[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17526-17527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08336]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Developing an Update to the National Space Weather Strategy

AGENCY: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for information.

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SUMMARY: On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council 
(NSTC), Committee on Homeland and National Security, the National 
Weather Service (NWS) requests input from all interested parties on the 
development of an update to the National Space Weather Strategy 
(Strategy). Through this Request for Information (RFI), NWS seeks input 
from the public on ways to improve government coordination and on long-
term guidance for Federal programs and activities to enhance national 
preparedness to space weather events, including geomagnetic disturbance 
(a natural source of electromagnetic pulse); promote American 
leadership in space weather research, technology, and innovation; and 
improve the safety and viability of human and robotic space activities. 
This RFI also seeks input on ways to enhance private sector engagement 
across these endeavors. The public input provided in response to this 
RFI will inform the NSTC as it works with Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders to develop the updated Strategy.

DATES: Responses are due by May 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by email to [email protected]. 
Please include ``Space Weather Strategy Update'' in the subject line of 
the message.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need 
not reply to all questions. Responses exceeding 2,000 words will not be 
considered. Clearly indicate which questions are being answered. Each 
individual or institution is requested to submit only one response. NWS 
may post responses to this RFI, without change, on a Federal website. 
NWS, 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: Michael Bonadonna, 
[email protected], Office of the Federal Coordinator for 
Meteorology, (301) 686-0058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Space weather, a natural source of 
electromagnetic pulse (EMP), can disrupt, degrade, or damage 
infrastructure and technology systems, including the electric power 
grid. Space weather can also blackout air traffic control and high 
frequency communications systems. Beyond terrestrial systems, space 
weather can affect satellite systems, interfere with GPS service, 
endanger the lives of humans in space, and delay the launch of space 
missions. This makes preparing for space weather events critical to 
national security, infrastructure services, space missions, and 
technology innovations (such as autonomous vehicles) that rely on 
communications systems and GPS for positioning, navigation, and timing 
services.
    Preparing the Nation for space weather events will contribute to 
addressing many priorities identified in the 2017 National Security 
Strategy (NSS). The NSS identifies the need for America to lead in 
research, technology, and inventions through collaborations with allies 
and partners, leveraging private capital and expertise, and rapidly 
fielding innovations. Additionally, the NSS calls for promoting 
American resilience through improving risk management, building a 
culture of preparedness, and improving planning. Space weather 
phenomena, including EMP, can disrupt or damage technology and critical 
infrastructure systems, challenging national resilience and 
necessitating new and innovative approaches to addressing this hazard.

[[Page 17527]]

    The NSS identifies the need for the United States to maintain 
leadership and freedom of action in space, including advancing space as 
a priority domain, promoting space commerce, and maintaining the lead 
in exploration. In addition to the NSS, Space Policy Directive--1 
(December 11, 2017) calls for the Nation to lead an innovative and 
sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international 
partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring 
back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. Robust space weather 
observing and forecasting capabilities are key to the safety and 
viability of human and robotic space activities.
    NSTC has begun the process to update the Strategy, and is 
soliciting public input through this RFI to obtain recommendations from 
a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from diverse 
industries, academia, and other relevant organizations and 
institutions. The public input provided in response to this RFI will 
inform the NSTC as it works with Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders to update the Strategy.

Questions To Inform Development of the Strategy

    Through this RFI, NSTC seeks responses to the following questions 
to improve government coordination and provide long-term guidance for 
Federal programs and activities in support of national preparedness for 
space weather events, on Earth and in space; and, to promote American 
leadership in space weather research, technology, and innovation. 
Responses should clearly indicate which question is being addressed.
    1. How can the Federal Government improve internal and external 
coordination and better inform the long-term guidance and direction for 
Federal programs and activities that support national preparedness for 
space weather events?
    2. In priority order, how, where, and why should the Federal 
Government invest limited resources to enhance research, technology, 
and innovation to improve observations and understanding of space 
weather events? Please include near-term and long-term objectives for 
each investment.
    3. In priority order, what activities should the Federal Government 
undertake to enhance national capabilities to prepare for, recover 
from, adapt to, or otherwise mitigate the effects of space weather 
events? Please include near-term and long-term objectives for each 
activity.
    4. What innovative tools, platforms, or technologies are needed by 
the Federal Government and space weather research and development 
communities to advance the transition of research to operations for 
models and observations of space weather phenomena? Please include any 
barriers to implement the identified tools, platforms, or technologies.
    5. In priority order, what opportunities exist to enhance U.S. 
operational space weather predictions, alerts, and services, for Earth, 
near-Earth, and deep space applications? Please include any barriers 
for implementation and utilization of these capabilities.
    6. Are there regulatory or other barriers to commercial activities 
associated with space weather prediction, observation, or the 
transitioning of research to operations? Please list any, in priority 
order, and describe how the barrier(s) impedes activity.
    7. Beyond regulation and grant programs, what can the federal 
government do to enable and advance the private sector role for 
capabilities, forecasting, modeling, mitigation, research, development, 
and observation in the space weather domain?
    8. What opportunities exist for the United States to marshal the 
collective resources of like-minded nations and organizations to 
address the global hazard of space weather?
    9. Is there any additional information related to enhancing 
national capabilities to address space weather events, not requested 
above, that you believe NSTC should consider?

    Dated: April 17, 2018.
Louis W. Uccellini,
Director, National Weather Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08336 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-KE-P