[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18090-18091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3396]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Notice of Release of Planning Document for the U.S. Ocean 
Research Priorities Plan; Request for Public Comment

ACTION: Notice of release of planning document for the U.S. Ocean 
Research Priorities Plan and Request for Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the release of the planning document for 
the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Request for Public Comment 
by the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Joint 
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST). This planning 
document was prepared to serve as a basis for discussion of theme 
priorities in the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan.
    Dates and Addresses: The planning document for the development of 
the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan is now available for public 
review and can be accessed at http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/docs/jsost_orpp_plandoc.pdf pdf. Comments on the development of the U.S. Ocean 
Research Priorities Plan must be received by the National Science and 
Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology 
no later than the close of business on Monday, May 15, 2006 (45 days).
    Address for comments: Only electronic (e-mail) comments will be 
accepted. Individuals who wish to provide comments should refer to the 
guidelines for comment submission available at http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html. Comments should be sent to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this notice, 
please contact Shelby Walker, Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 
Technology, CCSP/USGCRP Office, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 250, 
Washington, DC 20006. Telephone: (202) 419-3464. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the reformulation of ocean 
policy, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan (OAP) developed a governance 
structure that coordinates the tasks and goals of all of the Federal 
agencies involved in ocean science and management. This multi-tiered 
governance structure has the goal of advancing ocean science and use in 
an integrated and productive manner. To that end, the JSOST, as 
directed by the OAP and governed by the Committee on Ocean Policy 
(COP), the NSTC, and the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and 
Resource Management Integration (ICOSRMI), will develop an Ocean 
Research Priorities Plan. The goal of the Ocean Research Priorities 
Plan is to formulate the priorities for ocean science and technology 
initiatives across the wide scope of societal interests. The Ocean 
Research Priorities Plan will subsequently be complemented by the Ocean 
Research Priorities Implementation Strategy that will define the 
fundamental principles for guiding actions and programs in support of 
the research priorities. A framework for the

[[Page 18091]]

Ocean Research Priorities Plan was developed by the JSOST and approved 
by the ICOSRMI in April 2005. This framework consists of: Vision; 
Challenges; Principles and Critical Elements; Themes; Goals; Resources; 
and Evaluating Performance.
    Central to the Ocean Research Priorities Plan was the 
identification of specific themes that would incorporate the scope of 
the use, impact, and interaction of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes 
with society. These themes were:
    1. Enhancing human health.
    2. Improving ecosystem health.
    3. Sustaining natural resources.
    4. Promoting marine operations.
    5. The ocean's role in climate change and variability.
    6. Mitigating effects of natural hazards.
    7. Improving quality of life.
    In addition, several elements cut across all of these themes and 
were identified as cross-cutting themes. They include:
    1. Basic understanding of the ocean.
    2. Research support through ocean observations and infrastructure.
    3. Expanded ocean education.
    With the framework and the initial description of the themes as 
planning materials, the NSTC JSOST now seeks input and comment from all 
relevant communities. This planning document is intended to serve as a 
foundation for discussion and community input during the public comment 
period, and associated public workshop in Denver, Colorado on April 17-
20, 2006. The expectation is that public comments will help prioritize 
among the short-term and long-term opportunities available within the 
ocean sciences research field, which will in turn inform the 
development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan. Additional 
information on the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan, 
the public comment period, and the public workshop is available at: 
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_prioritiesplan.html html.

M. David Hodge,
Operations Manager.
[FR Doc. 06-3396 Filed 4-7-06; 8:45 am]
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