[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14944-14945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 150224177-5177-01]
RIN 0648-XD798


Availability of Draft NOAA Education Strategic Plan

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
publishes this notice to solicit comments on the draft NOAA Education 
Strategic Plan (Plan). NOAA received broad legislative authority from 
Congress through the America COMPETES Act (2007, 2010) to conduct, 
develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal education 
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. The revision of the Plan establishes the goals for NOAA 
education programs for the next twenty years with revisions to the Plan 
every five years. NOAA is seeking broad public review of the NOAA 
Education Strategic Plan, and

[[Page 14945]]

encourages all stakeholders and users to review the Plan and provide 
comments. All comments received will be reviewed and considered in the 
final drafting of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan.

DATES: Public comments on this document must be received on or before 
April 10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The draft Plan will be available on the following Web site: 
http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/leadership/edcouncil/education_plan.html.
    You may submit comments on this document, following the format 
guidance below, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Comments may be submitted via 
email to [email protected]. Include the identifier, ``Education 
Plan Public Comment'' in the subject line.
     Mail: Marissa Jones, NOAA Office of Education, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20230. Include the identifier, ``Education Plan Public Comment,'' on 
the envelope.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marissa Jones, Education Specialist, 
NOAA Office of Education, (202) 482-4592[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA's Education Council is soliciting 
general comments on the NOAA Education Strategic Plan, which describes 
how NOAA will execute programs and activities to achieve cohesive and 
strategic education outcomes. The Plan focuses on conducting, 
developing, supporting, promoting, and coordinating education 
activities to enhance awareness and understanding of mission-related 
sciences.
    For over 200 years, NOAA has imparted scientific knowledge of the 
Earth's natural systems to benefit society and support the agency's 
mission. 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 states:
    ``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.''
    NOAA is revising its Education Strategic Plan as specified in the 
America COMPETES Act. Based on NOAA's mission, strengths, and the 
future needs of our society, the draft plan includes five education 
goals:
    Goal 1--Science-Informed Society: An informed society has access 
to, interest in, and understanding of NOAA-related sciences and their 
implications for current and future events.
    Goal 2--Conservation & Stewardship: Individuals and communities are 
actively involved in stewardship behaviors and decisions that conserve, 
restore, and protect natural and cultural resources related to NOAA's 
mission.
    Goal 3--Safety and Preparedness: Individuals and communities are 
informed and actively involved in decisions and actions that improve 
preparedness, response, and resilience to challenges and impacts of 
hazardous weather, changes in climate, and other environmental threats 
monitored by NOAA.
    Goal 4--Future Workforce: A diverse and highly-skilled future 
workforce pursues careers in disciplines that support NOAA's mission.
    Goal 5--Organizational Excellence: NOAA functions in a unified 
manner to support, plan, and deliver effective educational programs and 
partnerships that advance NOAA's mission.
    NOAA welcomes all comments on the draft Plan, any inconsistencies 
perceived within the Plan, and any 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 Education Council Web site.
    Please follow this 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. 
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: March 17, 2015.
Louisa Koch,
NOAA Director of Education.
[FR Doc. 2015-06419 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P