[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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