FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

MMC - 20512 - Advisory Committee on Acoustic Impacts on Marine Mammals - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on Acoustic Impacts on Marine Mammals	Agency Name	Marine Mammal Commission
Fiscal Year	2006	Committee Number	20512
Original Establishment Date	12/21/1972	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	2/25/2006	Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Director, Marine Mammal Commission
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	11/16/2005	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	David
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/16/2007	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	2/25/2006	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Cottingham
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	16 U.S.C. 1406	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	301-504-0087
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	301-504-0099
Specific Establishment Authority*	16 U.S.C. 1406	Designated Federal Officer Email*	dcottingham@mmc.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/21/1972
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Enacted
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee was established to (1) review information concerning the impacts of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals, 2) identify areas of scientific agreement, disagreement, and uncertainty, 3) identify priority research needs, and 4) pursue agreement on management actions and strategies needed to avoid or mitigate adverse effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals and their environment. The Committee concluded its meetings in FY 2005, but did not reach consensus on all points. Members were invited to submit statements to be provided to the Commission in conjunction with a summary report on the Committee's activities. The charter was renewed until February 25, 2006 to provide time for members to prepare and submit their statements.
How is membership balanced?*	The Marine Mammal Commission selected committee members to represent the wide variety of stakeholders and interest groups involved in this issue. A Commission contractor conducted an extensive series of interviews with individuals from parties whose activities introduce sound into the marine environment, non-governmental organizations, scientists with pertinent expertise, and government agencies with programs or responsibilities related to marine mammals, to identify all interests involved and to ensure that the Commission selected members who would effectively represent those interests.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The advisory committee met three times in FY 2004 and three times in FY 2005. The meetings provided a useful forum for discussion of issues related to possible adverse effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals and identification of actions to reduce or eliminate such effects. No additional meetings were held during FY 2006. However, the Committee remained active beyond its original termination date to enable members and coalitions to prepare statements of their perspectives for consideration by the Commission.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Scientists have identified the potential impact of sound in the ocean as one of the least understood, but potentially significant, threats to marine mammals. As such, Congress directed the Commission to convene a series of meetings “to share findings, survey acoustic 'threats' to marine mammals, and develop means of reducing those threats.” The work of the Committee was essential to the Commission in developing the information necessary to satisfy this mandate. No similar efforts have been made to bring together the diverse interest groups and experts involved in this issue. Congress recognized that the Commission, because of its independent status and technical and policy expertise, was uniquely qualified to bring together the stakeholders in a forum to allow examination and seek resolution of the controversial and complex questions related to the impacts of anthropogenic sound in the marine environment.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee completed its work in February 2006, at which time it was terminated.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	The Commission's report to Congress will contain a number of recommendations concerning research and management activities related to the effects of sound on marine mammals. Some may require legislation, others can be implemented through changes in administrative practices and/or funding priorities.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	0	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	No consensus recommendations were developed. However, recommendations were formally submitted by various members and coalitions of members.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The Commission is in the process of considering the recommendations of committee members as it prepares a report on the effects of anthropgenic sound for Congress.	Access GSA FACA Website	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback will provided to members' recommendations/advice in a report to Congress being prepared by the Commission.	Narrative Description*	The Commission established this committee to enable interested parties to participate in facilitated discussions on ways to reduce impacts of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals. In the course of these discussions, several committee members' organizations took steps to adopt measures and strategies to protect marine mammals. Performance measures include providing a forum: (1) to discuss and seek agreement on research priorities and appropriate management measures; (2) to afford opportunities for agencies to respond to public concerns; and (3) to allow potential litigants to discuss concerns with agencies out of court. The only activity planned for FY 2006 was the development and submission of statements by committe mambers and caucuses and completion of the committee's report to the Commission. During FY 2006 three members and four caucuses representing multiple members submitted such statements. These are included in the final committee report submitted to the Commission on February 1, 2006.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$6,840.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$1,395.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$8,235.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified		Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.13	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

No interest areas selected for this committee.

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