FACACLASSIC

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MMC - 1059 - Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals	Agency Name	Marine Mammal Commission
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1059
Original Establishment Date	12/21/1972	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	http://www.mmc.gov
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	9
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	General Counsel
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	11/3/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Michael
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/3/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	L.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Gosliner
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 504-0087
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 504-0099
Specific Establishment Authority*	16 U.S.C. 1403	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mgosliner@mmc.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/21/1972
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Through periodic meetings and frequent exchanges of information with the Commissioners and staff, the members of the Committee of Scientific Advisors keep abreast of current marine mammal issues, review pertinent documents, and assist in formulating Commission recommendations. During Fiscal Year 2024, the Marine Mammal Commission's Committee of Scientific Advisors continued to provide the Commission with the expert scientific advice necessary to prepare 47 letters with formal recommendations to other agencies concerning Federal, State, and international actions affecting the conservation of marine mammals and their habitats. Specific matters upon which the Committee provided essential scientific review and advice to the Commission during Fiscal Year 2024 included actions needed to reduce threats to marine mammal species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including the North Atlantic right whale, Rice's whale, southern resident killer whale, Hawaiian monk seal, Cook Inlet beluga whale, and false killer whale. In addition, the Committee helped formulate agency positions on steps needed to reduce interactions between marine mammals and fisheries activities, particularly for the North Atlantic right whale and the vaquita. The Committee also reviewed several other Commission recommendations designed to help ensure that other activities, such as wind energy projects, do not adversely affect marine mammal populations. Other key issues on which the Committee provided advice included proposed stock assessment revisions, aboriginal subsistence whaling, and the effects of climate change on marine mammals and their habitats. During Fiscal Year 2024 the Committee also reviewed documents prepared by other agencies pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Committee members reviewed and provided detailed comments and recommendations on 33 permit applications and requests for permit amendments to take or import marine mammals for purposes of scientific research, public display, photography, and/or species enhancement. The Committee also reviewed and provided advice on numerous scientific research proposals and preproposals, as well as on reports submitted by Commission contractors as part of the Commission's research and studies program.
How is membership balanced?*	The members of the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals are selected by the Chairman of the Commission, in consultation with the other Commissioners. Consistent with the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the names of nominees are submitted to the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences for review. This helps to ensure a high level of expertise in members is maintained with respect to scientific disciplines, marine mammal species, and geographic areas of particular importance to the Commission's responsibilities. For example, sources of scientific expertise in marine mammal veterinary medicine, population dynamics, population assessment, biometrics, acoustics, and behavior are needed to provide advice on various matters before the Commission. The Commission also requires a high level of knowledge concerning the biology and ecology of certain marine mammal species, such as the West Indian manatee, right whales and other species of large whales, the vaquita, southern resident killer whales, sea otters, the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales, the polar bear, and the Hawaiian monk seal. These marine mammal species require special attention by the Commission because of their small population levels and/or threats they face. In addition, Committee members are selected to provide broad familiarity with marine mammal species and issues from a range of geographic regions, including Alaska and other polar regions, the Pacific coast of the United States, Florida, and Hawaii, where Commission responsibilities are especially great. The Commission periodically solicits nominations of prospective Committee members from the public via a Federal Register announcement. Those nominations will be considered as appointments to the committee are made.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee generally meets annually and at other times as necessary. The meetings provide the Committee and Commission with the opportunity to exchange views and information and to focus its attention on issues of particular importance or urgency. In Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Commission and the Committee held shorter, single-topic-focused webinars in lieu of its typical multi-day annual meeting. In FY 2024, the Commission and Committee convened a two-day, in-person meeting to review issues related to marine mammal ecology and shifting ecosystem dynamics, marine mammal health in a changing climate, stock assessment reports, and threats to large whales.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	No other body, either within or outside the government, has the breadth of knowledge or expertise that the Committee possesses with respect to marine mammals. Having a ready source of expertise available to the Commission is essential for scientifically sound and timely decisions to be made with respect to research and management questions before the Commission. If the Committee were not available to the Commission, contracts to obtain the expert knowledge and advice would be required on a case-by-case basis, which would be more time-consuming, more costly, and more administratively burdensome.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	None

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	85
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	7
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$417,256.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	47	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is the number of Commission recommendation letters reviewed by the Committee in Fiscal Year 2024. We do not maintain a running total going back to the Committee's creation in the 1970s.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Committee members are provided copies of Commission recommendations that result from consultation with the Committee and all agency recommendations are posted on the Commission's web site.	Narrative Description*	The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires the Commission to consult with the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals on all studies and recommendations it makes, on research programs conducted or proposed by the Commission, and on all applications for scientific research permits under the Act. The advice that the Commission receives from the Committee is critical to meeting the statutory obligations of the Commission as it formulates recommendations to other agencies on matters concerning marine mammal conservation and as it establishes priorities for its own research program.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	1/22/2025 9:05 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Animals Animal Sciences and Husbandry Fish and Wildlife Veterinary Medicine Basic Science Biology Energy Energy Natural Resources Environment Environmental Issues Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences Government Federal Government Tribal Government International International Economic Policy International Law International Organizations Legislation Legislation Regulations Rulemaking Research Basic Research Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Trade Competitiveness Transportation Boating and Navigation Water Waterways

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