General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures, 79461-79462 [2016-27294]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF014 General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission; Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: On May 27, 2016, the General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission adopted the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures (SOPP) as set forth. The General Advisory Committee may revise or amend the SOPP in future meetings. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS, West Coast Region, (562) 980–4036. SUMMARY: Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures I. Authority The General Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is established pursuant to Section 4 of the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA; 16 U.S.C. 953). mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES II. Committee Organization A. Objectives and Scope of Activities The purpose of the Committee shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the U.S. National Section of the IATTC (U.S. Section) with respect to the U.S. participation in the work of the IATTC, with particular reference to development of U.S. policies, positions, and negotiating tactics. The U.S. Section consists of the four U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, who represent the United States with advisors from the U.S. Department of State, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and other agencies of the U.S. Government. NMFS and U.S. Department of State representatives will be acting for the Secretaries of Commerce and State, respectively, to fulfill duties described in this Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures. B. Support Services NMFS and the Secretary of State shall furnish the Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and international fishery agreements. NMFS VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Nov 10, 2016 Jkt 241001 shall provide to the Committee in a timely manner such administrative and technical support services as are necessary for its effective functioning. Executive Secretariat. NMFS shall provide an Executive Secretariat for each meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall approve and attend all meetings and shall advise the Chair to adjourn, or shall herself/ himself adjourn, any meeting when in the public interest. The Executive Secretariat will prepare an agenda and circulate it amongst Committee members in advance of the meeting for feedback and approve the agenda. The Executive Secretariat shall ensure that the minutes of each meeting are prepared, of which the accuracy shall be certified by the Chair. The Executive Secretariat will also maintain copies of all reports the Committee receives, issues, or approves. C. Procedures The Committee shall determine its organization and prescribe its practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under the TCA, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Antigua Convention. The Committee shall publish and make available to the public a statement of its organization, practices, and procedures. D. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports The Committee shall report, either orally or in writing, to NMFS, U.S. Department of State, and to the U.S. Section. III. Membership and Terms A. Membership The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint the members of the Committee. Committee composition. The Committee shall have no fewer than 5, or no more than 25, individuals, and the ex-officio members will be counted towards the total number of individuals. The Committee shall be representative of the various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Antigua Convention, including nongovernmental conservation organizations, providing an equitable balance among such groups to the maximum extent practicable. Ex-officio members. The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the Chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel shall be ex- PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 79461 officio members of the Committee by virtue of their positions with those Councils. B. Appointment Terms Each member of the Committee shall serve for a term of three years and is eligible for reappointment. IV. Officers and Terms of Office A. Committee Chair and Vice-Chair Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Chair for a term of 3 years. Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Vice-Chair for a term of 3 years. Each Chair shall be eligible for reappointment for up to 2 terms as Chair. Similarly, each Vice-Chair shall be eligible for reappointment for up to 2 terms as Vice-Chair. If a vacancy occurs, the Committee shall appoint a Chair or Vice-Chair to serve the remainder of the term; such service shall not count toward the term limits. V. Subcommittee A. Subcommittee NMFS shall appoint a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to advise the Committee, pursuant to Section 4 of the TCA. VI. Administrative Matters A. Meetings All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public, except when in executive session, which shall be closed to the public. Officers of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Coast Guard, and representatives of any other agencies of the U.S. Government responsible for matters pertaining to fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean may attend and participate in all meetings of the Committee. Sensitive information, including discussion of the U.S. negotiating position for upcoming IATTC meetings, other than input from the public, may be discussed in executive session. NMFS shall be responsible for providing notice of meetings to the public in a timely fashion. The Committee is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). B. Number and Frequency of Meetings The Committee shall meet at least once per year. If sufficient funds are available, one of the Committee meetings shall be an in-person meeting. All meetings shall be called by the Executive Secretariat, subject to the approval of the Commissioner who is also a full-time employee of the U.S. Government. There shall be no requirement of a quorum. E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1 79462 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices C. Attendance in U.S. Delegation The Committee shall be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. delegation and at such meetings shall be given opportunity to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the IATTC. Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to such limits as may be placed on the size of the delegation. D. Closed Meetings Executive sessions of the Committee shall be closed to the public, and all discussion occurring in these sessions shall not be disclosed publicly unless otherwise specified by an appropriate U.S. Government official. The Committee may choose to invite the Subcommittee members that are not also Committee members to executive sessions of the Committee. Below are examples of when the Committee may go into executive sessions: a. The Committee is considering the U.S. negotiating position prior or subsequent to international meetings. b. The Committee is being briefed on litigation in which the Committee is interested. c. The Committee is discussing internal operational matters. To the extent practicable, notice of closed sessions on matters of substance should be included in the Federal Register notice announcing the Committee meeting. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES E. Duration The Committee is a statutory body and may be terminated only by law. 17:26 Nov 10, 2016 Jkt 241001 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. Dated: November 8, 2016. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–27294 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE984 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 50 Pre-Data Workshop Webinar. AGENCY: The SEDAR 50 assessment of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stock of Blueline Tilefish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: Stock Identification (ID) Work Group Meeting; Data Workshop; Assessment Workshop and Webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The SEDAR 50 Pre-Data Workshop Webinar will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meetings will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. SUMMARY: F. Recordkeeping The Executive Secretariat shall prepare the minutes of each meeting, which shall at a minimum contain: (1) A record of all persons present; (2) the names of persons from the public who attend the meeting and their interests or affiliations; (3) a description of matters and materials discussed and conclusions reached and the rationale for same; and (4) copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall distribute the minutes to the Committee members for their review. The Chair of the Committee shall certify the accuracy of all minutes of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall endeavor to provide any draft U.S. IATTC proposals to the Committee members at least five days prior to the meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall provide a summary of any available information VerDate Sep<11>2014 from bilateral or multilateral meetings between the United States and other nations to the Committee members. The records for the Committee and any working group will be handled in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 205–1 governing the NOAA Records Management Program. Such records will be available for public inspection and copying, to the extent required by 5 U.S.C. 552. The Executive Secretariat shall ensure that all records and other written materials are maintained and available for inspection to the extent required by law. PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Charleston, SC 29405; www.sedarweb.org. Julia Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; phone: (843) 571– 4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a threestep process including: (1) Data Workshop; (2) Assessment Process utilizing webinars; and (3) Review Workshop. The product of the Data Workshop is a data report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses. The product of the Assessment Process is a stock assessment report which describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The assessment is independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The product of the Review Workshop is a Summary documenting panel opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include: data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); international experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The items of discussion at the SEDAR 50 Pre-Data Workshop webinar are as follows: Participants will continue to discuss data needs and treatments in order to prepare for the Data Workshop. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79461-79462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27294]



[[Page 79461]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF014


General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Statement of Organization, 
Practices, and Procedures

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On May 27, 2016, the General Advisory Committee to the United 
States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission adopted 
the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures (SOPP) as set 
forth. The General Advisory Committee may revise or amend the SOPP in 
future meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS, West Coast 
Region, (562) 980-4036.

Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures

I. Authority

    The General Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to 
the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is established 
pursuant to Section 4 of the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA; 16 U.S.C. 953).

II. Committee Organization

A. Objectives and Scope of Activities
    The purpose of the Committee shall be to serve in an advisory 
capacity to the U.S. National Section of the IATTC (U.S. Section) with 
respect to the U.S. participation in the work of the IATTC, with 
particular reference to development of U.S. policies, positions, and 
negotiating tactics. The U.S. Section consists of the four U.S. 
Commissioners to the IATTC, who represent the United States with 
advisors from the U.S. Department of State, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), and other agencies of the U.S. Government. 
NMFS and U.S. Department of State representatives will be acting for 
the Secretaries of Commerce and State, respectively, to fulfill duties 
described in this Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures.
B. Support Services
    NMFS and the Secretary of State shall furnish the Committee with 
relevant information concerning fisheries and international fishery 
agreements. NMFS shall provide to the Committee in a timely manner such 
administrative and technical support services as are necessary for its 
effective functioning.
    Executive Secretariat. NMFS shall provide an Executive Secretariat 
for each meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall 
approve and attend all meetings and shall advise the Chair to adjourn, 
or shall herself/himself adjourn, any meeting when in the public 
interest. The Executive Secretariat will prepare an agenda and 
circulate it amongst Committee members in advance of the meeting for 
feedback and approve the agenda. The Executive Secretariat shall ensure 
that the minutes of each meeting are prepared, of which the accuracy 
shall be certified by the Chair. The Executive Secretariat will also 
maintain copies of all reports the Committee receives, issues, or 
approves.
C. Procedures
    The Committee shall determine its organization and prescribe its 
practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under the TCA, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and the Antigua Convention. The Committee shall publish 
and make available to the public a statement of its organization, 
practices, and procedures.
D. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports
    The Committee shall report, either orally or in writing, to NMFS, 
U.S. Department of State, and to the U.S. Section.

III. Membership and Terms

A. Membership
    The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, shall appoint the members of the Committee.
    Committee composition. The Committee shall have no fewer than 5, or 
no more than 25, individuals, and the ex-officio members will be 
counted towards the total number of individuals. The Committee shall be 
representative of the various groups concerned with the fisheries 
covered by the Antigua Convention, including nongovernmental 
conservation organizations, providing an equitable balance among such 
groups to the maximum extent practicable.
    Ex-officio members. The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the 
Chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's 
Advisory Panel shall be ex-officio members of the Committee by virtue 
of their positions with those Councils.
B. Appointment Terms
    Each member of the Committee shall serve for a term of three years 
and is eligible for reappointment.

IV. Officers and Terms of Office

A. Committee Chair and Vice-Chair
    Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Chair for a term of 3 
years. Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Vice-Chair for a 
term of 3 years. Each Chair shall be eligible for reappointment for up 
to 2 terms as Chair. Similarly, each Vice-Chair shall be eligible for 
reappointment for up to 2 terms as Vice-Chair. If a vacancy occurs, the 
Committee shall appoint a Chair or Vice-Chair to serve the remainder of 
the term; such service shall not count toward the term limits.

V. Subcommittee

A. Subcommittee
    NMFS shall appoint a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to advise the 
Committee, pursuant to Section 4 of the TCA.

VI. Administrative Matters

A. Meetings
    All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public, except 
when in executive session, which shall be closed to the public. 
Officers of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
the U.S. Coast Guard, and representatives of any other agencies of the 
U.S. Government responsible for matters pertaining to fisheries in the 
eastern Pacific Ocean may attend and participate in all meetings of the 
Committee.
    Sensitive information, including discussion of the U.S. negotiating 
position for upcoming IATTC meetings, other than input from the public, 
may be discussed in executive session. NMFS shall be responsible for 
providing notice of meetings to the public in a timely fashion. The 
Committee is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.).
B. Number and Frequency of Meetings
    The Committee shall meet at least once per year. If sufficient 
funds are available, one of the Committee meetings shall be an in-
person meeting. All meetings shall be called by the Executive 
Secretariat, subject to the approval of the Commissioner who is also a 
full-time employee of the U.S. Government. There shall be no 
requirement of a quorum.

[[Page 79462]]

C. Attendance in U.S. Delegation
    The Committee shall be invited to attend all non-executive meetings 
of the U.S. delegation and at such meetings shall be given opportunity 
to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, 
reports, recommendations, and regulations of the IATTC. Participation 
as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to such limits as 
may be placed on the size of the delegation.
D. Closed Meetings
    Executive sessions of the Committee shall be closed to the public, 
and all discussion occurring in these sessions shall not be disclosed 
publicly unless otherwise specified by an appropriate U.S. Government 
official. The Committee may choose to invite the Subcommittee members 
that are not also Committee members to executive sessions of the 
Committee. Below are examples of when the Committee may go into 
executive sessions:
    a. The Committee is considering the U.S. negotiating position prior 
or subsequent to international meetings.
    b. The Committee is being briefed on litigation in which the 
Committee is interested.
    c. The Committee is discussing internal operational matters.
    To the extent practicable, notice of closed sessions on matters of 
substance should be included in the Federal Register notice announcing 
the Committee meeting.
E. Duration
    The Committee is a statutory body and may be terminated only by 
law.
F. Recordkeeping
    The Executive Secretariat shall prepare the minutes of each 
meeting, which shall at a minimum contain: (1) A record of all persons 
present; (2) the names of persons from the public who attend the 
meeting and their interests or affiliations; (3) a description of 
matters and materials discussed and conclusions reached and the 
rationale for same; and (4) copies of all reports received, issued, or 
approved by the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall distribute 
the minutes to the Committee members for their review. The Chair of the 
Committee shall certify the accuracy of all minutes of the Committee.
    The Executive Secretariat shall endeavor to provide any draft U.S. 
IATTC proposals to the Committee members at least five days prior to 
the meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall provide a 
summary of any available information from bilateral or multilateral 
meetings between the United States and other nations to the Committee 
members.
    The records for the Committee and any working group will be handled 
in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 205-1 governing the NOAA 
Records Management Program. Such records will be available for public 
inspection and copying, to the extent required by 5 U.S.C. 552. The 
Executive Secretariat shall ensure that all records and other written 
materials are maintained and available for inspection to the extent 
required by law.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: November 8, 2016.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27294 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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