Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Notices 8687

fishing vessels that participate in HMS

fisheries. Surveys and workshops will

be conducted by NMFS personnel and/

or contractors with affected fishery

participants, in order to provide

information and identify options for the

development of the management

system. NMFS, in consultation with the

AP, will develop a plan to conduct a

study on the feasibility of implementing

a comprehensive management system.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Procedures for Establishing the

Advisory Panel.

Individuals representing definable

interests in the recreational and

commercial fishing and related

industries, environmental community,

academia, governmental and quasigovernmental entities will be

considered as members of the AP.

Selection of AP members will not be

limited to those that are nominated.

Nominations are invited from all

individuals and constituent groups. The

nomination should include:

1. The name of the applicant or

nominee and a description of their

interest in or connection with HMS and

the pelagic longline fishery in

particular;

2. A statement of background and/or

qualifications;

3. A written commitment that the

applicant or nominee shall actively

participate in good faith in the tasks of

the AP.

B. Participants.

The AP shall consist of not less than

seven (7) members who are

knowledgeable about the Atlantic

pelagic longline fishery. Nominations

will be accepted to allow representation

from recreational and commercial

fishing interests, the conservation

community, and the scientific

community. NMFS does not believe that

each potentially affected organization or

individual must necessarily have its

own representative, but each interest

must be adequately represented. The

intent is to have a group that as a whole

reflects an appropriate balance and mix

of interests given the responsibilities of

the AP. Criteria for membership include

(one or more of the following): a)

Experience in or knowledge of the

commercial longline fishing industry

involved in harvesting tunas, swordfish,

or sharks; b) experience in or knowledge

of the recreational fishing industry

involved in harvesting HMS; c)

experience in connected industries

(marinas, bait and tackle shops,

processors); d) experience in the

scientific community working with

HMS; e) former or current representative

of private, regional, state, national, or

international organization representing

marine fisheries interests dealing with

HMS.

NMFS will provide the necessary

administrative support, including

technical assistance, for the AP.

However, we will be unable to

compensate participants with monetary

support of any kind because no funds

were appropriated to support this

activity in fiscal year 1997. Members

will be expected to pay for travel costs

related to the AP.

C. Tentative Schedule.

Meetings of the AP will be held twice

or thrice yearly. NMFS, in consultation

with the AP, will develop by June 1997,

a plan to conduct workshops/surveys

and results of these workshops and

surveys will be published by December

1997. A plan to conduct a feasibility

study of the comprehensive

management plan will be developed by

July 1997 and the final study will be

published and distributed by January

1998. NMFS has initially determined

that the responsibilities of the AP

members will be concluded by October

1998, as management advisory

responsibilities will be carried out by

other AP’s for swordfish, sharks,

billfish, and tunas. These AP’s will

consider any comprehensive

management plan that is developed in

consultation with this longline AP.

Dated: February 19, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4655 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 012797G]

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act;

Request for Nominations of Individuals

for the Ecosystem Research Advisory

Panel

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for

nominations.

SUMMARY: Section 406 of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens

Act) requires NMFS to establish an

advisory panel to develop

recommendations to expand the

application of ecosystem principles in

fishery conservation and management

activities. NMFS requests nominations

of qualified individuals to serve on the

advisory panel.

DATES: Nominations will be accepted

through March 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent

to Office of Science and Technology,

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver

Spring, MD 20910, ATTN: Fisheries

Ecosystem Panel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ned

Cyr, NMFS, (301) 713–2363.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

406 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as amended by the

Sustainable Fisheries Act (Public Law

104–297), requires NMFS to establish an

advisory panel, not later than April 11,

1997, to develop recommendations to

expand the application of ecosystem

principles in fishery conservation and

management activities. The panel will

consist of no more than 20 individuals

with expertise in the structures,

functions, and physical and biological

characteristics of ecosystems. The panel

will also consist of representatives from

the Regional Fishery Management

Councils, states, fishing industry,

conservation organizations, or others

with expertise in the management of

marine resources. The panel will be

required to submit a report to Congress

by October 11, 1998, which includes:

An analysis of the extent to which

ecosystem principles are being applied

in fishery conservation and management

activities, including research activities;

proposed actions by the Secretary of

Commerce and by Congress that should

be undertaken to expand the application

of ecosystem principles in fishery

conservation and management; and

such other information as may be

appropriate.

NMFS is requesting nominations of

qualified individuals to serve as

advisory panel members. Please submit

nominations of qualified individuals,

along with supporting credentials, to

NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

Dated: February 19, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4654 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Technology Innovation Challenge

Grants

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed selection

criteria, selection procedures, and

application procedures.

SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes

selection criteria, procedures for