General Sanctuary Advisory Council Application

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Application Form
Before applying for sanctuary advisory council membership, please review:
1. Sanctuary advisory council charter provided in your application kit;
2. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Implementation Handbook available online at
http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/acref.html (or you may obtain a copy from your
local sanctuary); and
3. Importance of Diversity Statement:
“Whether within a natural ecosystem or a human community, diversity creates strength and
resilience. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries values the remarkable diversity of
knowledge, perspectives, and experience found throughout sanctuary communities, and invites a
wide range of individuals to seek membership on our sanctuary advisory councils. With a diverse
membership, advisory councils can broaden access to understanding and participation in marine
conservation and governance, foster innovation and creative problem solving, and can help
advance the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary System.”
Sanctuary advisory councils advise and make recommendations to the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries on issues regarding the designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. The
charter outlines the purposes and governs the operation of the sanctuary advisory council. The handbook
provides broader operational requirements for sanctuary advisory councils. In applying for sanctuary
advisory council membership, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of the charter and the handbook if
you are selected as a council member or alternate.
For those applicants who are considered for selection, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will
conduct a LEXIS/NEXIS check and a departmental bureau check for potential criminal, political
exposure, judgment/lien, adverse media, NOAA enforcement action, and conflict of interest issues.
Additional information and guidance regarding the use of the information you submit on this form and its
availability under federal law can be found at the end of this form. Please review this information.
For the positions listed in this application, sanctuary advisory council members and alternates must be 18
years of age or older.
Please note, under 18 U.S.C. § 205, federal government employees are not allowed to participate on
sanctuary advisory councils in their personal capacities. Federal government employees may be appointed
or selected by their affiliated agencies to represent their affiliated agencies in their professional capacities
when an advisory council charter includes seats for their affiliated agencies. Special restrictions apply to
applicants who are military reservists but are not otherwise employed by the federal government; for
additional information, please contact [insert local contact information].
State employees and members of a state legislature are allowed to apply to sit on sanctuary advisory

councils in a personal capacity. State agency employees must provide a letter of support on official
agency letterhead from their state supervisor at the time they submit their applications but members of a
state legislature and public university or college employees are not required to provide such letters of
support. Members of state legislatures are not required to provide such letters of support. State agency
employees, members of a state legislature, and local government employees should contact their
respective officials to ensure that their state, local government, or employer does not have additional or
conflicting laws, regulations, or policies about applying for a position on a federal advisory council.
Please indicate which advertised seat(s) (e.g., Research, Education) and position(s) (i.e., council member
or alternate) you are applying for, provide your contact information, and respond to the questions below.
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries may consider applicants for seats and positions for which they
have not applied if the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries believes they are qualified for that seat and
are willing to serve in it.
The application deadline is [insert date]. Please return all pages of your completed sanctuary advisory
council application form, and any attached statements or documents, to [insert local contact information].
Date: ___________________
First Name*:_____Middle:_________Last:___
*Please include full first, middle, and last names.
Position(s)/Seat(s) applying for:
[insert advertised seat and position]
[insert advertised seat and position]
[insert advertised seat and position]
[insert advertised seat and position]
Home Address
Address 1: ______________________________________________________
Address 2: ________________________________________________________
City: ___________________

State: _________

Zip Code: __________

Home Phone: _______________________________
Cell Phone: _________________________________
Home Email: ________________________________
Company/Organization:________________ Position/Job Title: ____________

Work Address: ______________________________________________________
Address 1: __________________________________________________________
Address 2: __________________________________________________________
City: _________________

State:

Zip Code: ____

Work Phone: ___________________
Work Cell: _____________________
Work Email: ____________________

Please answer all of the questions below thoroughly and in numerical order. Answers should be no
more than two to three paragraphs and should appear on a separate attached document with each
answer clearly marked with the corresponding question number.
1. How did you hear about the opportunity to apply for this sanctuary advisory council seat?
2. How familiar are you with the community or area associated with the sanctuary?
3. Have you attended previous sanctuary advisory council meetings or sanctuary advisory
council working group meetings?
4. Are you willing to participate in sanctuary advisory council activities (e.g., meetings,
constituent outreach, retreats, chairing or participating on a subcommittee or working group,
and reviewing written materials)?
5. Why are you interested in serving on the sanctuary advisory council? Please include what
you hope to gain from participating on the sanctuary advisory council.
6. Describe what you think the role of the council is, and how you will work to best support
the sanctuary as a sanctuary advisory council member or alternate.
7. One of the key roles of a sanctuary advisory council member is to serve as a liaison between
the sanctuary and its community. Explain how you will coordinate with, consult with, and
inform the members of the constituency you will represent (ex: a Research seat), if
appointed to that seat (ex: for a Research seat, members of the sanctuary’s research
constituency). If you are applying for more than one seat, please provide responses for each
constituency.
8. Describe how you will work to ensure that diverse perspectives and underrepresented
communities are represented through the sanctuary advisory council.

9. Explain your views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lake
resources, including natural (fish, coral reefs, etc.), historic or cultural resources.
10. Describe your formal community and professional affiliations and employment. In
particular, highlight how your particular expertise and experience relate to the goals and
uses of the sanctuary and the seat(s) for which you are applying. Be sure to include
qualifications that you have or other information that you think would be relevant and
beneficial to the advisory council.
Information obtained through this application process will be used to determine the qualifications of
the applicant for membership on the sanctuary advisory council. The Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries affirms it intends to disclose the applications only to Department of Commerce/National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staff, including employees, grantees, and contractors, with
a need to know the information in the applications to complete the application review process, and
to current sanctuary advisory council members who serve on the applicant review panel. However,
the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries may be required to disclose the applications in response to
a court order, a congressional request, or a request from the public under the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA).
If disclosure is requested under FOIA, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will endeavor to
protect the privacy of applicants by withholding personal information, such as home addresses and
telephone numbers of applicants, as well as names or other identifying information of applicants
who are not chosen as members of the council. In contrast, other information may be released,
including names of applicants who are chosen as members of the council, other information in
chosen members’ applications that relate to their qualifications to be a member or alternate,
including education and professional experience, and statements of philosophy or opinions
contained in the application. Applying for membership on the sanctuary advisory council is
voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one hour
per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East West Highway, N/NMS, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall
any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

OMB Control #0648-0397
Expires **/**/****