[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1576-1577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00121]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee;
Notice of Solicitation for Applications for Potential Members
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for membership.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to authority delegated by the Secretary of
Transportation (Secretary) to the Maritime Administrator
(Administrator), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) requests
nominations for membership on the U.S. Maritime Transportation System
National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC).
DATES: Applications must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. ET on
February 8, 2021. After that date, MARAD will continue to accept
applications under this notice for a period of up to two years from the
deadline to fill any vacancies that may arise. MARAD encourages
nominations submitted any time before the deadline for consideration of
upcoming vacancies.
ADDRESSES: Interested applicants may submit a completed application by
sending an email to MTSNAC@dot.gov, subject line: MTSNAC Application
(Named Individual). Please note that due to the Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19), MARAD will only accept electronic submissions. If that
option does not work for you, please call the Designated Federal
Officer for other options.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Rutherford, Designated Federal
Officer, at MTSNAC@dot.gov or at (202) 595-4657. Please visit the
MTSNAC website at https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/maritime-transportation-system-mts/marine-transportation-system-national-advisory-committee.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Committee Objective
The objective of the Maritime Transportation System National
Advisory Committee (MTSNAC or Committee) is to identify and seek
solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea
transportation. The Committee will provide information, advice, and
recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Secretary),
through the Maritime Administrator (Administrator), on matters stated
in the document Goals and Objectives for a Stronger Maritime Nation: A
Report to Congress that are related to identifying and seeking
solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea
transportation. The Committee will not exercise program management
responsibilities and will make no decisions directly affecting the
programs on which it provides advice; decisions directly affecting
implementation of maritime policy will remain with the Administrator.
The Administrator will use the advice, information, and
recommendations generated by MTSNAC for an array of policy
deliberations and for interagency discussions on meeting the Goals and
Objectives for a Stronger Maritime Nation: A Report to Congress. The
Secretary and Administrator may accept or reject a recommendation made
by the MTSNAC and are not bound to pursue any recommendation from the
MTSNAC. In the exercise of his or her discretion, the Secretary,
Administrator, or his or her designee, may withdraw a task being
considered by the MTSNAC at any time.
Description of Duties
During the term of the charter, MTSNAC shall undertake information
gathering activities, develop technical advice, and present
recommendations to the Administrator on short sea shipping matters
including the following: (1) How to address impediments hindering
effective use of short sea transportation, including the expansion of
America's Marine Highways, as directed in 46 U.S.C. 55603; (2) How to
strengthen U.S. Maritime capabilities essential to national security
and economic prosperity; (3) Ways to ensure the availability of a U.S.
maritime workforce that will support the sealift resource needs of the
National Security Strategy; (4) Ways to support enhancement of U.S.
port infrastructure and performance; and, (5) Ways to enable maritime
industry innovation in information, automation, safety, environmental
impact and other areas.
I. Who should be considered for nomination as MTSNAC members?
MARAD seeks nominations for immediate consideration to fill
positions on the Committee for the upcoming charter term, and will
continue to accept nominations under this notice on an on-going basis
for two years for consideration to fill vacancies that may arise during
the charter term. Member appointment terms run until September 17, 2022
and may be renewed, subject to charter renewal. Members will be
selected in accordance with applicable Agency guidelines based upon
their ability to advise the Administrator on marine transportation
issues. Members will be selected to obtain membership balance of the
marine transportation interests, including (1) active mariners; (2)
vessel operators; (3) port authorities and terminal operators; (4)
shippers or beneficial cargo owners; (5) the ship construction, repair
and/or recycling industries; (6) relevant policy areas such as
innovative financing, economic competitiveness, performance monitoring,
safety, insurance, labor, and environment; (7) freight customers and
providers; and (8) government bodies. All MTSNAC members serve at the
pleasure of the Secretary of Transportation.
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). Registered lobbyists are
``lobbyists,'' as defined in Title 2 U.S.C. 1602, who are required by
Title 2 U.S.C. 1603 to register with the Secretary of the Senate and
the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The prohibition does not
apply if registered lobbyists are specifically appointed to represent
the interests of a nongovernmental entity, a recognizable group of
persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry sector, labor unions,
environmental groups, and similar groups) or state or local
governments. Registered lobbyists are required to comply with
provisions contained in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
110-81).
II. Do MTSNAC members receive compensation and/or per diem?
Committee members will receive no salary for participating in
MTSNAC activities. While attending meetings or when otherwise engaged
in Committee business, members may be reimbursed for travel and per
diem expenses as permitted under applicable Federal
[[Page 1577]]
travel regulations. Reimbursement is subject to funding availability.
III. What is the process for submitting applications/nominations?
Individuals can self-apply or be nominated by any individual or
organization. To be considered for the MTSNAC, applicants/nominators
should submit the following information:
(1) Contact Information for the nominee, consisting of:
a. Name
b. Title
c. Organization or Affiliation
d. Address
e. City, State, Zip
f. Telephone number
g. Email address
(2) Statement of interest limited to 250 words on why the nominee
wants to serve on the MTSNAC and the unique perspectives and
experiences the nominee brings to the Committee;
(3) Resume limited to 3 pages describing professional and academic
expertise, experience, and knowledge, including any relevant experience
serving on advisory committees, past and present;
(4) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a federally
registered lobbyist seeking to serve on the Committee in their
individual capacity and the identity of the interests they intend to
represent, if appointed as member of the Committee; and
(5) Optional letters of support.
Please do not send company, trade association, organization
brochures, or any other promotional information. Materials submitted
should total five pages or less and must be in a 12 font, formatted in
Microsoft Word or PDF. Should more information be needed, MARAD staff
will contact the nominee, obtain information from the nominee's past
affiliations, or obtain information from publicly available sources.
Those interested in applying to become a member of the Committee, may
send a completed application package by email listed in the ADDRESSES
section. Please note that, due to circumstances relating to the COVID-
19 public health emergency, we will only accept electronic submissions.
If electronic submission is problematic for you, please call the
Designated Federal Officer for other options. Applications must be
received by the deadline listed in the DATES section; however,
candidates are encouraged to send application any time before the
deadline.
IV. How will MARAD select MTSNAC members?
A selection team comprising representatives from MARAD will review
the application packages. The selection team will make recommendations
regarding membership to the Administrator based on the following
criteria: (1) Professional or academic expertise, experience, and
knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; (3) availability and
willingness to serve; (4) relevant experience in working in committees
and advisory panels; and (5) the MTSNAC Charter and Membership Balance
Plan. Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical
disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
(Authority: 49 CFR part 1.93(a); 5 U.S.C. 552b; 41 CFR parts 102-3;
5 U.S.C. app. Sections 1-16)
* * * * *
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: January 5, 2021.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-00121 Filed 1-7-21; 8:45 am]
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