[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 31 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7418-7419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-690]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions 
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013)

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and solicitation of public comments on 
the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions 
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013).

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SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to announce availability of the 
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions 
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013) for public comment.

DATES: Comments must be received before 11:59 p.m. EDT, March 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Electronic submission of comments via e-mail to 
[email protected] is preferred. Comments may also be sent by fax to 
(301) 713-4353 or mail to NOAA National Ocean Service, National Centers 
for Coastal Ocean Science, c/o Marybeth Bauer, PhD, 1315 East-West 
Highway, NOS HQTR Route N/SCI, Silver Spring, MD 20910. E-mail and fax 
comments should state ``Comments'' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marybeth Bauer, Ph.D., by e-mail at 
[email protected] (preferred) or mail at NOAA National Ocean Service, 
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1315 East-West Highway, NOS 
HQTR Route N/SCI, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or phone at (301) 713-3020. 
E-mail requests for information should state ``Request for 
Information'' in the subject line. An electronic copy of the National 
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions Strategic Plan 
(FY2008-FY2013) is available at: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/human/strategy/NCCOSDraftHDStrategicPlan.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean 
Science (NCCOS) provides coastal

[[Page 7419]]

resource managers, other decision makers, and stakeholders with the 
ecosystem information and tools needed to balance society's 
environmental, social, and economic goals in mitigating and adapting to 
stressors such as climate change, extreme natural events, pollution, 
invasive species, and resource use.
    Humans are integral to ecosystems, and the human dimensions of 
ecosystems are an integral focus of the science NCCOS conducts and 
conveys. NOAA's Strategic Plan (FY2006-FY2011) (available at: http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/pdfs/STRATEGIC%20PLAN/Strategic_Plan_2006_FINAL_04282005.pdf) defines an ecosystem as a 
geographically specified system of organisms, including humans, the 
environment, and the processes that control its dynamics. An 
environment encompasses the biological, chemical, physical, and social 
conditions that surround organisms. The human dimensions of ecosystems 
can be expressed in terms of three points of interaction between 
environmental and human systems: human causes, consequences, and 
responses to environmental change. Encompassing a broad array of social 
science, humanities, and other disciplines, human dimensions research 
aims to understand these human-environmental interactions and 
facilitate use of this understanding to assist decisions affecting 
environmental processes and their societal outcomes.
    NCCOS developed a Draft Human Dimensions Strategic Plan (FY2008-
2013) to define and implement human dimensions research critical to 
support an ecosystem approach to the management of coastal and ocean 
resources. The plan expands a Societal Stressors Objective in NCCOS's 
Strategic Plan (http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/documents/strategicplan.pdf). The final Human Dimensions Strategic Plan will 
guide development of the NCCOS ecosystem science agenda, workforce, 
organization, partnerships, and other capacities, including research 
conducted through extramural partners, grants, and contracts. Planning, 
programming, budgeting, and execution of NCCOS activities will reflect 
the objectives of the final plan through FY 2013.
    The draft plan puts forth the following human dimensions research 
goals and objectives. First, to provide human dimensions information 
essential to support an ecosystem approach to coastal and ocean 
resource management (Goal 1), the plan recommends identifying and 
characterizing stakeholders and their values (Objective 1.1), 
monitoring human dimensions (Objective 1.2), assessing and monitoring 
human causes of ecosystem stress (Objective 1.3), documenting 
traditional and local ecological knowledge (Objective 1.4), addressing 
value and ethical dimensions (Objective 1.5), and developing 
institutional strategies (Objective 1.6). Second, to provide integrated 
ecosystem information essential to support an ecosystem approach to 
coastal and ocean resource management, the plan recommends developing 
and operationalizing integrative information products and tools 
(Objective 2.1) and defining and implementing integrated ecosystem 
assessments (Objective 2.2). Third, to promote resilient ecosystems 
(Goal 3), the plan recommends assessing the cumulative impacts of 
hazards on coastal communities (Objective 3.1), assessing risk and 
vulnerability (Objective 3.2), developing risk communication strategies 
(Objective 3.3), and evaluating forecasting and other capabilities 
(Objective 3.4). Finally, to provide critical support (Goal 4), the 
plan recommends building essential organizational capacities (Objective 
4.1) and developing communications, outreach, and educational 
strategies (Objective 4.2).
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments on the Draft 
Human Dimensions Strategic Plan (FY2008-2013) to ensure the value of 
the final document for coastal and ocean resource science and 
governance. NCCOS encourages Federal and non-Federal Government 
partners, resource managers, other decision makers, stakeholders, and 
other interested parties to submit comments. We especially encourage 
comments related to the value of the plan to support an ecosystem 
approach to the management of coastal and ocean resources, and its 
collaborative implementation.
    To facilitate efficient and thorough consideration of all 
submissions, please format your comments as follows: (1) Background 
information on yourself, including name, title, organizational 
affiliation, and contact information including email address; (2) 
general comments; and (3) specific comments with references to line 
numbers. Please follow all substantive, non-editorial comments with 
well-developed suggestions for revision. Please including identifying 
information at the top of all pages. The Draft NCCOS Human Dimensions 
Strategic Plan (FY2008-2013) is being issued for comment only and is 
not intended for interim use.

    Dated: February 8, 2007.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
[FR Doc. 07-690 Filed 2-14-07; 8:45 am]
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