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THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION The Office of General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The General Counsel is appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, with the approval of the President. The Office of the General Counsel provides legal service and guidance for all matters that may arise in the conduct of NOAA's missions. The organization chart provides additional information as to the Office's structure. MISSION STATEMENT The NOAA Office of the General Counsel is a team of professionals advancing the mission and objectives of NOAA by delivering legal services of the highest quality. We are committed to providing sound judgment, thoughtful analysis, and constructive advice through effective communication. In an environment fostering innovation and professional development, we apply the rule of law with integrity, respect for people, and commitment to excellence and the public trust. VALUES Integrity Innovation Teamwork Professional Excellence Effective Communication Public Service VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS The Office of General Counsel periodically has legal job openings on a wide variety of issues involving preservation of coastal areas, marine sanctuaries and marine resources. NOAA General Counsel job announcements are made available through the USAJobs web site or NOAA's new NOAA Careers employment information web site. Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Designated as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area by the International Maritime Organization On April 3, 2008, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, an area that includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, received final designation as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a Specialized Agency of the United Nations. The U.S. proposal for PSSA designation was submitted in April 2007 for consideration by the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee and received provisional "in principle" designation in July 2007. With the April 3, 2008 final designation the PSSA became immediately effective. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is the second marine protected area in the United States to receive PSSA designation (the other being the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was designated as a PSSA in 2002). PSSA designation has been granted to 11 areas globally, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Archipelago. The newly designated PSSA is coterminous with the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which was established by President Bush in June 2006. It encompasses a 1,200-mile stretch of coral islands, seamounts, banks, and shoals; is home to more than 7,000 marine species; and contains 4,500 square miles of coral reefs. Ship traffic has been identified as one of the primary anthropogenic threats to the vulnerable and valuable natural and cultural resources of the area. PSSA designation augments domestic protective measures by alerting international mariners to exercise extreme caution when navigating through the area. As part of the PSSA designation process, on October 8, 2007 the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee adopted U.S. proposals for two associated protective measures designed to prevent damage to this fragile and integrated coral reef ecosystem from international shipping activities. First, the IMO approved the expansion and amendment of the six existing recommendatory Areas to be Avoided (ATBAs) in the area, enlarging the class of vessels to which they apply and augmenting the geographic scope of these areas as well as adding new ATBAs around Kure and Midway atolls. The ATBAs will appear on domestic and international nautical charts to direct vessels away from coral reefs, shipwrecks and other ecologically sensitive or culturally significant areas in the PSSA that may also be hazardous to navigation. Second, the IMO approved a ship reporting system for vessels transiting the Monument, which is mandatory for ships entering or departing a U.S. port or place and recommendatory for other ships. The ship reporting system will provide critical alerts and other information to assist mariners in navigating safely through the area. These ATBAs and the ship reporting system will be implemented in May 2008. NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for International Law was instrumental in developing the United States’ PSSA submissions and securing their approval by IMO. NOAA's 200th Anniversary NOAA is celebrating 200 years of science, service, and stewardship. To find out more visit the 200th Anniversary web site. The NOAA Office of General Counsel is proud to support and assist the Program offices in celebrating their achievements, from charting, coastal mapping, marine sanctuaries, coastal management, coastal ecosystem research, to oil and hazardous substance spill response efforts. Postcard from the Field, La Jolla, California. 200th Celebration Greetings from the NOAA Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation (GCEL) during a recent training conference held at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center! As NOAA's chief prosecutor, these dedicated attorneys and support staff pursue hundreds of enforcement cases each year, and in FY2006, recovered almost $3.7 million in fines and forfeited assets. Click on photo to enlarge. View more Postcards from the Field at NOAA's 200-year celebration web site. GENERAL COUNSEL AWARDS FOR 2007 The U.S. Department of Commerce General Counsel's office recognized eight NOAA General Counsel employees for their outstanding achievements.