[Federal Register: June 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 118)]
[Notices]
[Page 29523-29524]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn09-113]
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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, Committee on
Environment and Natural Resources, National Science and Technology
Council; Update of Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United
States for the Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan and
Implementation Strategy (aka ``Charting the Course''): Request for
Public Input
ACTION: Request for Public Input to an update of the January 2007
Charting the Course
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SUMMARY: In January 2007, Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the
United States for the Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan
and Implementation Strategy (Charting the Course) was published.
Charting the Course was based on input gathered from public and private
sources over a period of several months, and it has provided a basis
for coordinated ocean science and technology investments. In view of
scientific advancements and recognition of new ocean management
challenges, the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology
(JSOST) is embarking upon an effort to update and refresh Charting the
Course. This notice solicits public input to inform the drafting of an
updated Charting the Course.
DATES: Public comments must be received by July 17, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Only electronic (e-mail) comments will be accepted. Comments
should be sent to: comments@jsost.org.
[[Page 29524]]
Please note that all submissions may be posted without change to
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/jsost.html, including any personal
information provided.
The public comment period will close on July 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
EDT. Any comments received after the close of the comment period will
not be considered.
The full text of the January 2007 Charting the Course is posted at
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_prioritiesplan.html).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice,
please contact comments@jsost.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This national plan, released in January of 2007, is intended to
present ocean research priorities that focus on the most compelling
issues in key areas of interaction between society and the ocean. The
goal of Charting the Course is to formulate priorities for ocean
science and technology initiatives across the wide scope of societal
interests and to define the fundamental principles for guiding actions
and programs in support of the research priorities. This document also
provides guidance on how the various ocean science sectors (government,
academia, industry, and non-governmental entities) can and should be
engaged, individually or through partnerships, to address the areas of
greatest research priority and opportunity.
Charting the Course was developed through a collaborative effort
involving academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, state and
local governments, and anyone with an interest in ocean issues. The
JSOST also developed a series of public and conference information
sessions to provide updates on the development of the national ocean
research priorities.
Charting the Course concisely gathers together and lays out in a
single document the issues and priorities agreed to across the ocean
sciences community. It has supported the creation of programs and
projects where there were none, and it has guided priorities in federal
agency budget submissions beginning in Fiscal Year 2008 and continuing
through the latest budget submission, Fiscal Year 2010. The JSOST
recognizes the need to harness momentum and magnify this progress.
In the two and a half years since Charting the Course was released,
much has changed in the understanding of the ocean, its processes and
its role in the Earth system as a whole. Much has also changed in our
ability to access, explore, observe, and model the ocean and its
communities. In light of these changes, and based on encouragement and
input from the federal ocean community's external advisory body--the
Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP)--and the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, the JSOST is building a way forward to
refresh Charting the Course and revisit the priorities it sets forth.
The first and most critical step in this way forward is reaching
out to all interested parties for comments on how the current
priorities should be revised for the refreshed Charting the Course. For
example, are there issues that should be listed as priorities under the
current six societal themes? Are there important areas that the
original Charting the Course did not capture? As with developing
Charting the Course, the JSOST considers community input and
involvement in updating the national ocean research priorities a vital
component in the process. JSOST is also working with ORRAP to
additionally ensure proper community input and communication. All input
received will be compiled, cataloged and thoroughly considered by the
federal agency writing teams tasked with crafting a refreshed look at
our nation's ocean research priorities.
The JSOST is requesting input in this community effort to revise,
update and focus Charting the Course. Please provide complete contact
information (name, affiliation, physical address, phone, e-mail) and
note which of the following Charting the Course themes your comments
address:
Stewardship of our natural and cultural ocean resources
Increasing resilience to natural hazards
Enabling marine operations
The ocean's role in climate
Improving ecosystem health
Enhancing human health
Other
You may also elect to provide comments on the following Charting
the Course cross-cutting areas:
Observations and Infrastructure
Ocean Education
Enhancing Basic Understanding
The input obtained through this process will be fully considered as
the JSOST drafts the updated Charting the Course.
M. David Hodge,
Operations Manager, OSTP.
[FR Doc. E9-14592 Filed 6-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-W9-P