Call for Nominations North Slope Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory Panel, Alaska, 75590-75591 [2014-29679]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75590-75591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[15X LLAK910000 L13100000.DB0000 LXSINSSI0000]


Call for Nominations North Slope Science Initiative, Science 
Technical Advisory Panel, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, North Slope Science Initiative, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations to 
serve on the North Slope Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory 
Panel (STAP). The STAP provides advice and recommendations to the North 
Slope Science Initiative Oversight Group on issues such as identifying 
and prioritizing inventory, monitoring and research needs, and 
providing other scientific information as requested by the Oversight 
Group.

DATES: All nominations must be received no later than February 2, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Lassuy, Deputy Director and 
Acting Designated Federal Officer, North Slope Science Initiative, AK-
910, c/o Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, 
Anchorage, AK 99513, 907-271-3212, or email at dlassuy@blm.gov. Persons 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a 
message or question for the above individual. The FIRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week. Replies are provided during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The legislative purpose of the North Slope 
Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory Panel is to advise the 
North Slope Science Initiative Oversight Group on issues such as 
identifying and prioritizing inventory, monitoring and research needs, 
and providing other scientific information as requested by the 
Oversight Group (Section 348, Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 
109-58). The Oversight Group membership includes the Alaska Regional 
Directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement, and National Marine Fisheries Service; the Bureau of Land 
Management Alaska State Director; the Commissioners of the Alaska 
Departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Game; the Mayor of the 
North Slope Borough; and the President of Arctic Slope Regional 
Corporation. Advisory members of the Oversight Group include the 
Regional Executive, U.S. Geological Survey; Deputy Director, U.S. 
Arctic Research Commission; Alaska Regional Director, National Weather 
Service; and the Regional Coordinator for the National Oceanographic 
and Atmospheric Administration.
    The STAP consists of a representative group of not more than 15 
scientists and technical experts from diverse professions and 
interests, including the oil and gas industry, subsistence users, 
Alaska Native entities, conservation organizations, and academia, as 
determined by the Secretary of the Interior. The members are selected 
from among, but not limited to, the following disciplines: North Slope 
traditional and local knowledge, landscape ecology, petroleum 
engineering, civil engineering, geology, sociology, cultural 
anthropology, economics, ornithology, oceanography, fisheries, marine 
biology, landscape ecology, and climatology.
    Duties of the STAP are solely advisory to the Oversight Group, 
which will provide direction regarding priorities for decisions needed 
for the management of resources on the North Slope of Alaska and the 
adjacent marine environment. Duties could include, but are not limited 
to, the following:
    a. Advise the Oversight Group on science planning and relevant 
inventory, monitoring and research projects necessary for management 
decisions;

[[Page 75591]]

    b. Advise the Oversight Group on scientific information relevant to 
the mission of the North Slope Science Initiative;
    c. Review selected reports and advise the Oversight Group on their 
content and relevance;
    d. Review ongoing scientific programs of the North Slope Science 
Initiative member organizations at the request of the membership to 
promote compatibility in methodologies and compilation of duties;
    e. Advise the Oversight Group on how to ensure scientific products 
generated through the North Slope Science Initiative activities are of 
the highest technical quality;
    f. Provide scientific advice as requested by the Oversight Group; 
and,
    g. Coordinate with groups, committees and sub-committees as 
requested by the Oversight Group.

Qualifications and Procedures Required for Nomination

    All membership will consist of individuals with a minimum of 5 
years of work experience in Alaska in their field of expertise. Work 
experience in the North Slope is preferred. Individuals will be 
selected from among, but not limited to, those disciplines and entities 
described above. Any individual or organization may nominate one or 
more persons, including themselves, to serve on the Science Technical 
Advisory Panel. Members will be appointed for 3-year terms. Current 
Science Technical Advisory Panel appointees may be reappointed for 
additional terms at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. 
Under current Administration policy, federally registered lobbyists may 
not serve on the panel.

How to Nominate

    Nomination forms may be obtained from the North Slope Science 
Initiative Web site (https://www.northslope.org), or from the Deputy 
Director, North Slope Science Initiative (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT, above). To make a nomination, or to self-nominate, submit a 
completed nomination form with a minimum of one letter of reference 
that describes the nominee's qualifications to serve on the STAP. The 
professional discipline the nominee would represent should be 
identified in the reference letter of nomination and in the nomination 
form. Nominees may be scientists and technical experts from diverse 
professions and interests, including, but not limited to, oil and gas 
industry, subsistence users, Alaska Native entities, conservation 
organizations or academia. Nominees appointed to serve on the STAP will 
serve only in their professional capacity and will not serve to 
represent any group, agency or entity with whom they may be affiliated.
    The Deputy Director, North Slope Science Initiative, will collect 
the nomination forms and letters of reference and distribute them to 
the Oversight Group for consideration. The collective recommendations 
of the Oversight Group will be submitted to the Secretary of the 
Interior, who has the responsibility for making appointments.
    Members of the STAP will serve without monetary compensation, but 
will be reimbursed for travel, lodging and per diem expenses to 
participate in announced meetings.
Certification:
    I hereby certify the Science Technical Advisory Panel is necessary 
and in the public interest in connection with the Secretary of the 
Interior's responsibilities, and in compliance with Section 348, Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58).

    Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4-1.

Ted A. Murphy,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-29679 Filed 12-17-14; 8:45 am]
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