[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29926-29927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7966]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 060516133-6133-01]


The Preliminary Report of the NOAA Science Advisory Board, 
Hurricane Intensity Research Working Group, External Review of NOAA's 
Hurricane Intensity Research and Development Enterprise

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 SAB Hurricane Intensity Research Working 
Group (here called the HIRWG) external review of NOAA's Hurricane 
Intensity Research and Development Enterprise for public comment. The 
preliminary report of the HIRWG has been prepared 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 Hurricane Intensity 
research and development enterprise.

DATES: Comments on this preliminary report must be submitted by 5 p.m. 
EDT on June 23, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The Preliminary Report of the HIRWG will be available on the 
NOAA Science Advisory Board Web site at 
http://www.sab.noaa.gov/reports/SAB_HIRWG_0506.pdf.
    The public is encouraged to submit comments electronically to 
[email protected]. For individuals 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 of the HIRWG has been 
drafted 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 hurricane intensity research and development enterprise. This 
review addresses questions and draft 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 
hurricane intensity research and development enterprise. The report 
recommends that NOAA strengthen its efforts to develop numerical models 
which incorporate essential physics and have sufficient

[[Page 29927]]

resolution to resolve hurricane structure. The essential physics 
includes full representation of clouds and a much improved 
representation of the exchanges of heat, moisture, and momentum at the 
atmosphere-ocean surface. Development of these representations will 
require extensive analysis of data from carefully planned field studies 
using both traditional airborne and ground-based observing systems and 
novel observing platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
    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 preliminary 
report. We also request comments on any inconsistencies perceived 
within the report, and possible omissions of important topics or 
issues. This preliminary report is being issued for comment only and is 
not intended for interim use. For any shortcoming noted within the 
preliminary report, please propose specific remedies. Suggested changes 
will be incorporated where appropriate, and a final report will be 
posted on the SAB Web site.
    Please follow these instructions for preparing and submitting 
comments. Using the format guidance described below will facilitate the 
processing of 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, e-mail 
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: May 18, 2006.
Mark E. Brown,
Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administrative Officer, Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-7966 Filed 5-23-06; 8:45 am]
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