[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35398-35400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13010]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Request for Information on the Development of the 2017 National 
Plan for Civil Earth Observations

AGENCY: Office of Science and Technology Policy.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: On behalf of the U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO), a 
Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) 
Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability 
(CENRS), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 
requests input from all interested parties regarding recommendations 
for the development of the 2017 National Plan for Civil Earth 
Observations (``National Plan'', or ``Plan''). An electronic template 
with questions will be posted at www.usgeo.gov. Comments of up to 
approximately 2,000 characters per question are requested and must be 
received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), July 1, 2016 to be 
considered. The public input provided in response to this Notice will 
inform the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as it works 
with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop this Plan.

DATES: Responses must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard 
Time), July 1, 2016, to be considered.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods. The 
first method is preferred by OSTP.
     Downloadable form: To aid in information collection and 
analysis, the

[[Page 35399]]

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) encourages responses to 
be provided by filling out the downloadable form located at http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/library/shareyourinput and 
emailing that form, as an attachment, to [email protected]. Please 
include ``National Plan for Civil Earth Observations'' in the subject 
line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 456-6071. On the cover page, please state 
``National Plan for Civil Earth Observations, attn: Timothy Stryker''.
     Mail: Office of Science and Technology Policy, 1650 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC, 20504. Information submitted 
by postal mail should be postmarked by July 1, 2016.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need 
not reply to all questions listed. Each individual or institution is 
requested to submit only one response. OSTP may post responses to this 
RFI without change, online. OSTP therefore requests that no business 
proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally 
identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI. Please 
note that the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or 
for the use of any information contained in the response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Stryker, Director, U.S. Group 
on Earth Observations Program, OSTP. 202-419-3471 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The U.S. Government is the world's largest single provider of civil 
environmental and Earth-system data. These data are derived from Earth 
observations collected by numerous Federal agencies and partners in 
support of their missions and are critical to the protection of human 
life and property, economic growth, national and homeland security, and 
scientific research.
    Federal investments in Earth-observation activities ensure that 
decision makers, businesses, first responders, farmers, and a wide 
array of other stakeholders have the information they need about 
climate and weather; natural hazards; land-use change; ecosystem 
health; water; natural resources; and other characteristics of the 
Earth system. Taken together, Earth observations provide the 
indispensable foundation for meeting the Federal Government's long-term 
sustainability objectives and advancing the Nation's societal, 
environmental, and economic well-being.
    As the Nation's capacity to observe the Earth system has grown, 
however, so has the operating complexity of sustaining and coordinating 
civil Earth-observation research, operations, and related activities. 
To address these growing complexities, in October 2010, Congress 
charged the Director of OSTP with establishing a mechanism to ensure 
greater coordination of the research, operations, and activities 
relating to civil Earth observations, including the development of a 
triennial strategic implementation plan and a process for external 
independent advisory input (see the National Aeronautics and Space 
Authorization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-267, Section 702). In 
response, OSTP coordinated the first-ever Earth Observations Assessment 
(EOA 2012), a snapshot of the current portfolio of Earth-observing 
systems and surveys used to meet key Federal civil objectives across 
thirteen thematic Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs), and released the 
National Strategy for Civil Earth Observations in April 2013 (``the 
National Strategy'', see http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/nstc_2013_earthobsstrategy.pdf).
    OSTP subsequently developed and released the first National Plan 
for Civil Earth Observations with support of the USGEO Subcommittee in 
July 2014 (``the 2014 National Plan'', see https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/NSTC/2014_national_plan_for_civil_earth_observations.pdf). Based in large 
part on the results of EOA 2012, the 2014 National Plan established 
priorities and supporting actions for advancing our civil Earth-
observations capabilities and ensuring stable, continuous, and 
coordinated Earth-observation capabilities for the benefit of society.
    The 2016 Earth Observation Assessment (EOA 2016), the second 
iteration of the assessment process, is nearing completion. Conducted 
by the Assessment Working Group of the U.S. Group on Earth Observations 
(USGEO) Subcommittee, EOA 2016 will provide foundational input for OSTP 
to use when developing the second National Plan for Civil Earth 
Observations (``Plan''). In addition, other USGEO Subcommittee 
activities, including an interagency satellite needs-collection 
process, U.S. engagement in the intergovernmental Group on Earth 
Observations (GEO) and efforts to advance the discoverability, 
accessibility, and usability of Earth-observation data products across 
the Federal Government, will inform the development of the Plan.
    As EOA 2016 nears completion, OSTP has commenced the development of 
the Plan and is seeking public advisory input on this process through 
this RFI. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform 
OSTP and USGEO as they work with Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders to develop the Plan. Following the receipt and review of 
responses to this RFI, OSTP also intends to host a public meeting as an 
additional way to collect individual, actionable feedback. This meeting 
will feature Federal and non-Federal participants and allow for focused 
discussions on specific questions related to the priorities and 
supporting actions outlined in the first National Plan.

Questions To Inform Development of the National Plan

    Through this RFI, OSTP seeks responses to the following questions:
    1. What services do you provide or research do you do using Federal 
Earth observation data and information products? Please provide 
specific examples.
    2. What decisions do you make or support using Federal Earth 
observation data and information products? Please provide specific 
examples.
    3. In the areas listed below, where has the Federal Government been 
the most, or least, successful and why? Please provide specific 
examples. You do not need to provide responses to all listed areas--
please focus on those most relevant to your work.
    a. Improving spatial and temporal resolution, sample density, and 
geographic coverage of measurements from Earth observation systems.
    b. Developing and deploying new Earth observation systems that 
address user needs.
    c. Improving the discoverability, accessibility, and usability of 
Earth observation data, model output, and derived information products.
    4. One important policy goal for Federal agencies has been to 
improve external users' ability to find, access, and use Earth 
observation data and information products. In which of these three 
areas (finding, accessing, or using) have you witnessed improvements, 
if any? Please provide specific examples.
    5. In the areas listed below, what could the Federal Government do 
to improve the Earth observations that you rely on? Please provide 
specific examples. You do not need to provide responses to all listed 
areas--please focus on those most relevant to your work.

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    a. Maintain current observing systems.
    b. Incrementally improve or upgrade current observing systems.
    c. Develop new observing systems with significantly enhanced 
measurement capabilities.
    d. Develop new agency practices to improve the discoverability, 
accessibility, and usability of Earth observation data.
    6. On what emerging technologies, techniques, and management 
practices should the Federal Government focus attention in the next few 
years to enhance public services, research in the public interest, and 
fundamental scientific inquiry?
    7. What types of partnerships with Federal agencies, such as those 
listed below, show the most promise to address current gaps in Earth 
observation coverage and related service provision? Please provide 
specific examples. You do not need to provide responses to all listed 
areas--please focus on those most relevant to your work. You are also 
free to discuss other types of partnerships that are not listed below.
    a. Cooperative research and development agreements.
    b. Challenges and prizes.
    c. Joint ventures for Earth observation system development and 
operations.
    d. Citizen science and crowdsourced observations.
    8. Is your organization concerned about a potential shortage of 
workers in the United States who are trained to develop, understand, or 
use Earth observation data and geospatial information? Please provide 
specific concerns.
    9. What, if any, do you believe were the key accomplishments of the 
first National Plan and what impact did the National Plan have, if any, 
on your organization? Please provide specific examples.
    10. The first National Plan identified eight Supporting Actions 
(pp. 20-27) required to maximize the benefits derived from the Nation's 
Earth observations. In priority order, they are:

Action 1: Coordinate and Integrate Observations
Action 2: Improve Data Access, Management, and Interoperability
Action 3: Increase Efficiency and Cost Savings
Action 4: Improve Observation Density and Sampling
Action 5: Maintain and Support Infrastructure
Action 6: Explore Commercial Solutions
Action 7: Maintain and Strengthen International Collaboration
Action 8: Engage in Stakeholder-Driven Data Innovation

    Of the actions listed above most relevant to your work, where has 
the Federal Government been the most, or least, successful, and why? 
Please provide specific examples.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-13010 Filed 6-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3270-F6-P