[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72296-72297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6765]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
Cooperative Institute (CI) Interim Handbook, Version 1.0, December 2005

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 implementation of 
the new NOAA Policy on Cooperative Institutes (NOAA Administrative 
Order Series, NAO 216-107, effective date September 2, 2005); and the 
availability of the NOAA CI Interim Handbook, Version 1.0, December 
2005, for public comment.

DATES: Comments on this draft document must be submitted by January 18, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: The NOAA CI Interim Handbook is available at http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/docs/fedreg/ci-handbook120505.pdf.
    The public is encouraged to submit comments on the NOAA CI Interim 
Handbook (CI Handbook) electronically to [email protected]. For 
commenters who do not have access to a computer, comments on the CI 
Handbook may be submitted in writing to Dr. John Cortinas, Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Laboratories and Cooperative 
Institutes Office, 1315 East West Highway, R/LCx2, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Cortinas, Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research, Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes 
Office, 1315 East West Highway, R/LCx2, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 
Phone (301) 713-9121 ext. 206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CI Handbook is being issued pursuant to 
the authority of NAO 216-107, NOAA Policy on Cooperative Institutes 
(http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/~ames/NAOs/Chap--216/naos--216--
107.html; hereafter, referred to as the NOAA CI Policy), Section 1.03 
(2005), and applies to all NOAA Line Offices. The NOAA CI Policy 
originated from the January 2004 NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) 
recommendation to develop a NOAA-wide process by which CIs are 
established and maintained. A copy of the SAB report is available at 
http://www.sab.noaa.gov/

[[Page 72297]]

Reports/RRT--Report-080604.pdf. The final NOAA CI Policy and the CI 
Handbook were developed after soliciting public comments on the 
document entitled, ``Proposed NOAA Policy and Process for Creating and 
Managing Cooperative Institutes'', (70 FR 11195, March 8, 2005). All 
comments received by NOAA during that period were considered when 
writing the NOAA CI Policy and the CI Handbook.
    The CI Handbook outlines procedures for establishing, soliciting, 
awarding, maintaining, reviewing, renewing, and closing NOAA CIs. The 
CI Handbook references policies and procedures for use by NOAA Line 
Offices (LOs) for ensuring the consistent implementation of 
legislation, regulations, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
circulars, executive orders (EOs) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Interim Manual (http://oam.ocs.doc.gov/GMD_interimManual.html; hereafter referred to as the 
DOC Manual). The CI Handbook is being issued as supplemental operating 
unit-specific policies and procedures to cover items not covered by the 
DOC Manual to address programmatic requirements for the NOAA CIs, and 
does not conflict with the provisions of the DOC Manual.
    The CI Handbook applies to all NOAA CIs established after the 
effective date of NAO 216-107 and to all competitive NOAA CIs 
established under the DOC Manual from February, 2002 through September 
2, 2005. All other CIs established prior to the effective date of the 
NAO will continue to be maintained by the responsible NOAA LO under the 
terms of their existing agreement and extension, but will be subject to 
the guidelines of the CI Handbook to the maximum extent possible.
    NOAA has elected to issue an interim Handbook and to make it 
immediately effective, to the extent practicable, since it is extremely 
important to provide NOAA LOs with interim direction to ensure 
consistent interpretation and implementation of the NAO. NOAA is also 
committed to provide adequate opportunities for the public to comment 
on the administrative policies of the NOAA CIs and is now requesting 
public comment on the CI Handbook. All comments will be considered in 
the development of the final version of the CI Handbook.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the CI Handbook, 
particularly those on any inconsistencies perceived within the CI 
Handbook and possible omissions of important topics or issues. For any 
shortcoming noted within the CI Handbook, please propose specific 
remedies.
    Please submit comments according 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 and ensure proper receipt. Please provide background 
information about yourself on the first page of your comments: Your 
name(s), organization(s), and area(s) 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 and 
paragraph numbers to which they apply. Please number and print 
identifying information at the top of all pages.
    The full text of the CI Interim Handbook is available on the World 
Wide Web at http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/docs/fedreg/ci-handbook120505.pdf. Paper copies are available upon request from the 
address and phone numbers listed earlier in this notice. All public 
comments will be accessible on http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci.

    Dated: November 29, 2005.
John L. Hayes,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
 [FR Doc. E5-6765 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
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