[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 33742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2990]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Coral Reef Conservation Program External Review

AGENCY: Coral Reef Conservation Program, NOAA, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 supports effective 
management and sound science to preserve, sustain, and restore valuable 
coral reef ecosystems. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP 
or Program) is a partnership among four NOAA Line Offices (i.e., the 
National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the 
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, and 
the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) working on coral reef 
issues. The program carries out, directly and in partnership with 
scientific, private, government and nongovernmental groups, a wide 
range of coral reef-related activities, including mapping and 
monitoring, management and capacity building, strategic research, and 
education and outreach.
    In order to evaluate and improve the success of its efforts to 
understand and conserve coral reefs, the CRCP is undertaking a 
comprehensive external review of the program. To this end, the CRCP is 
seeking external feedback, including public comment, on the program's 
approach to balancing competing priorities.
    An independent contractor will summarize all comments received in 
response to this request and will provide them to an expert review 
panel scheduled to convene in late September 2007.

DATES: Your comments must be submitted no later than July 19, 2007.

ADDRESSES: This announcement contains guidance on how to provide 
feedback, including some of the questions for which the CRCP is seeking 
comment. The questions are also available for download via the Internet 
on the CRCP Web site at http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html. You 
may submit comments electronically via e-mail to 
[email protected]. You may also submit comments in writing to: 
CRCP, c/o Roger Griffis, 1305 East-West Highway, Sta. 10122, (N/ORM), 
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Griffis by mail at CRCP, NOAA, 
1305 East-West Highway, Sta. 10122, (N/ORM), Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910 or phone: (301) 713-3155 ext. 152 or e-mail: 
[email protected] or visit the CRCP Web site at http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CRCP's external review will encompass 
program activities between 2002 and 2006. An independent, external 
panel of seven experts in coral reef and natural resource science and 
management will convene for a three day meeting in late September 2007 
to review materials and information about the CRCP, develop findings, 
and make recommendations.
    The program is seeking input on the questions listed below. Please 
note that you do not need to address all questions, and the CRCP 
welcomes additional input on topics not covered in the questions 
listed.
    Although the CRCP is the most interested in obtaining feedback 
based on the public's interaction and experience with the Program, 
background information concerning the CRCP and its activities is 
available from the CRCP Web site at http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html. The CRCP is seeking input on the following questions:
     Is the Program focusing efforts on the right suite of 
activities to advance coral reef conservation?
     Are the Program's efforts in various geographic areas 
appropriate to address the issues in each region?
     Are the Program's science and observation efforts (e.g., 
research, mapping, and monitoring) adequately addressing management 
needs, and informing and resulting in management actions?
     Have the Program's education and outreach efforts been 
effective in reaching the proper audiences?
     Is the Program providing effective leadership and building 
useful partnerships to advance coral reef conservation?
     How can the CRCP improve its impact and performance in the 
future?
    An electronic version of these questions is available on the CRCP 
Web site at http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html.
    (Optional) When you submit your comments, you are welcome to 
provide background information about yourself, such as your 
organization(s), area(s) of expertise, and experience with the CRCP. 
This information will be used by the independent consultant who will 
compile and summarizes the comments.
    Public comments may be submitted from June 19, 2007 [publication 
date], through July 19, 2007 [30 days after].

    Dated: June 13, 2007.
David M. Kennedy,
Program Manager, Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration
[FR Doc. 07-2990 Filed 6-18-07; 8:45 am]
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