[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 118 (Monday, June 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29523-29524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14592]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources, National Science and Technology 
Council; Update of Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United 
States for the Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan and 
Implementation Strategy (aka ``Charting the Course''): Request for 
Public Input

ACTION: Request for Public Input to an update of the January 2007 
Charting the Course

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SUMMARY: In January 2007, Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the 
United States for the Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan 
and Implementation Strategy (Charting the Course) was published. 
Charting the Course was based on input gathered from public and private 
sources over a period of several months, and it has provided a basis 
for coordinated ocean science and technology investments. In view of 
scientific advancements and recognition of new ocean management 
challenges, the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology 
(JSOST) is embarking upon an effort to update and refresh Charting the 
Course. This notice solicits public input to inform the drafting of an 
updated Charting the Course.

DATES: Public comments must be received by July 17, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Only electronic (e-mail) comments will be accepted. Comments 
should be sent to: [email protected].

[[Page 29524]]

    Please note that all submissions may be posted without change to 
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/jsost.html, including any personal 
information provided.
    The public comment period will close on July 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. 
EDT. Any comments received after the close of the comment period will 
not be considered.
    The full text of the January 2007 Charting the Course is posted at 
http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_prioritiesplan.html).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, 
please contact [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    This national plan, released in January of 2007, is intended to 
present ocean research priorities that focus on the most compelling 
issues in key areas of interaction between society and the ocean. The 
goal of Charting the Course is to formulate priorities for ocean 
science and technology initiatives across the wide scope of societal 
interests and to define the fundamental principles for guiding actions 
and programs in support of the research priorities. This document also 
provides guidance on how the various ocean science sectors (government, 
academia, industry, and non-governmental entities) can and should be 
engaged, individually or through partnerships, to address the areas of 
greatest research priority and opportunity.
    Charting the Course was developed through a collaborative effort 
involving academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, state and 
local governments, and anyone with an interest in ocean issues. The 
JSOST also developed a series of public and conference information 
sessions to provide updates on the development of the national ocean 
research priorities.
    Charting the Course concisely gathers together and lays out in a 
single document the issues and priorities agreed to across the ocean 
sciences community. It has supported the creation of programs and 
projects where there were none, and it has guided priorities in federal 
agency budget submissions beginning in Fiscal Year 2008 and continuing 
through the latest budget submission, Fiscal Year 2010. The JSOST 
recognizes the need to harness momentum and magnify this progress.
    In the two and a half years since Charting the Course was released, 
much has changed in the understanding of the ocean, its processes and 
its role in the Earth system as a whole. Much has also changed in our 
ability to access, explore, observe, and model the ocean and its 
communities. In light of these changes, and based on encouragement and 
input from the federal ocean community's external advisory body--the 
Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP)--and the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, the JSOST is building a way forward to 
refresh Charting the Course and revisit the priorities it sets forth.
    The first and most critical step in this way forward is reaching 
out to all interested parties for comments on how the current 
priorities should be revised for the refreshed Charting the Course. For 
example, are there issues that should be listed as priorities under the 
current six societal themes? Are there important areas that the 
original Charting the Course did not capture? As with developing 
Charting the Course, the JSOST considers community input and 
involvement in updating the national ocean research priorities a vital 
component in the process. JSOST is also working with ORRAP to 
additionally ensure proper community input and communication. All input 
received will be compiled, cataloged and thoroughly considered by the 
federal agency writing teams tasked with crafting a refreshed look at 
our nation's ocean research priorities.
    The JSOST is requesting input in this community effort to revise, 
update and focus Charting the Course. Please provide complete contact 
information (name, affiliation, physical address, phone, e-mail) and 
note which of the following Charting the Course themes your comments 
address:
     Stewardship of our natural and cultural ocean resources
     Increasing resilience to natural hazards
     Enabling marine operations
     The ocean's role in climate
     Improving ecosystem health
     Enhancing human health
     Other
    You may also elect to provide comments on the following Charting 
the Course cross-cutting areas:
     Observations and Infrastructure
     Ocean Education
     Enhancing Basic Understanding
    The input obtained through this process will be fully considered as 
the JSOST drafts the updated Charting the Course.

M. David Hodge,
Operations Manager, OSTP.
[FR Doc. E9-14592 Filed 6-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-W9-P