[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 135 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40300-40301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16039]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 080612761-8762-01]


Draft of the Education Strategic Plan for NOAA: Engaging 
Educators, Students and the Public To Meet NOAA's Mission Goals

AGENCY: Education Council, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
revising its Education Strategic Plan (Plan). NOAA recently received 
broad legislative authority from Congress through the America COMPETES 
Act to develop, support, promote, and coordinate education activities 
to enhance public awareness and understanding of the ocean, coastal, 
Great Lakes, and atmospheric science. The draft Plan establishes goals 
for NOAA education for the next twenty years as specified by the 
America COMPETES Act. NOAA encourages all stakeholders and users to 
review the Plan and provide comments.

DATES: Comments on this draft Plan must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on 
August 29, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The draft Plan will be available on the following Web site 
http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/draft_ed_plan.html.
    Comments should be submitted electronically by e-mailing to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Storck, Education Analyst, NOAA 
Office of Education, Phone: 202-482-2226, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout its two-hundred year history, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has imparted 
scientific knowledge of the Earth's natural systems to benefit society. 
During this time, education was guided by the vision of leadership, the 
findings of researchers, the mandates of legislation for programs 
within NOAA, and to respond to the needs of society.
    In 2007, Congress officially recognized the role of education in 
NOAA with the passage of the America COMPETES Act (Pub. L. 110-69). 
This legislation mandates NOAA to ``conduct, develop, support, promote, 
and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels 
to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great 
Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public 
and other coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in 
ocean and atmospheric science and policy careers. In conducting those 
activities, the Administrator shall build upon the educational programs 
and activities of the agency.
    The Administrator, appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration programs, ocean atmospheric science and education 
experts, and interested members of the public shall develop a science 
education plan setting forth education goals and strategies for the 
Administration, as well as programmatic actions to carry out such goals 
and priorities over the next 20 years, and evaluate and update such 
plan every 5 years.''
    In support of these priorities, the legislation provides a mandate 
for the entire NOAA community to advance education efforts, focus them, 
coordinate them, and engage a broad community of partners in creating 
an environmentally literate society and a skilled workforce of 
scientists, managers and administrators in support of a sustainable 
economic future.
    NOAA is revising its Education Strategic Plan as specified in the 
America COMPETES Act.
    The Plan was developed through a collaborative effort led by 
educators across NOAA to guide the implementation of this new mandate 
and to advance the long standing educational mission of the agency.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the content of the draft Plan and 
requests comments on any inconsistencies perceived within the Plan, and 
possible omissions of important topics or issues. This draft Plan is 
being issued for comment only and is not intended for interim use. For 
any shortcoming noted within the draft Plan, please propose specific 
remedies. Suggested changes will be incorporated where appropriate, and 
a final Plan will be posted on the NOAA Web site.
    Please follow the format guidance for preparing and submitting 
comments. Using the format guidance will facilitate the processing of 
comments and assure that all comments are appropriately considered.

[[Page 40301]]

    Overview comments should be provided first and should be numbered. 
Comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs or lines of 
the section should identify the page and line numbers to which they 
apply. Please number each page of your comments.

    Dated: July 8, 2008.
Louisa Koch,
Director of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-16039 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
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