National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration December 15, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA's Educational Partnership Program is soliciting not-for-profit organizations to administer its Undergraduate Scholarship Program. The goal of the Undergraduate Scholarship Program is to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in the targeted areas integral to NOAA's mission. This program targets students who have completed their sophomore year; attend Minority Serving Institutions; majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering; and have recently declared, or about to declare a major in atmospheric, oceanic, remote sensing technology, or environmental science disciplines. The Undergraduate Scholarship participants must be U.S. citizens and attend an MSI including Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal College and Universities, Alaska-Native Serving Institutions, and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions full-time, be pursuing studies in atmospheric science, biology, cartography, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, geodesy, geography, marine science, mathematics, meteorology, physical science, oceanography, marine biology, photogrammetry, or physics. Participants must have, and maintain, a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA's Educational Partnership Program is soliciting not-for-profit organizations to administer its EPP Graduate Sciences Program. The goal of the Graduate Sciences Program is to provide college graduates who have received at least a Bachelor's degree in mathematics, science, economics, law, and engineering, entry-level employment and hands-on research and work experience at NOAA. The program's objective is to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in the targeted areas integral to NOAA's mission. The goal of the NOAA EPP/MSI Graduate Sciences Program (GSP) is aimed primarily at increasing opportunities and available programs for students in NOAA related fields to pursue research and graduate level educational training in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) when possible. All students are competitively selected for positions in NOAA offices and facilities. Participants must be U.S. citizens, have a Bachelor's degree in mathematics, science, law, or engineering, and have, and maintain, a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher prior to and for the duration of their training. Prior to acceptance into the program, students must be enrolled in an accredited graduate school and obtain a letter of recommendation by a school official. This two-year program provides for formal periods of work, study, and structured classroom training programs in meteorology, hydrology, cartography, oceanography, ecology, remote sensing technology, environmental science and planning, marine science, fisheries biology, computer science, and environmental law. GSP pays for tuition, books, lab fees, campus housing allowance, travel expenses, and salary during 16 weeks of NOAA work experience per year at a NOAA research facility. NOAA scientists are assigned as mentors to graduate scientists during the training period. The progress of the students is monitored throughout the academic year and during the intermittent career work experiences. Under the program, graduate students are required to present their research at conferences, scientific meetings and workshops, education and science forums, etc. The program requires that students participate in an orientation program at NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, at the beginning of their appointment.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP).

The National Marine Fisheries Service publishes IFQ standard prices for the IFQ Cost Recovery Program in the halibut and sablefish fisheries of the North Pacific. This action is intended to provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits information to calculate the payments required for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2006.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod specified for catcher/processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.