[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 116 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33449-33450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11701]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket Number: 070327071-7070-01]


Draft Revision of the NOAA Five-Year Research Plan

AGENCY: 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 publishes this notice to announce the availability of the 
revised draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan for public comment. The 
Research Plan is revised to update it for 2007-2011.

DATES: Comments on this draft document must be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT 
on July 18, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan will be available on the 
NOAA Research Council Web site at http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/plans.html.
    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 Research 
Council, c/o Mr. Derek Parks, Silver Spring Metro Center Bldg. 3, Room 
11335, R/PPE, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Derek Parks, Silver Spring Metro 
Center Bldg. 3, Room 11335, R/PPE, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301-734-1186, Fax: 301-713-0158, 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 Research 
Council Web site at: http://www.nrc.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA is publishing this notice to announce 
the availability of the draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan Draft for 
public comment. The NOAA Research Council is seeking public comment 
from all interested parties. The NOAA 5-Year Research Plan Draft is 
being issued for comment only and is not intended for interim use. 
Suggested changes will be incorporated where appropriate, and the final 
document will be posted on the NOAA Research Council Web site.
    The NOAA 5-Year Research Plan is being revised by the NOAA Research 
Council to update the original NOAA 5-Year Research Plan, published in 
January 2005. The revisions reflect the evolution of NOAA's research 
activities and priorities since the document's original publication. 
The draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan is consistent with the NOAA 
Strategic Plan and the NOAA 20-Year Research Vision.
    The draft NOAA 5-Year Research Plan frames research in NOAA within 
the context of societal needs and by establishing overarching research 
questions encompassing critical environmental challenges facing the 
United States today and in the future. This plan explicitly states 
priority research areas for the short term and the milestones by which 
NOAA intends to measure progress within these areas. Significant 
changes in this revision of

[[Page 33450]]

the NOAA 5-Year Research Plan include expanded discussion of critical 
research tools as well as the transition of research to application, a 
recognition of the value of transformational research, and a new 
chapter on technology and mission support. The draft NOAA 5-Year 
Research Plan also provides clear linkages between its research 
milestones and the NOAA Strategic Plan.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the draft NOAA 5-Year 
Research Plan. We also request comments on any inconsistencies 
perceived within the document and possible omissions of important 
topics or issues. For any shortcoming noted within the draft document, 
please propose specific remedies.
    Please follow these instructions for preparing and submitting 
comments. Using the format guidance described below will facilitate the 
processing of reviewer comments and assure that all comments are 
appropriately considered. Overview comments should be provided first. 
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 each page of your 
comments.

    Dated: June 13, 2007.
Terry Bevels,
Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-11701 Filed 6-15-07; 8:45 am]
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