[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44913-44914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15459]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket Number 050722197-5197-01]


Partnerships in the Provision of Environmental Information

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
proposing to clarify its internal Policy on Partnerships in the 
Provision of Environmental Information, issued December 1, 2004. This 
clarification is intended to address apparent misunderstanding 
regarding the intent of the policy with respect to the role played by 
the private sector in the environmental information enterprise as a 
whole.

DATES: To be sure that your comments are considered, we must receive 
them by 12 p.m., e.s.t., November 2, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The proposed clarification to the policy is available 
electronically at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/partnershippolicy. Comments 
are requested electronically; please send comments to 
[email protected]. Requests for hard copies or comments in 
letter form should be sent to Partnership Policy, Room 11426, 1325 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sokich 301-713-0258. 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) recognizes there has been some misunderstanding 
regarding the intent of its ``Policy on Partnerships in the Provision 
of Environmental Information,'' issued December 1, 2004. The present 
policy does not adequately express NOAA's views of the critical role 
played by the private sector in the environmental information 
enterprise as a whole. NOAA is sensitive to the concerns and 
prerogatives of the private sector, and has no intent to displace it. 
We recognize that the public interest is

[[Page 44914]]

served by the ability of private sector entities to provide diverse 
services to meet the varied needs of specific individuals, 
organizations and economic entities. At the same time, NOAA has a 
responsibility to help protect lives and property and enhance the 
national economy.
    The present standard of NOAA conduct is contained in Section 4 of 
the policy which states that NOAA will give ``due consideration'' to 
the abilities of the private sector and academic communities to provide 
diverse services and act in the public interest when making decisions 
regarding NOAA information services. NOAA proposes clarifying Section 4 
to state that NOAA will ``take advantage of existing capabilities and 
services of commercial and academic sectors to avoid duplication and 
competition in areas not related to the NOAA mission.''
    The proposed clarification is intended to emphasize the statement 
in the present policy that NOAA will not haphazardly institute 
significant changes in existing information dissemination activities 
without first carefully considering the views and capabilities of the 
private sector. In that regard, it emphasizes that NOAA will endeavor 
to take advantage of capabilities and services that already exist in 
the commercial sector.
    NOAA is committed to open consultation with all who are affected by 
NOAA's services, including the private sector. The American 
Meteorological Society has established a new Commission to foster 
constructive discussion within the enterprise as a whole. NOAA will use 
this and other appropriate mechanisms to consult openly on these 
matters as we move forward.
    In sum, NOAA will interpret and apply the policy to recognize the 
unique capabilities of the private sector in order to accomplish our 
shared goal of fostering a robust and successful environmental 
information enterprise.
    Accordingly, NOAA seeks comment on the proposed change to Section 
4, which would read as follows:
    4. The nation benefits from government information disseminated 
both by Federal agencies and by diverse nonfederal parties, including 
commercial and not-for-profit entities. NOAA recognizes the government 
best serves the public interest by cooperating with private sector and 
academic and research entities to meet the varied needs of specific 
individuals, organizations, and economic entities. NOAA will take 
advantage of existing capabilities and services of commercial and 
academic sectors to avoid duplication and competition in areas not 
related to the NOAA mission. NOAA will give due consideration to these 
abilities and consider the effects of its decisions on the activities 
of these entities, in accordance with its responsibilities as an agency 
of the U.S. Government, to serve the public interest and advance the 
nation's environmental information enterprise as a whole.
    For ease of comparison, the present Section 4 reads as follows:
    4. NOAA recognizes the public interest is served by the ability of 
private sector entities and the academic and research community to 
provide diverse services to meet the varied needs of specific 
individuals, organizations, and economic entities. The nation benefits 
from government information disseminated both by Federal agencies and 
by diverse nonfederal parties, including commercial and not-for-profit 
entities. NOAA will give due consideration to these abilities, and 
consider the effects of its decisions on the activities of these 
entities, in accordance with its responsibilities as an agency of the 
U.S. Government, to serve the public interest and advance the nation's 
environmental information enterprise as a whole.

    Dated: August 1, 2005.
David L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.
[FR Doc. 05-15459 Filed 8-3-05; 8:45 am]
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