[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42776-42777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16711]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice for Comment on Two Strategic Plans for the Subcommittee on 
Aquaculture Science Planning and Regulatory Efficiency Task Forces and 
on Updating the National Aquaculture Development Plan

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA) is a statutory 
subcommittee that operates under the Committee on Environment of the 
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) under the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President 
[National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-362. 94 Stat. 1198, 16 
U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and the National Aquaculture Improvement Act of 
1985 (Pub. L. 99-198, 99 Stat. 1641)]. In October 2018, the SCA 
established a Science Planning Task Force charged with documenting 
Federal science and technology opportunities and priorities for 
aquaculture by revising and updating the National Strategic Plan for 
Federal Aquaculture Research (2014-2019). Similarly, in February 2019, 
the SCA established a Regulatory Efficiency Task Force charged with 
developing a new plan for interagency science and technology 
coordination to improve regulatory efficiency, research and technology 
development, and economic growth. The Task Forces are seeking public 
comment on Science and Regulatory Efficiency strategic plans to 
determine if their respective topics are adequately covered. In 
addition, in May of 2020, the SCA established an Economic Development 
Task Force charged with developing a strategic plan for economic 
development through aquaculture. Separately from SCA, the National 
Aquaculture Act of 1980 requires select federal agencies to develop a 
National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP). Last completed in 1983, 
the NADP describes aquaculture associated technologies, problems, and 
opportunities in the United States and its territories. It recommends 
actions to solve problems and analyzes the social, environmental, and 
economic impacts of growth in aquaculture. The SCA plans to update the 
NADP using the Science and Regulatory Efficiency plans described here, 
with the addition of the Economic Development plan currently in 
process.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 10th, 2021 to be assured 
of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning the Science Plan to Task 
Force Chair Dr. Caird Rexroad, National Program Leader for Aquaculture, 
Agricultural Research Service, Office of National Programs, 5601 
Sunnyside Avenue, Room 4-2106, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected]. Address all comments 
concerning the Regulatory Efficiency

[[Page 42777]]

Plan and the National Aquaculture Development Plan to Task Force Chair 
Kristine Cherry, Chief, Regulatory and Policy Branch at NOAA Fisheries 
Office of Aquaculture, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 14461, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Program Leader, Agricultural 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dr. Caird Rexroad, 
Voice: (304) 620-5234, Fax: 301-504-4873, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Type of Request: Seeking comments on the National Strategic Plan 
for Aquaculture Research (2021-2025) and the Strategic Plan to Improve 
Aquaculture Regulatory Efficiency to determine if national aquaculture 
science and technology priorities and opportunities to improve 
regulatory efficiencies are adequately represented.
    Abstract: The Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA) is a statutory 
subcommittee that operates under the Committee on Environment of the 
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) under the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President 
[National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-362. 94 Stat. 1198, 16 
U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and the National Aquaculture Improvement Act of 
1985 (Pub. L. 99-198, 99 Stat. 1641)]. In October 2018, the SCA 
established a Science Planning Task Force charged with documenting 
Federal science and technology opportunities and priorities for 
aquaculture by revising and updating the National Strategic Plan for 
Federal Aquaculture Research (2014-2019). This Task Force included 
federal employees from the Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Commerce, Agency for International Development, Department of Health 
and Human Services, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, 
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Science 
Foundation. The Plan was drafted with the following goals:
    Goal 1. Develop Economic Growth through Aquaculture;
    Goal 2. Improve Aquaculture Production Technologies and Inform 
Decision Making; and
    Goal 3. Uphold Animal Well-Being, Product Safety and Nutritional 
Value.
    The National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research (2014-
2019) was developed to serve as a roadmap for implementing targeted 
strategic goals to advance domestic aquaculture by describing ways that 
government can help advance and expand domestic interests in 
aquaculture, and therefore, providing greater economic and recreational 
opportunities in the United States. The plan identified Federal 
resources in research and extension, the need for the best research to 
inform public policy and regulatory decisions, and the need for 
improved public understanding of aquaculture, its diversity, and 
potential benefits and risks. The 2021 update of this document retains 
these objectives and will serve to communicate federal aquaculture 
science priorities to the public.
    The Science Planning Task Force updated the 2014-2019 Plan and is 
seeking public comment to determine if Federal aquaculture research 
opportunities and priorities are adequately reflected in the Plan. The 
Plan in its entirety is available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SCA/taskforce.html.
    Similarly, in February 2019, the SCA established a Regulatory 
Efficiency Task Force charged with developing a new plan for 
interagency science and technology coordination to improve regulatory 
efficiency, research and technology development, and economic growth. 
This Task Force included federal employees from the Department of 
Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human 
Services, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, the 
Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The 
Strategic Plan to Enhance Regulatory Efficiency in Aquaculture was 
drafted with the following goals:
    Goal 1. Improve Efficiencies in Aquaculture Permitting and 
Authorization Programs;
    Goal 2. Implement a National Approach to Aquatic Animal Health 
Management of Aquaculture; and
    Goal 3. Refine and Disseminate Tools for Aquaculture Regulatory 
Management.
    The Regulatory Efficiency Task Force developed these new plans and 
is seeking public comment to determine if opportunities to improve 
Federal regulatory efficiencies are adequately reflected in the Plan. 
The Plan in its entirety is available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SCA/taskforce.html.
    The NAA of 1980 requires, in revising the Plan, that the Secretary 
of Agriculture consult with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary 
of the Interior, other appropriate Federal officers, States, regional 
fishery management councils established under [the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act], and representatives of the aquaculture industry. In addition, the 
Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to give interested persons 
and organizations an opportunity to comment during the development of 
the Plan. The NADP is required to include all the elements listed in 
National Aquaculture Act of 1980; and additionally, identify legal/
regulatory constraints and solutions, specifically use rights. The main 
elements of the NADP are described in Sec.  2303(b)(1) through (6) of 
the National Aquaculture Act of 1980.
    The SCA believes that much of the required content of the NADP was 
developed either within the former JSA, the current SCA, or 
individually by agencies throughout the 37 years the plan has been in 
effect. As described in this notice, significant efforts are underway 
to develop strategic plans on science and regulatory efficiency. 
Additional work is being done by the SCA to develop similar analyses 
for economic development through aquaculture. The SCA concluded that 
the effort to begin updating the NADP should only begin once the SCA 
has concluded their work on public engagement and publishing of the 
strategic plans. It is expected that these plans will include updates 
of a significant number of the elements in the NADP.
    All comments received will become a matter of public record.

Simon Y. Liu,
Acting Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 2021-16711 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
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