[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75609-75610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29676]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8978]


Updated Call for Reviewers of the World Ocean Assessment

AGENCY: U.S. Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a Certification.

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    The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the National 
Ocean Council, requests expert review of the draft World Ocean 
Assessment.
    The United Nations (UN) has embarked on a regular process for 
global reporting on, and assessment of, the state of the marine 
environment, including socioeconomic aspects, the product of which is 
called the World Ocean Assessment (WOA). The projected, revised 
completion date for the first WOA is September 2015. Subsequent WOAs 
are expected to be generated every five years to document trends in the 
state of the marine environment. The WOA includes more than fifty 
subjects grouped within four main themes: Marine environment and 
understanding of the ocean's role in the global integrated Earth 
system; food security and food safety; human activities that influence 
the ocean or are influenced by the ocean; and marine biological 
diversity. A scientific and technical summary will integrate content to 
show linkages through interdisciplinary subjects such as human impacts, 
ecosystem services, and habitats. More information regarding the 
evolution and methodology of the WOA

[[Page 75610]]

can be found at www.worldoceanassessment.org.
    This fall, UN Member States will have an opportunity to review the 
draft WOA, which is expected to comprise 50 chapters (approximately 15 
pages each) and a 70-page technical summary; the outline (http://www.un.org/Depts/los/global_reporting/Outline_eng.pdf) illustrates the 
very wide range of expertise needed for such review. The Department of 
State invites experts in relevant fields of expertise to participate in 
the U.S. Government review of the draft WOA. Registration at 
www.review.globalchange.gov, a Web-based review and comment system, is 
currently open for experts planning to review the draft WOA. Registered 
experts will have access to the draft WOA on 20 December 2014 and will 
have until 5:00 p.m. (EST) 6 February 2015 to submit their review 
comments using the Web-based review and comment system. Detailed 
instructions for review and submission of comments are available at 
www.review.globalchange.gov.
    A Review Coordination Team comprising Federal scientists and 
program managers will develop a consolidated U.S. Government review 
submission. Only comments received via the Web-based review and comment 
system within the comment period will be considered by the Review 
Coordination Team for inclusion in the U.S. Government review 
submission.
    This certification will be published in the Federal Register.

    Dated: December 12, 2014.
Evan T. Bloom,
Director, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2014-29676 Filed 12-17-14; 8:45 am]
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