[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 70482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28537]
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice: (12-102)]
Notice of Establishment of a NASA Federal Advisory Committee;
Applied Sciences Advisory Committee
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
(Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), and pursuant to Section 314(a) of the
NASA Authorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-155), the NASA
Administrator has determined that the establishment of the Applied
Sciences Advisory Committee as a Federal advisory committee under FACA
is necessary and in the public interest in connection with duties
imposed upon NASA by law. This determination follows consultation with
the Committee Management Secretariat, U.S. General Services
Administration (GSA), in accordance with Section 102-3.60(a) of the GSA
Final Rule on Federal Advisory Committee Management (41 CFR parts 101-6
and 102-3).
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Meister, Strategic
Integration and Management Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
Headquarters, 300 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358-1557.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: Section 313 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005
directs that NASA establish a program of grants for competitively-
awarded pilot projects to explore the integrated use of sources of
remote sensing and other geospatial information to address State,
local, regional and tribal agency needs. Section 314(a) of this Act
requires that NASA establish an advisory committee to monitor the
program established under Section 313. Pursuant to Section 314(a), in
late 2008, NASA established the Applied Sciences Analysis Group (ASAG)
as a task group under the auspices of the Earth Science Subcommittee of
the NASA Advisory Council. It has been responsible for providing
strategic and programmatic guidance for planning and prioritizing the
Earth Science Division's Applied Sciences Program activities and has
served as a community-based interdisciplinary forum for analysis. The
AGAG held its first meeting in January 2009, with one or two meetings
per year taking place since then. The ASAG has been governed by a Terms
of Reference. During 2012, NASA has determined that the establishment
of a separate independent Federal advisory committee known as the
Applied Sciences Advisory Committee (ASAC) is more in line with the
letter and spirit of the statutory requirement.
Nature and Purpose: The ASAC will be governed by a formal charter,
consistent with FACA, the GSA Final Rule noted above, and related
regulations, policies and guidelines. It shall draw upon the expertise
of its members and other sources to provide advice and make
recommendations to the Director, Earth Science Division, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, on Applied Sciences programs,
policies, plans and priorities. The ASAC's recommendations and analysis
can be used to inform decisions on the programmatic scope and
priorities, as well as the implementation of Applied Sciences programs.
In addition, the ASAC will provide a regular forum for broad discussion
of Earth science applications and the role of Applied Sciences within
and outside of NASA. The ASAC will function solely as an advisory body
and comply fully with the provisions of FACA.
Membership: The ASAC will consist of approximately 9-12 members who
will serve as Special Government Employees for a two-year term,
renewable at the discretion of the Director, Earth Science Division,
Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. The ASAC Chair will
also serve as a member of the Earth Science Subcommittee of the NASA
Advisory Council.
Meetings: The ASAC shall meet approximately one to two times per
year or as required by the Director, Earth Science Division, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters.
Duration: Since the ASAC is a nondiscretionary Federal advisory
committee required by Federal statute; it is envisioned to be a
continuing entity.
Designated Federal Officer: The NASA Designated Federal Officer
(DFO) for ASAC is: Mr. Peter Meister, Strategic Integration and
Management Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters,
300 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358-1557.
Patricia D. Rausch,
Advisory Committee Management Officer, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-28537 Filed 11-23-12; 8:45 am]
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