Department of Commerce July 10, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management.

NMFS announces the availability of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management-Based Research Needs and Priorities document. The purpose of this document is to communicate key research needs that directly support Atlantic HMS management. Atlantic HMS are defined as bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas, swordfish, billfish (blue marlin, white marlin, roundscale spearfish, longbill spearfish, and sailfish), and sharks.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is announcing a recruitment for new candidates to serve on the Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) to advise the Department and other agency officials on: (a) The identification of emerging technologies and research and development activities that may be of interest from a BIS perspective; (b) the potential impact of Export Administration Regulations (EAR) on research activities; (c) technical and policy issues relating to controls under the EAR as a result of the Export Control Reform Initiative; (d) revisions of the Control List, including proposed revisions of multilateral controls in which the United States participates; (e) the issuance of regulations and (f) any other matters relating to actions designed to carry out the policy set forth in Section 3(2)(A) of the Export Administration Act. The ETRAC will consist of experts drawn equally from academia, federal laboratories, and industry to ensure a comprehensive discussion of emerging technologies and research and development activities and their implications with regard to national and economic security. ETRAC members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and serve terms of not more than four consecutive years. The membership reflects the Department's commitment to attaining balance and diversity. ETRAC members must obtain secret-level clearance prior to appointment. These clearances are necessary so that members may be permitted access to the classified information needed to formulate recommendations to the Department of Commerce. The ETRAC will also reach out to other government and non-government experts to ensure a broad and thorough review of the issues. The ETRAC meets approximately four times per year. Members of the Committee will not be compensated for their services. To respond to this recruitment notice, please send a copy of your resume to Ms. Yvette Springer at Yvette.springer@bis.doc.gov. Deadline: This Notice of Recruitment will be open for one year from its date of publication in the Federal Register.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule to designate critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) within the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). Specific areas for designation include 38 occupied marine areas within the range of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS. These areas contain one or a combination of habitat types: Nearshore reproductive habitat, winter area, breeding areas, constricted migratory corridors, and/or Sargassum habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is issuing a final rule for loggerhead critical habitat for terrestrial areas (nesting beaches) in a separate document. No marine areas meeting the definition of critical habitat were identified within the jurisdiction of the United States for the North Pacific Ocean DPS, and therefore we are not designating critical habitat for that DPS.