[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4592]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 020697A]


Formation of Advisory Panels for National Academy of Sciences 
Study on Individual Fishing Quotas

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS is accepting nominations for 
two advisory panels for an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) study to be 
conducted by the National Academy of Sciences' National Research 
Council (NRC). This action is taken to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended by the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act of 1996.

DATES: Interested parties should submit a statement of interest by 
March 24, 1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific details 
about the statement.

ADDRESS: Send statements of interest to the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD, 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Gautam, NMFS, Office of Science 
and Technology. Telephone: (301)713-2328.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended by the 
Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, mandates that ``The Secretary of 
Commerce shall, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, 
the Councils, the fishing industry, affected States, conservation 
organizations and other interested persons, establish two individual 
fishing quota review groups to assist in the preparation of the report, 
which shall represent: (A) Alaska, Hawaii, and the other Pacific 
coastal States; and (B) Atlantic coastal States and the Gulf of Mexico 
coastal States. The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, achieve 
a balanced representation of viewpoints among the individuals on each 
review group * * *'' Therefore, NMFS is establishing two advisory 
panels, one serving the East coast and one serving the West coast.
    The East and Wast coast panels will be comprised of no more than 
fifteen members each. Members of the panels will serve as technical 
advisors to the NRC committee with respect to any issues relating to 
IFQ implementation. Members may give expert testimony at the public 
hearings on IFQs. Members may also be asked to assist in the 
facilitation of NOAA's public hearings in terms of developing questions 
to be asked at the hearings and in guiding the discussions. Members 
will be expected to attend one public hearing or one public NRC meeting 
on IFQs but will not be asked to attend NRC committee meetings. No 
other meetings are anticipated for the advisory panels. There is no 
compensation for membership on an advisory panel. NMFS will pay for the 
travel of each advisory panel member to one public hearing or one NRC 
public meeting on IFQs. Finally, the advisory panels will serve as an 
``information clearinghouse.''
    Interested parties should submit a statement of interest. The 
statement should include a description of the nominee's background and 
experience, particularly with respect to IFQs; current occupation and 
position; reasons for wishing to participate on an advisory panel; and 
a statement identifying why the nominee should be considered for 
membership on an advisory panel. Interested parties need not include 
additional letters of support or sponsorship other than their own self-
nominating statements. NMFS will announce the selection of advisory 
panel members no later than April 14, 1997.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4592 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
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