Document ID: USCG-2016-1050-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Notice
Title: Towing Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies
Posted Date: 2017-01-23T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7845-7846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01324]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2016-1050]

Towing Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the 
Towing Safety Advisory Committee. This Committee advises the Secretary 
of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to shallow 
draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.

DATES: Completed applications should reach the Coast Guard on or before 
March 9, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Applicants should send a cover letter expressing interest in 
an appointment to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee that also 
identifies which membership category the applicant is applying under, 
along with a resume detailing the applicant's experience via one of the 
following methods:
     By Email: William.J.Abernathy@uscg.mil
     By Fax: 202-372-8379 ATTN: William Abernathy
     By Mail: William J. Abernathy, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer, Commandant (CG-OES-2), U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 
2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Abernathy, Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer of the Towing Safety Advisory Committee; 
Telephone 202-372-1363; or Email at William.J.Abernathy@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Towing Safety Advisory Committee is a 
federal advisory committee which operates under the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, (Title 5, United States Code, 
Appendix). It was established under authority of the Act to establish a 
Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of Transportation, 
(Pub. L. 96-380), which was recently amended by section 621 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, (Pub. L. 111-281). The Committee 
advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to 
shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. 
This advice also assists the Coast Guard in formulating the position of 
the United States regarding the towing industry in advance of 
International Maritime Organization meetings.
    It is expected that the committee will meet at least twice a year 
either in the Washington, DC, area or in cities with large towing 
centers of commerce and populated by high concentrations of towing 
industry and related businesses. It may also meet for extraordinary 
purposes. Its subcommittees may also meet to consider specific tasks as 
required. The Committee and its subcommittees may conduct 
intercessional telephonic meetings when necessary, in response to 
specific U.S. Coast Guard tasking.
    Each Towing Safety Advisory Committee member serves a term of 
office of up to 3 years. Members may be considered to serve an 
additional consecutive term. All members serve without compensation 
from the Federal Government; however, upon request, they may receive 
travel reimbursement and per diem.
    We will consider applications for the following seven positions. 
The first position listed is currently vacant, and the rest will become 
vacant on September 30, 2017:
    1. One position representing the holders of active licensed Masters 
of towing vessels in offshore service;
    2. Two positions representing the Barge and Towing Industry 
(reflecting a regional geographical balance);
    3. One position representing port districts, port authorities or 
terminal operators;
    4. One position representing holders of active licensed Masters or 
Pilots of towing vessels with experience on the Western Rivers and the 
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway;
    5. One position representing active Masters of ship-docking or 
harbor towing vessels; and,
    6. One position drawn from the general public.
    To be eligible, applicants should have particular expertise, 
knowledge, and experience regarding shallow-draft inland, coastal 
waterway navigation, offshore navigation, and towing safety.
    Registered lobbyists are not eligible to serve on federal advisory 
committees in an individual capacity. See ``Revised Guidance on 
Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards and 
Commissions'' (79 FR 47482, August 13, 2014). The position we list for 
a member from the general public would be someone appointed in their 
individual capacity and would be designated as a Special Government 
Employee as defined in 202(a), Title 18, U.S.C. Registered lobbyists 
are lobbyists as defined in 2 U.S.C. 1602 who are required by 2 U.S.C. 
1603 to register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives.
    If you are selected as a member drawn from the general public, you 
will be appointed and serve as a Special Government Employee as defined 
in section 202(a) of Title 18, United States Code. As a candidate for 
appointment as a Special Government Employee, applicants are required 
to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450). 
The Coast Guard may not release the reports or the information in them 
to the public except under an order issued by a Federal court or as 
otherwise provided under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Only the 
Designated Coast Guard Ethics Official or his or her designee may 
release a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Applicants can 
obtain this form by going to the Web site of the Office of Government 
Ethics (www.oge.gov), or by contacting the individual listed above in 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Applications for a member drawn from 
the general public that are not accompanied by a completed OGE Form 450 
will not be considered.
    In an effort to maintain a geographic balance of membership, we are 
encouraging representatives from tug and barge companies operating on 
the Western Rivers to apply for representation on the Committee.
    The Department of Homeland Security does not discriminate in 
selection of Committee members on the basis of race, color, religion, 
sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender 
identity, marital status, disabilities and genetic information, age, 
membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factor. 
The Department of Homeland Security strives to achieve a

[[Page 7846]]

widely diverse candidate pool for all of its recruitment selections.
    If you are interested in applying to become a member of the 
Committee, send your cover letter and resume to William J. Abernathy, 
Alternate Designated Federal Officer of the Towing Safety Advisory 
Committee via one of the transmittal methods in the ADDRESSES section 
by the deadline in the DATES section of this notice. All email 
submittals will receive email receipt confirmation.

    Dated: December 19, 2016.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2017-01324 Filed 1-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P