; and
participation in Pacific halibut management activities.
Nomination packages should document an individual's qualifications
and state of residence. Self-nominations are acceptable, and current
and former IPHC Commissioners are eligible for reappointment.
R[eacute]sum[eacute]s, curriculum vitae, and/or letters of
recommendation are useful but not required. Nomination packages will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis by officials in the Department of
Commerce who are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of IPHC
Commissioners; evaluations will consider the aggregate of an
individual's prior experience and knowledge of the Pacific halibut
fishery, residency requirements, and any letters of recommendation
provided. Nominees will be notified of their status (including
rejection or approval) and any need for further information once the
nomination process is complete.
Dated: February 10, 2012.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3697 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
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