[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 306-307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-100]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

United States Geological Survey


Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI); Notice of 
Availability for Public Review of Report on United States Geological 
Survey Federal-State Cooperative Water Program

AGENCY: United States Geological Survey, Interior.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the availability for public review 
of the report, ``External Task Force Review of the United States 
Geological Survey (USGS) Federal-State Cooperative Water Program,'' 
Circular 1192, August 1999. Review of this report is sought under the 
Terms of Reference of the ACWI Task Force to Review the Federal-State 
Cooperative Water Program.
    The ACWI has been established under the authority of the Office of 
Management and Budget Memorandum 92-01 and the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. The purpose of the ACWI is to provide a forum for water-
information users and professionals to advise the Federal Government 
about activities and plans which may improve the effectiveness of 
meeting the Nation's water information needs. The USGS established the 
Federal-State Cooperative Water Program Task Force as approved by the 
ACWI at the meeting of August 1998. Additional information about the 
ACWI, including the Task Force, is available at http://water.usgs.gov/
wicp/.
    The Task Force report is now available for public review and 
comment. The report may be accessed at http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/
circ1192/. A printed copy of the report may be obtained by contacting 
the U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 409 National 
Center, Reston, VA 20192; (703) 648-5216.

DATES: Comments on the report should be provided no later than February 
29, 2000. Comments should be sent to Dr. Ethan T. Smith (Executive 
Secretary), Chief, Water Information Coordination Program, U.S. 
Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 417 National Center, 
Reston, VA 20192; (703) 648-5022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USGS Federal-State Cooperative Water 
Program is the largest single source of hydrologic data and information 
in the country. Hydrologic monitoring, assessments, investigations, and 
research conducted under the program support both national interests 
and cooperator needs. Costs for the program are jointly funded by the 
USGS and some 1,200 State, Tribal, and local government partners. The 
Federal-State Cooperative Water Program is a unique partnership, rather 
than a grants program. State, Tribal, and local cooperators transfer 
their share of the funding to the USGS for work on specific projects. 
The resulting data and information are archived and shared nationwide. 
More information is available in the Federal-State Cooperative Water-
Resources Program Fact Sheet available at http://water.usgs.gov/wid/
html/COOP.html/.
    The Task Force conducted the first external review of the Coop 
Program in its 100-year history. The purpose of the Task Force was to 
gather information, to assess the effectiveness of the program, and to 
draft recommended improvements. The Task Force has completed their work 
and has published their findings and recommendations in a report, USGS 
Circular 1192. The report is titled ``External Task Force Review of the 
United States Geological Survey Federal-State Cooperative Water 
Program, August 1999.''


[[Page 307]]


    Dated: December 22, 1999.
Robert M. Hirsch,
Chief Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 00-100 Filed 01-03-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-Y7-M