[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50300-50301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25313]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 970624154-7154-01]
RIN 0648-ZA30


Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship National Sea Grant 
College Federal Fellows Program

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that applications may be submitted for a 
Fellowship program which was initiated by the National Sea Grant 
College Program Office (NSGCPO), in fulfilling its broad educational 
responsibilities, to provide educational experience in the policies and 
processes of the Legislative and Executive Branches of the Federal 
Government to graduate students in marine related fields. The 
Fellowship program accepts applications once a year during the month of 
September. All applicants must submit an application to one of the 
state Sea Grant College Programs in their area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information and brochures can be 
obtained from Dr. Shirley J. Fiske, Director, National Sea Grant 
Federal Fellows Program, National Sea Grant College Program, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, telephone (301) 713-2431 
extension 148 or call your nearest Sea Grant program:

University of Alaska--(907) 474-7086
University of California--(619) 534-4440
University of Connecticut--(860) 405-9128
University of Delaware--(302) 831-2841
University of Florida--(352) 392-5870
University of Georgia--(706) 542-6009
University of Hawaii--(808) 956-7031
University of Illinois--(317) 494-3593
Louisiana State University--(504) 388-6710
University of Maine--(207) 581-1436
University of Maryland--(301) 405-6371
Massachusetts Institute of Technology--(617) 253-7131
University of Michigan--(313) 763-1437
University of Minnesota--(218) 726-8106
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium--(601) 875-9341
University of New Hampshire--(603) 862-3505
New Jersey Marine Science Consortium--(908) 872-1300
State University of New York--(516) 632-6905
University of North Carolina--(919) 515-2454
The Ohio State University--(614) 292-8949
Oregon State University--(541) 737-3396
University of Puerto Rico--(787) 832-3585
Purdue University--(317) 494-3593
University of Rhode Island--(401) 874-6800
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium--(803) 727-2078
University of Southern California--(213) 740-1961
Texas A&M University--(409) 845-3854
Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium--(804) 924-5965
University of Washington--(206) 543-6600
University of Wisconsin--(608) 262-0905
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute--(508) 457-2000 ext. 2665

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of the Fellowship Program

    In 1979, the National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGCPO), in 
fulfilling its broad educational responsibilities, initiated a program 
to provide educational experience in the policies and processes of the 
Legislative and Executive Branches of the Federal Government to 
graduate students in marine related fields. The U.S. Congress 
recognized the value of this program and in 1987, Public Law 100-220 
stipulated that the Sea Grant Federal Fellows Program was to be a 
formal part of the National Sea Grant College Program Act. The 
recipients are designated Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows 
pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 1127(b).

Announcement

    Fellows program announcements are sent annually to all 
participating Sea Grant institutions and campuses by the state Sea 
Grant Director upon receipt of notice from the National Sea Grant 
College Program Office (NSGCPO). A brochure describing the program is 
also available from the NSGCPO for distribution by both that office and 
the state Sea Grant programs.

Eligibility

    Any student who, on September 30, 1998, is in a master's, doctoral 
or professional program in a marine related field from any accredited 
institution of higher education may apply to the NSGCPO through any 
state Sea Grant program. NOAA makes financial assistance funds 
available to the National Sea Grant Colleges to implement the 
fellowship program. The National Sea Grant College Program is listed in 
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under number 11.417: Sea 
Grant Support.

Deadlines

    Students applications must be obtained from and submitted with 
their signature (no copies required) to the state Sea Grant Director, 
who will be the applicant's sponsor, by the date set by the Directors 
in their individual program announcement (usually early to mid-
September).
    Applications are to be submitted to the NSGCPO by the sponsoring 
state Sea Grant Director, no later than close of business on September 
30th of any given year. The competitive selection process and 
subsequent notification will be completed by October 31st of any given 
year.

Stipend and Expenses

    For 1998 a Fellow will receive an award of $30,000 which is 
distributed between salary (stipend) and living expenses in accordance 
with University guidelines. Other expenses covered are travel, moving 
costs, health insurance and institutional overhead.

Application

    An application will include:

Personal and academic resume or curriculum vitae.
Personal education and career goal statement which emphasizes 
expectations from the experience in the way of career development.
(not to exceed 2 pages)

No more than two letters of recommendation with at least one being from 
the student's major professor.
A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring state Sea Grant Director.
Copy of undergraduate and graduate student transcripts.

    Thesis papers are not desired.
    It is our intent that all applicants be evaluated only on their 
ability, therefore letters of endorsements from members of Congress, 
friends, relatives or others will not be considered. Placement 
preference in the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Government 
may be stated, and will be honored to the extent possible.

Selection Criteria

    The selection criteria will include:

Strength of Academic Performance.
Communications Skills (both written and oral).
Diversity of Academic Background.

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Work Experience.
Support of Major Professor.
Support of Sea Grant Director.
Ability to Work with People.

Selection

    Applicants will be individually reviewed and ranked by a panel 
chaired by the Director of Federal Fellowships of the NSGCPO and 
include representation from: (1) The Council of Sea Grant Directors, 
(2) the Office of the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, and (3) the current and possibly last past group 
of Fellows. The individuals representative of these groups will be 
chosen on a year by year basis according to availability, timing, and 
other exigencies. Selection of finalists by the panel will be done by 
the Panel Chair according to the criteria outlined above. After 
selection, the panel chair will group applicants into the two 
categories, legislative and executive, based upon the applicant's 
stated preference and/or judgment of the panel based upon material 
submitted. The number of fellows assigned to the Congress will be 
limited to 10.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Fellows receive funds directly from the National Sea Grant Colleges 
and are considered to be subrecipients of federal assistance subject to 
all Federal laws and Federal and Commerce policies, regulations, and 
procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award of Federal funds shall be made to a Fellow applicant who 
has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt or fine until either:
    a. The delinquent account is paid in full,
    b. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received, or
    c. Other arrangements satisfactory to Commerce are made.

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts.
    Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for 
purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    This document contains a collection-of-information requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of this 
information has been approved by OMB under control number 0648-0294. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to 
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

    Dated: July 15, 1997.
Elbert W. Friday,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. 97-25313 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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