[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56529-56530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15837]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Draft National Assessment of Efforts To Predict and Respond to 
Harmful Algal Blooms in U.S. Waters

ACTION: Notice of draft report release and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) publishes 
this notice to announce the availability of the Draft National 
Assessment of Efforts to Predict and Respond to Harmful Algal Blooms in 
U.S. Waters which was mandated by Congress in the Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-456). This report 
reviews and evaluates short term harmful algal bloom (HAB) prediction 
techniques, and identifies current prevention, control and mitigation 
(PCM) programs and research for freshwater, estuarine and marine HABs 
operating at the national, State, local and tribal level.

DATES: Comments on this draft document must be submitted by 11/20/2006.

ADDRESSES: The Draft National Assessment of Efforts to Predict and 
Respond to Harmful Algal Blooms in U.S. Waters will be available at the 
following location (http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_iwgs.html). 
The public is encouraged to submit  
comments on the draft report electronically to 
E-mail: [email protected]. For those who do 
not have access to a computer, comments on the document may be 
submitted in writing to: Quay Dortch, NOS/NCCOS/CSCOR/
COP, N/SCI2, NOAA, 1305 East West Highway, Building IV Rm 8220, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Quay Dortch by phone 301-713-3338 
x157.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSTP is publishing this draft report as 
mandated by the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Amendments Act 2004 
(Pub. L. 108-456) to request public comments. The report is organized 
into five sections plus five appendices: (1) Executive Summary, (2) 
Legislative Background and Purpose of the Report, (3) Assessment of the 
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Problem in U.S. Waters, (4) Prediction and 
Response Programs in the U.S. and (5) Opportunities for Advancement in 
Prediction and Response Efforts. Appendices include: Appendix I: 
Prediction and Response Programs in the U.S., Appendix II: Other 
National Programs, Appendix III: State, local, and tribal Prediction 
and Response Efforts, Appendix IV: International Programs related to 
HAB prediction and response, and Appendix V: Federal Register notice.

Report Summary

    The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 
108-456) (HABHRCA 2004) reauthorized the original Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (Pub. L. 105-383) of 1998 and 
stipulated generation of five reports to assess and recommend research 
programs on harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia in U.S. waters. 
Section 103 of HABHRCA 2004 requires a Prediction and Response Report. 
This report will review and evaluate HAB prediction and response 
techniques and identify current prevention, control and mitigation 
(PCM) programs for freshwater, estuarine and marine HABs. Prediction 
and response are narrowly defined for the purpose of this report in 
order to avoid overlap with a subsequent report in this series, 
Scientific Assessment of Marine Harmful Algal Blooms.
    The Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and 
Human Health (IWG-4H) of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 
Technology (JSOST), which was tasked with implementing HABHRCA 2004, 
streamlined the reporting process by linking the P&R report (Section 
103) with the National Scientific Research, Development, Demonstration, 
and Technology Transfer Plan on Reducing Impacts from Harmful Algal 
Blooms (Section 104 RDDTT Plan). The P&R report will (1) detail 
Federal, State, and tribal prediction and response related research and 
impact assessments, (2) identify opportunities for improvement of 
prediction and response efforts and associated infrastructure, and (3) 
propose a process to evaluate current prediction and response programs 
in order to develop a coordinated research priorities plan (RDDTT 
Plan). The final step (3) will lead to the development of the second 
report (RDDTT Plan) stipulated by the HABHRCA legislation (Section 
104). The P&R report and the RDDTT Plan together comprise a 
comprehensive evaluation and multi-stakeholder plan to improve the 
national and local response to HABs in U.S. waters.
    It is widely believed that the frequency and geographic 
distribution of HABs have been increasing worldwide. All U.S. coastal 
States have experienced HABs over the last decade. HAB frequency is 
also thought to be increasing in freshwater systems including ponds and 
lakes. In response, Federal, State, local, and tribal governments in 
collaboration with academic institutions have developed a variety of 
programs over the past 10 years both to understand HAB ecology and to 
minimize, prevent, or control HABs and HAB impacts in U.S. waters.
    As a result of the efforts initiated in 1993, there are now 16 
Federal extramural funding programs which either specifically or 
generally target HAB prediction and response and 20

[[Page 56530]]

intramural Federal research programs which are generating exciting new 
technologies for HAB monitoring and control. There are 2 major Federal 
multi-agency funding programs which represent important cross agency 
collaborative efforts. At least 25 States conduct HAB response efforts, 
operating through a wide range of State government departments and non 
profits. Tribes in some States are collaborating with academic, 
Federal, and State governments to monitor the presence of HABs. Given 
the global scope of HABs, U.S. programs also work closely with 
international programs and in some cases contribute funding.
    The P&R report describes the remarkable progress made in some areas 
by Federal prediction and response programs. The greatest effort and 
progress has been made in mitigation, including improved monitoring and 
prediction capabilities, the establishment of event response programs, 
the conduct of economic impact assessments, and establishment of public 
health measures. Studies leading to prevention and control have led to 
new approaches. Infrastructure is being developed, cooperation and 
coordination has improved and incentive based programs have been used 
to address HAB problems.
    Despite progress made, opportunities for advancing response to HABs 
still exist at the Federal and State level. The P&R report outlines 
opportunities for advancement identified by Federal agencies for HAB 
prediction and response and by the HAB community in the report, Harmful 
Algal Research and Response: A National Environmental Science Strategy 
(HARRNESS) 2005-2015. (Ramsdell, J.S., Anderson, D.M., and Glibert, 
P.M. (eds.) Ecological Society of America, Washington, DC, 96pp, 2005). 
This FRN requests public comment on the state of prediction and 
response programs in the U.S. and suggestions for how to improve that 
response.

Comments Request

    The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) welcomes all 
comments on the content of the Draft report. OSTP is specifically 
interested in feedback on
    (1) The current state of efforts (including infrastructure) in 
Prediction and Response to prevent, control, or mitigate Harmful Algal 
Blooms;
    (2) suggestions for specific improvements in those efforts.
    Please adhere to the instructions detailed below for preparing and 
submitting your comments on the Draft National Assessment of Efforts to 
Predict and Respond to Harmful Algal Blooms in U.S. Waters. Using the 
format guidance described below will facilitate the processing of 
reviewer comments and assure that all comments are appropriately 
considered. Please format your comments into the following sections: 
(1) Background information for yourself including name, title, 
organizational affiliation and email or telephone (optional), (2) 
overview or general comments, (3) specific comments with reference to 
pages or line numbers where possible, and (4) specific comments about 
the current state of efforts in prevention, control and mitigation of 
HABs (PCM), including infrastructure. Please number and print 
identifying information at the top of all pages.
    Public comments may be submitted from September 27, 2006 to 
November 20, 2006.

M. David Hodge,
Operations Manager.
 [FR Doc. E6-15837 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
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