[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 11195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 050301050-5050-01]


Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and Managing 
Cooperative Institutes

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

ACTION: Notice and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to announce the availability of a 
Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and Managing Cooperative 
Institutes for public comment.

DATES: Comments on this draft document must be submitted by April 4, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: The Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and 
Managing Cooperative Institutes is available at ftp://www.oarhq.noaa.gov/coopinst.pdf.
    The public is encouraged to submit comments on the Proposed NOAA 
Policy and Process for Creating and Managing Cooperative Institutes 
Draft electronically to [email protected]. For commenters who do not 
have access to a computer, comments on documents may be submitted in 
writing to Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, c/o Dr. John 
Cortinas, Office of Scientific Support, 1315 East-West Highway, R/
OSSX5, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Cortinas, Office of 
Scientific Support, OAR, 1315 East West Highway, R/OSSX5, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone (301) 713-2465, ext. 206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for 
Creating and Managing Cooperative Institutes is being developed in 
response to a January 2004 recommendation from the NOAA Science 
Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB recommended that NOAA develop a NOAA-wide 
process by which cooperative institutes and other cooperative 
arrangements with extramural partners are established and maintained. A 
copy of the SAB report is available at http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Reports/RRT_Report_080604.pdf.
    The Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and Managing 
Cooperative Institutes defines the policy and process for establishing 
and managing all new NOAA cooperative institutes. This proposed policy 
includes guidelines for the review process, renewal process, and sunset 
clauses. Upon adoption of a final policy document, NOAA will evaluate 
all current cooperative institutes and create a plan to transition them 
to the new cooperative institute policy and process.
    The Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and Managing 
Cooperative Institutes is being issued for comment only and is not 
intended for interim use. Suggested changes will be incorporated, where 
appropriate, in the final version. Upon adoption of the final policy 
and process, NOAA will issue a NOAA Administrative Order to institute 
the policy.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the document. We also 
request comments on any inconsistencies perceived within the document, 
and possible omissions of important topics or issues. For any 
shortcoming noted within the draft document, please propose specific 
remedies.
    Please adhere to the instructions detailed herein for preparing and 
submitting your comments. Using the format guidance described below 
will facilitate the consideration of all reviewer comments. Please 
provide background information about yourself on the first page of your 
comments: Your name(s), organization(s), and area of expertise, mailing 
address(es), and telephone and fax number, e-mail address(es). Overview 
comments should follow your background information and should be 
numbered. Comments that are specific to particular pages and paragraphs 
should follow any overview comments and should identify the page 
numbers to which they apply. Please number and print identifying 
information at the top of all pages.

    Dated: March 2, 2005.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-4429 Filed 3-7-05; 8:45 am]
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