[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 94 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 26809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10935]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR); NOAA Research 
Review Team Report

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research publishes this 
notice to announce the availability of the NOAA Research Review Team 
Draft of the Final Report for public comment. The NOAA Research Report 
is compiled pursuant to requests from the House and Senate 
Appropriations Subcommittees in their 2003 reports. The report 
accompanying the House Commerce, Justice State (CJS) Appropriations 
Subcommittee requests that NOAA review research in NOAA, and 
specifically OAR, for the purpose of improving the effectiveness and 
efficiency of its research enterprise. The report addresses how NOAA 
should improve the management of research to ensure its maximum 
efficiency and effectiveness.

DATES: Comments on this draft document must be submitted by June 23, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: The NOAA Research Review Team Report will be available on 
the SAB website at http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/RRT_final-draft_052504.pdf on May 25, 2004.
    The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically to 
[email protected]. For commenters who do not have access to a 
computer, comments may be submitted in writing to: NOAA Research, 
Science Advisory Board, (SAB) c/o Ms. M.Whitcomb, Silver Spring Metro 
Center Bldg 3 Room 11558, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. M. Whitcomb, Silver Spring Metro 
Center Bldg 3 Room 11558, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910 (phone 301-713-2454 x 173), during normal business hours 
of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or visit the 
SAB web site at: http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/RRT_final-draft_052504.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research (OAR) publishes this notice to announce the availability of 
the NOAA Research Report for public comment. NOAA Research will post 
the NOAA Research Draft of the Final Report for public comment on May 
25, 2004. NOAA Research is seeking public comment from all interested 
parties. This final report is being issued for comment only and is not 
intended for interim use. Suggested changes will be incorporated, where 
appropriate, in the report being submitted to the Congress.
    The NOAA Research Report is compiled pursuant to requests from the 
House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees in their 2003 reports. 
The report accompanying the House Commerce, Justice State (CJS) 
Appropriations Subcommittee requests that NOAA review research in NOAA, 
and specifically OAR, for the purpose of improving the effectiveness 
and efficiency of its research enterprise. The report addresses how 
NOAA should improve the management of research to ensure its maximum 
efficiency and effectiveness.
    In response to the Congressional report language, NOAA appointed an 
``Ad Hoc Review Team,'' (here called the NOAA Research Review Team), 
under the auspices of the SAB consisting of five members to compile the 
requested information. The Review team will be disbanded once the 
review is completed and a final report issued. This panel is tasked 
with: (1) Conducting a review of OAR for the purpose of improving the 
effectiveness and efficiency of its research enterprise; (2) 
Determining if OAR is adequately linked to NOAA's service 
organizations, [i.e., National Weather Service (NWS), National 
Environmental Satellite Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the National Ocean 
Service (NOS)]; (3) Assessing whether the research programs are 
relevant to the needs of these organizations. The team's 
recommendations will assist NOAA in responding to the language in the 
2004 House and Senate CJS appropriation reports.
    The NOAA Research Review Team is presenting its findings to the SAB 
in two (2) reports. The first report was posted for public comments in 
December 2003, and was submitted to NOAA on January 29, 2004. The final 
report, which incorporates the first draft report, will be posted on 
the SAB web site at: http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/RRT_final-draft_052504.pdf on May 25, 2004 for public comment. Public comments may be 
submitted from May 25, 2004 to 30 days after May 25, or June 23, 2004.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the report. We also 
request comments on any inconsistencies perceived within the report, 
and possible omissions of important topics or issues. For any 
shortcoming noted within the draft report, please propose specific 
remedies.
    Please follow these instructions for preparing and submitting a 
review. Using the format guidance described below will facilitate the 
processing of reviewer comments and assure that all comments are 
appropriately considered. Please provide background information about 
yourself on the first page of your comments: your name(s), 
organization(s), area(s) of expertise, mailing address(es), telephone 
and fax numbers, email address(es). Overview comments on the section 
should follow your background information and should be numbered. 
Comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs or lines of 
the section should follow any overview comments and should identify the 
page numbers to which they apply. Please number all pages, (on the 
upper right hand of each page,) and print identifying information at 
the top of each page.

    Dated: May 10, 2004.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-10935 Filed 5-13-04; 8:45 am]
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