### 42297 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / Notices

Impact on Availability of Affected Species or Stock for Taking for Subsistence Uses

No tribal subsistence hunts are held in the vicinity of the project area; thus, temporary behavioral impacts to individual animals will not affect any subsistence activity. Further, no population or stock level impacts to marine mammals are anticipated or authorized. As a result, no impacts to the availability of the species or stock to the Pacific Northwest treaty tribes are expected as a result of the activities. Therefore, no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals are implicated by this action. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

There is one ESA-listed marine mammal species with known occurrence in the project area: The Eastern DPS of the Steller sea lion, listed as threatened. Because of the potential presence of Steller sea lions, the Navy engaged in a formal consultation with the NMFS Northwest Regional Office under Section 7 of the ESA. We also initiated separate consultation with our Northwest Regional Office because of our proposal to authorize the incidental take of Steller sea lions. The Biological Opinion associated with that consultation concluded that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Steller sea lion or the humpback whale, and includes an Incidental Take Statement for the Steller sea lion. The Steller sea lion does not have critical habitat in the action area. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The Navy has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement and issued a Record of Decision for this project. We acted as a cooperating agency in the preparation of that document, and have reviewed the EIS and the public comments received and determined that preparation of any additional NEPA analysis is not necessary. We subsequently adopted the Navy’s EIS and issued our own Record of Decision. The Navy EIS is available for public review at www.nbkeis.com.

Authorization

As a result of these determinations, we have issued an IHA to the Navy to conduct the described activities in the Hood Canal from the period of July 16, 2012, through February 15, 2013, provided the previously described mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. Dated: July 11, 2012. Helen M. Golde, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–17488 Filed 7–17–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3510–22–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**Meeting of the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council**  **(MFRC)**

**AGENCY :**  Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  Pursuant to Section 10(a), Public Law 92–463, as amended, notice is hereby given of a forthcoming meeting of the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council (MFRC). The purpose of the Council meeting is to review the military family programs which will be the focus for the Council for next year, and address selected concerns of military family organizations.

The meeting is open to the public, subject to the availability of space. Persons desiring to attend may contact Ms. Melody McDonald at 571–372–0880 or email FamilyReadinessCouncil@osd.mil no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 to arrange for parking and escort into the conference room inside the Pentagon.

Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Council. Persons desiring to submit a written statement to the Council must notify the point of contact listed in **FOR**
**FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT** no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 9,
2012.

**DATES :**  August 15, 2012, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  Pentagon Conference Center B6 (escorts will be provided from the Pentagon Metro entrance).

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Ms. Melody McDonald or Ms. Betsy Graham, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary (Military Community & Family Policy), 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350–2300, Room 3G15. Telephones (571) 372–0880; (571) 372–0881 and/or email: FamilyReadinessCouncil@osd.mil.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Meeting agenda. Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Welcome & Administrative Remarks Review and Comment on Council Action from December meeting Priority Areas Briefings Closing Remarks

Note: Exact order may vary.

Dated: July 13, 2012. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012–17458 Filed 7–17–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Navy**

**Meeting of the Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel** 

**AGENCY :**  Department of the Navy, DoD.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Open Meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  The Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel will hold a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.

**DATES :**  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Thursday, August 16, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Members of the public should submit their comments in advance of the meeting to the meeting Point of Contact.

**ADDRESSES :**  The meeting will be held at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, 1201 New York Avenue NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 2005.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Joan S. Cleveland, Office of Naval Research, 875 North Randolph Street Suite 1425, Arlington, VA 22203–1995, telephone 703–696–4532.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This notice of open meeting is provided in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). The meeting will include discussions on ocean research, resource management, and other current issues in the ocean science and management communities.

J.M. Beal, Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–17438 Filed 7–17–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**National Petroleum Council**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.


### 42298 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2012 / Notices

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a meeting of the National Petroleum Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register

. **DATES :**  Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (EST)

**ADDRESSES :**  St. Regis Hotel, 923 16th and K Streets NW., Washington, DC
20006.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Nancy Johnson, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas (FE–30), Washington, DC 20585; telephone (202) 586–5600 or facsimile (202) 586–6221.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of the Committee: To provide advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters relating to oil and natural gas, or the oil and natural gas industries.

Tentative Agenda:

• Call to Order and Introductory Remarks

• Consideration of the Proposed Final Report of the NPC Committee on Future Transportation Fuels

• Introductory Remarks by the Honorable Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy

• Remarks by the Honorable Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy

• Administrative Matters

• Discussion of Any Other Business Properly Brought Before the National Petroleum Council

• Adjournment Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. The Chair of the Council will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements pertaining to agenda items should contact Ms. Nancy Johnson at the address or telephone number listed above. Request for oral statements must be received at least three days prior to the meeting. Those not able to attend the meeting or having insufficient time to address the Council are invited to send a written
statement to info@npc.org. Any member of the public who wishes to file a written statement to the Council will be permitted to do so, either before or after the meeting.

Additionally, the meeting will also be available via live video webcast. The link will be available at http://www.npc.
org.

Minutes: Transcripts of the meeting will be available by contacting Ms. Johnson at the address above, or info@npc.org. Issued at Washington, DC, on July 11,
2012. LaTanya Butler, Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–17396 Filed 7–17–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** 

**Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee** 

**AGENCY :**  Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment as a Member of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nominations for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Technical Advisory Committee).

**DATES :**  The deadline for nominations for members will be accepted on or before August 9, 2012.

**ADDRESSES :**  The nominations must include name, a resume, biography, and any letters of support and are to be submitted via one of the following methods:

(1) Email to elliott.levine@ee.doe.gov. (2) Overnight delivery service to: Elliott Levine, Designated Federal Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE–2E, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Elliott Levine, Designated Federal Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail Stop EE–2E,1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586–1476; Email: elliott.levine@ee.doe.gov.

Committee’s Web site: http:// biomassboard.gov/committee/ committee.html.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (Biomass Act) [Pub. L. 106–224] requires cooperation and coordination in biomass research and development (R&D) between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Biomass Act was repealed and replaced in June 2008 by Section 9008 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) [Pub. L. 110–246, 122 Stat. 1651, enacted June 18, 2008, H.R. 6124].

FCEA section 9008(d) established the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee and lays forth its meetings, coordination, duties, terms, and membership types. The Committee must meet quarterly and should not duplicate the efforts of other Federal advisory committees. Meetings are typically two days in duration. Three meetings are held in the Washington, DC area and the fourth is held at a site to be determined each year. Members of the Committee serve without compensation; however, each appointed member may be reimbursed for authorized travel and per diem expenses incurred while attending committee meetings, in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.

The Committee advises the DOE and USDA points of contact with respect to the Biomass R&D Initiative (Initiative) and also makes written recommendations to the Biomass R&D Board (Board). Those recommendations regard whether: (A) Initiative funds are distributed and used consistent with Initiative objectives; (B) solicitations are open and competitive with awards made annually; (C) objectives and evaluation criteria of the solicitations are clear; and (D) the points of contact are funding proposals selected on the basis of merit, and determined by an independent panel of qualified peers.

The Committee members may serve up to two, three-year terms and must include: (A) An individual affiliated with the biofuels industry; (B) an individual affiliated with the biobased industrial and commercial products industry; (C) an individual affiliated with an institution of higher education that has expertise in biofuels and biobased products; (D) two prominent engineers or scientists from government or academia that have expertise in biofuels and biobased products; (E) an individual affiliated with a commodity trade association; (F) two individuals affiliated with environmental or conservation organizations; (G) an individual associated with State government who has expertise in biofuels and biobased products; (H) an individual with expertise in energy and environmental analysis; (I) an individual with expertise in the economics of biofuels and biobased products; (J) an individual with expertise in agricultural economics; (K) an individual with expertise in plant biology and biomass feedstock development; (L) an individual with