[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13579-13580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04933]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Request for Public Comments on Strategic Plan for the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
requests comments on the Draft Strategic Plan for the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP or Program). The Draft NWIRP 
Strategic Plan is posted on the NIST Web site at: https://www.nist.gov/el/mssd/nwirp.

DATES: NIST requests comments on the Draft NWIRP Strategic Plan. 
Comments must be received by May 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to NIST in three ways. 
Comments may be submitted by email to [email protected], by fax to 301-
869-6275, or by mail to: National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, 
Attention: Dr. Marc Levitan, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8611, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8615. 
All comments will be made publicly available without redaction at 
https://www.nist.gov/el/mssd/nwirp. Accordingly, personal, proprietary 
or confidential information should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the Draft NWIRP 
Strategic Plan should be directed to Dr. Marc Levitan, by email at 
[email protected], or by phone at 301-975-5340. Questions about the 
request for public comments should be directed to Steve Potts, by email 
at [email protected], or by phone at 301-975-5412.

[[Page 13580]]

Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office of Public Affairs at 
301-975-2762.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NWIRP was established by Public Law 108-
360 Title II and reauthorized in Public Law 114-52 (the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015) on September 
30, 2015. Congress established NWIRP ``to achieve major measurable 
reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms through a 
coordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of 
government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at improving the 
understanding of windstorms and their impacts and developing and 
encouraging the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to 
reduce those impacts.'' 42 U.S.C. 15703(a).
    NIST has been designated as the Lead Agency for NWIRP. Other 
designated Program agencies are the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and 
the National Science Foundation (NSF). 42 U.S.C. 15703(b).
    As the lead agency, NIST has the primary responsibility for 
planning and coordinating the Program. This responsibility includes:
     Ensuring that the Program includes the necessary 
components to promote the implementation of windstorm risk reduction 
measures;
     Supporting the development of performance-based 
engineering tools, and working with appropriate groups to promote the 
commercial application of such tools;
     Requesting the assistance of Federal agencies other than 
the Program agencies, as necessary;
     Coordinating all Federal post-windstorm investigations to 
the extent practicable; and
     When warranted by research or investigative findings, 
issuing recommendations to assist in informing the development of model 
codes, and providing information to Congress on the use of such 
recommendations.
    Statutory responsibilities for each of the Program agencies 
include:
    NSF--support research in (1) engineering and the atmospheric 
sciences to improve the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and 
their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines; and (2) economic 
and social factors influencing windstorm risk reduction measures.
    NOAA--support atmospheric sciences research to improve the 
understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact on 
buildings, structures, and lifelines.
    NIST--carry out research and development to improve model building 
codes, voluntary standards, and best practices for the design, 
construction, and retrofit of buildings, structures, and lifelines.
    FEMA--(1) support the development of risk assessment tools and 
effective mitigation techniques; windstorm-related data collection and 
analysis; public outreach and information dissemination; and promotion 
of the adoption of windstorm preparedness and mitigation measures, 
including for households, businesses, and communities; and (2) work 
closely with national standards and model building code organizations, 
in conjunction with NIST, to promote the implementation of research 
results and better building practices within the building design and 
construction industry, including architects, engineers, contractors, 
builders, and inspectors.
    The Draft NWIRP Strategic Plan describes the goals, objectives, and 
strategic priorities needed to accomplish the Program purpose. They 
were developed following review and assessment of prior national 
research needs and planning documents, NWIRP Program agency input, and 
in consideration of stakeholder input. Stakeholder input was obtained 
through the NWIRP Strategic Planning Stakeholder's Workshop, held at 
the National Science Foundation on June 17, 2016. This Workshop was 
attended by over 80 participants from the public and private sectors 
who engaged in a series of 11 breakout sessions and provided ideas to 
help shape the Draft NWIRP Strategic Plan.
    Request for Public Comments: Persons interested in commenting on 
the Draft NWIRP Strategic Plan can submit their written comments to 
NIST in three ways. Comments may be submitted by email to 
[email protected], by fax to (301) 869-6275, or by mail to: National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, Attention: Dr. Marc Levitan, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
8611, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8615.
    When submitting comments, inclusion of name, affiliation, and 
contact information (phone number and/or email address in case of 
questions about the comment) are optional. All comments received in 
response to this notice will become part of the public record and will 
be posted on the NIST Web site at https://www.nist.gov/el/mssd/nwirp. 
Comments containing references, studies, research, and other empirical 
data that are not widely published should include copies of the 
referenced materials. All comments will be made publicly available; 
therefore, personal, proprietary or confidential information should not 
be included. All comments must be received by NIST by May 15, 2017 in 
accordance with the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of the notice above. 
Comments received after this time will not be considered.

Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2017-04933 Filed 3-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P