[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61891-61892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24753]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Public Comment for the Four Draft NOAA Science and Technology 
Strategies: NOAA Unmanned Systems, Artificial Intelligence, `Omics, and 
Cloud Strategies

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

ACTION: Notice of public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for public comment of 
the NOAA Unmanned Systems, Artificial Intelligence, `Omics, and Cloud 
draft strategies. These strategies are intended to dramatically expand 
our application of these four emerging science and technology focus 
areas by improving the efficiency, effectiveness and coordination of 
their development and usage across the agency.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft strategies may be downloaded or viewed 
on the internet at https://nrc.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology-Focus-Areas. The documents are also available by sending a written request to 
the point of contact identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION). 
You may submit public comments via email to [email protected]. 
Please include ``Public Comment on NOAA Draft Science and Technology 
Strategies'' in the subject line of the message. You may also submit 
public comments via mail to Emma Kelley, Office of Labs and Cooperative 
Institutes, NOAA Research, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. All comments received are part of the public record. All 
personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender is publicly accessible. NOAA will 
accept anonymous comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emma Kelley, Research Council 
Executive Secretariat, Office of Labs and Cooperative Institutes, NOAA 
Research, Rm. 11319, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910. (Phone: 301-734-1179, email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In recent years, individual NOAA programs 
and its multisector partners have worked to advance successful unmanned 
systems, artificial intelligence, `omics, and cloud solutions that 
improve the delivery of their respective missions.
    The draft strategies NOAA developed for each of these science and 
technology focus areas directly follow guidance from the Administration 
and Congress, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
FY21 Research and Development Priorities letter, the National Science 
and Technology Council report ``Science and Technology for America's 
Oceans: a Decadal Vision'', the Executive Order on Maintaining American 
Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act, and the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean 
Technology (CENOTE) Act.
    The draft strategies will ensure robust agency-wide coordination 
and strong institutional support from NOAA senior leadership for these 
emerging science and technology focus areas to guide transformational 
advances in the quality and efficiency of NOAA's science, products, and 
services.
    Summary of the Four Draft Strategies
    Unmanned Systems Strategy: In recognition of the opportunities 
unmanned systems presents for addressing NOAA's mission priorities, the 
NOAA Unmanned Systems Strategy provides a framework to: (1) Efficiently 
provide requirements-driven, safe, cost-effective, and compliant 
Unmanned Systems services across the agency; (2) prioritize strategic 
investments in Unmanned Systems applications and technologies that fuel 
innovation and strengthen operations, and (3) accelerate and enhance 
capabilities through partnerships.
    Artificial Intelligence Strategy: The overarching goal of the NOAA 
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy is to utilize AI to advance 
NOAA's requirements-driven mission priorities. Through this strategy, 
NOAA seeks to reduce the cost of data processing, and provide higher 
quality and more timely scientific products and services for societal 
benefits.
    'Omics Strategy: In recognition of the opportunities and challenges 
presented

[[Page 61892]]

by the advent of `omics tools (a suite of advanced methods used to 
analyze material such as DNA, RNA, or proteins), the NOAA `Omics 
Strategy provides a framework to advance the application of `omics to 
address mission priorities. The strategy leverages NOAA's current 
organizational structure to more effectively implement `omics through 
improvements in computational and analytical capacities, targeted 
research, technology transition, workforce proficiency, and 
partnerships across NOAA's lines, federal agencies, and extramural 
research and commercial communities.
    Cloud Strategy: NOAA's robust experience with cloud applications 
are already beginning to demonstrate significant improvements in 
performance and skill in areas such as satellite data products and 
services, numerical weather prediction, ocean models, and big data 
analysis, storage and dissemination. Cloud services will be further 
leveraged to expand benefits, such as: (1) Accelerated timeline to 
acquire new computing resources, (2) increased security posture, (3) 
more accessible and monetizable NOAA data to customers, such as 
academia and industry, (4) reduced transition time from research to 
operations, (5) scalable infrastructure that supports scientific and 
high performance computing requirements, and (6) a more agile and 
innovative culture.
    After completion of these strategies, NOAA will develop 
corresponding Strategic Implementation Plans (or ``Roadmaps'') that 
define detailed action items, deadlines, and responsibilities. In the 
meantime, these NOAA S&T focus areas are already improving performance 
in our economically impactful missions and setting the course to 
strengthen our renowned environmental science and technology leadership 
for the coming decades. Through the four strategies, NOAA will be 
better positioned to achieve our top agency priorities to regain global 
leadership in numerical weather prediction and sustainably expand the 
American Blue Economy.

    Dated: November 8, 2019.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-24753 Filed 11-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P