[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 20392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5904]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket Number: 060411100-6100-01]


Science Advisory Board; The Preliminary Report of the External 
Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research and Science Enterprise Panel

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: NOAA Research (OAR) publishes this notice on behalf of the 
NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) to announce the availability of the 
preliminary report of the External Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research 
and Science Enterprise panel (here called the External Ecosystem Task 
Team) for public comment. The preliminary report of the External 
Ecosystem Task Team is compiled pursuant to the request from the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to the SAB to conduct 
an external review of NOAA's ecosystem research and science enterprise.

DATES: Comments on this draft must be submitted by the close of 
business May 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The Preliminary Report of the External Ecosystem Task Team 
will be available on the NOAA Science Advisory Board Web site at http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/prelim_eett0306.pdf.
    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 Science 
Advisory Board (SAB) c/o Dr. Cynthia Decker, Silver Spring Metro Center 
Bldg. 3, Room 11117, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive 
Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11117, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301-713-9121, Fax: 301-
713-3515, E-mail: [email protected]) during normal business hours 
of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or visit the 
NOAA SAB Web site at http://www.sab.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preliminary report will be posted on the 
SAB Web site. The SAB is seeking public comment from all interested 
parties. This preliminary report is being issued for comment only and 
is not intended for interim use. Suggested changes will be incorporated 
where appropriate.
    The preliminary report of the External Ecosystem Task Team is 
compiled pursuant to the request from the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere to the SAB to conduct an external review of 
NOAA's ecosystem research and science enterprise. This review addresses 
questions and drafts recommendations regarding the appropriateness of 
the mix of scientific activities conducted and/or sponsored by NOAA to 
its mission and on the organization of NOAA ecosystem research and 
science enterprise. The SAB is chartered under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with the 
responsibility to advise the Under Secretary on long- and short-term 
strategies for research, education, and application of science to 
resource management and environmental assessment and prediction.
    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 and place 
your name at the top of each page.

    Dated: April 13, 2006.
Stephen B. Brandt,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-5904 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]
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