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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89618-89619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26246]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Establishment of the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board and 
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Ocean Acidification Advisory 
Board and solicitation of nominations for membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 10644(6) of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act 
and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as 
amended, the Administrator of NOAA and the Subcommittee on Ocean 
Science and Technology (SOST) announce the establishment of the Ocean 
Acidification Advisory Board (OAAB). The OAAB shall provide independent 
advice and recommendations to the Interagency Working Group on Ocean 
Acidification (IWG-OA) and the SOST on matters related to Federal 
activities on ocean and coastal acidification, including understanding 
impacts and developing mitigation techniques for ecosystems and human 
communities. This notice also requests nominations for membership on 
the OAAB.

DATES: Nominations should be sent to the web address specified below 
and must be received no more than 120 days after publication of this 
notice on March 18th, 2025. This solicitation notice shall remain open 
for two years; NOAA will continue to accept applications after 120 days 
past the publication of this notice in case there are vacancies.

ADDRESSES: Nominations and applications should be submitted 
electronically to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO), OAAB, NOAA, at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dwight Gledhill, DFO, OAAB, NOAA, at 
301-734-1288 or [email protected] in the Ocean Acidification 
Program Office, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    Establishment of the OAAB implements a statutory requirement of the 
2022 CHIPS and Science Act, Public Law 117-167, sec. 10644(6), 33 
U.S.C. 3703(c). The OAAB is governed by the FACA, which sets forth 
standards for the formation and use of advisory committees. The OAAB's 
responsibilities include the following: (1) Advise the SOST and IWG-OA 
on Federal research, monitoring, and outreach activities related to 
ocean and coastal acidification, and on efforts to coordinate these 
activities among agencies; (2) Review and make recommendations to the 
SOST on the IWG-OA's biennial reports, strategic research plan, and 
ocean chemistry coastal community vulnerability assessments; (3) Advise 
the SOST and IWG-OA on the best practices for data management and 
archiving standards for ocean and coastal acidification data; and (4) 
Maintain mechanisms for engagement and coordination with Tribal 
governments. The OAAB Chair shall brief the SOST and IWG-OA on the 
progress of the OAAB as necessary or at the request of the SOST.

II. Structure

    The OAAB shall consist of 25 members appointed by the Co-Chairs of 
the SOST, as follows per the statute's requirements: (A) Two 
representatives of the shellfish, lobster, or crab industry; (B) One 
representative of the finfish industry; (C) One representative of 
seafood processors; (D) Three representatives from academia, including 
both natural and social sciences; (E) One representative of 
recreational fishing; (F) One representative of a relevant 
nongovernmental organization; (G) Six representatives from relevant 
State and local governments with policy or regulatory authorities 
related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (H) One 
representative from the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network or a 
subsequent entity that represents the same geographical region and has 
a similar purpose; (I) One representative from the California Current 
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents the same 
geographical region and has a similar purpose; (J) One representative 
from the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network or a subsequent entity 
that represents the same geographical region and has a similar purpose; 
(K) One representative from the Southeast Coastal Acidification Network 
or a subsequent entity that represents the same geographical region and 
has a similar purpose; (L) One representative from the Gulf of Mexico 
Coastal Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents 
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose; (M) One 
representative from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network or a 
subsequent entity that represents the same geographical region and has 
a similar purpose; (N) One representative from the Pacific Islands 
Ocean Observing System or a subsequent entity that represents the 
island territories and possessions of the United States in the Pacific 
Ocean, and the State of Hawaii and has a similar purpose; (O) One 
representative from the Caribbean Regional Association for Coastal 
Ocean Observing or a subsequent entity that represents Puerto Rico and 
the United States Virgin Islands and has a similar purpose; (P) One 
representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Olympic Coast Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site or a subsequent entity 
that represents the same geographical representation; (Q) One 
representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Advisory Board without a 
vote.
    Other than the NOAA ex-officio member, who will serve in the 
capacity as a Regular Government Employee

[[Page 89619]]

(RGE), members shall serve in a Representative capacity; they are, 
therefore, not Special Government Employees. As such, Representative 
members are not subject to the ethics rules applicable to Government 
employees, except that they must not misuse Government resources or 
their affiliation with the Committee for personal purposes. All members 
of the OAAB will be appointed by the Co-Chairs of the SOST for a five-
year term per the statute's requirement; members may not serve on the 
OAAB for more than two terms, which may or may not be consecutive. OAAB 
members serve at the SOST Co-Chairs' discretion. The SOST Co-Chairs 
will appoint one member to serve as the Chair and will determine the 
term of service for the Chair, which shall not exceed the member's 
appointed term of service. The OAAB will meet at least once per 
calendar year, with a preference for virtual meetings, at such times 
and places as may be designated by the OAAB Chair in consultation with 
the SOST Co-Chairs and IWG-OA Chair. If meetings are held in person, 
members, upon request, will be reimbursed for actual and reasonable 
travel and other per diem expenses incurred in performing such duties 
as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq. but will not be compensated for 
their time. As a Federal advisory committee, the OAAB's membership is 
required to be balanced in terms of viewpoints represented and the 
functions to be performed. Appointments shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, disability, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status. The SOST Co-Chairs shall ensure that an appropriate balance of 
scientific, industry, Tribal, State, and local resource managers, and 
geographical interests are represented by the members of the OAAB.

III. Nominations

    Interested persons may nominate themselves or third parties. An 
application is required to be considered for OAAB membership, 
regardless of whether a person is nominated by a third party or self-
nominated. The application package should include the individual's name 
and organizational affiliation, a brief description of the nominee's 
qualifications and interest in serving on the OAAB, which seat(s) they 
are qualified to represent from the list above, and a resume. Each 
submission should also provide the nominee's home address, business 
address, phone number(s), and email address. All nomination information 
should be provided in a single, complete package, and should be sent to 
the Designated Federal Officer of the ORAP at the electronic address 
provided above.
    Privacy Act Statement:
    Authority. The collection of information concerning nominations to 
the OAAB is authorized under section 10644(6) of the 2022 CHIPS and 
Science Act, 33 U.S.C. 3703(c), and the FACA and its implementing 
regulations, 41 CFR part 102-3, and in accordance with the Privacy Act 
of 1974, as amended, (Privacy Act) 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    Purpose. The collection of names, contact information, resumes, 
professional information, and qualifications is required in order for 
the Co-Chairs to appoint members to the OAAB.
    Routine Uses. NOAA will use the nomination information for the 
purpose set forth above. The Privacy Act of 1974 authorizes disclosure 
of the information collected to NOAA staff for work-related purposes 
and for other purposes only as set forth in the Privacy Act and for 
routine uses published in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice 
COMMERCE/DEPT-11, Candidates for Membership, Members, and Former 
Members of Department of Commerce Advisory Committees, available at 
https://www.commerce.gov/opog/privacy/SORN/SORN-DEPT-11, and the System 
of Records Notice COMMERCE/DEPT-18, Employees Personnel Files Not 
Covered by Notices of Other Agencies, available at https://www.commerce.gov/opog/privacy/SORN/SORN-DEPT-18. By submitting an 
application, the applicant consents to having this information shared 
with the SOST co-chairs. NOAA will obtain the written permission of the 
potential NOAA ex-officio member to have their information shared with 
the SOST co-chairs.
    Disclosure. Furnishing the nomination information is voluntary; 
however, if the information is not provided, the individual would not 
be considered for appointment as a member of the OAAB.

David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/CAO, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-26246 Filed 11-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P
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