[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 23589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08917]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11099]


Call for Reviewers of the World Ocean Assessment

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the 
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, requests expert review of 
the draft World Ocean Assessment.

DATES: Beginning on 27 April 2020, experts may register to review and 
access the draft WOA at https://review.globalchange.gov, a web-based 
review and comment system. Reviewers will have until midnight 21 May 
2020 to submit their review comments using the web-based review and 
comment system.

ADDRESSES: Detailed instructions for review and submission of comments 
are available at https://review.globalchange .gov. Comments submitted 
as part of this review will not be attributed to individual experts, 
and no personal information submitted as part of the registration 
process will be disclosed publicly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Bloomquist, 
[email protected], 202-647-0240

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United Nations (UN) undertakes a regular 
process for global reporting on, and assessment of, the state of the 
marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects, the product of 
which is called the World Ocean Assessment (WOA). The first WOA was 
completed in 2015, and the projected completion date for the second WOA 
is December 2020, with a goal of documenting trends in the state of the 
marine environment observed since the publication of the first WOA. The 
second WOA includes more than fifty subjects grouped within four main 
themes: Drivers of changes in the marine environment; current state of 
the marine environment and its trends; trends in pressures on the 
marine environment; and trends in management approaches to the marine 
environment. A scientific and technical summary will integrate content 
to show linkages through interdisciplinary subjects such as human 
impacts, ecosystem services, and habitats. More information regarding 
the evolution and methodology of the WOA can be found at https://www.un.org/regularprocess/.
    This spring, UN Member States will have an opportunity to review 
the draft WOA, which is expected to be composed of 65 chapters and 
subchapters (approximately fifteen pages each) and a technical summary 
(approximately 70 pages); the outline (https://www.un.org/regularprocess/sites/www.un.org.regularprocess/files/outline_for_the_second_world_ocean_assessment_rev.pdf) illustrates the 
very wide range of expertise needed for such a review. The Department 
of State invites experts in relevant fields to participate in the U.S. 
Government review of the draft WOA.
    A Review Coordination Team composed of Federal scientists and 
program managers will develop a consolidated U.S. Government review 
submission. Only comments received via the web-based review and comment 
system within the comment period will be considered by the Review 
Coordination Team for inclusion in the U.S. Government review 
submission.

Zachary A. Parker,
Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-08917 Filed 4-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P