External Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research and Science Enterprise, 3907 [05-1480]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 17 (Thursday, January 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 3907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No.: 050121013-5013-01]


External Review of NOAA's Ecosystem Research and Science 
Enterprise

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for members of a NOAA ecosystem research 
and science enterprise review panel.

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SUMMARY: The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere has 
requested the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) to conduct an external 
review of NOAA's ecosystem research and science enterprise. The SAB is 
chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is the only 
Federal Advisory Committee with the responsibility to advise the Under 
Secretary on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, 
and application of science to resource management and environmental 
assessment and prediction. The SAB is forming an external panel to 
review and draft recommendations on the appropriateness of the mix of 
scientific activities conducted and/or sponsored by NOAA to its mission 
and on the organization of NOAA's ecosystem research and science 
enterprise.
    Nominations to the panel are being solicited herein. The intent is 
to select from the nominees. However, the SAB retains the prerogative 
to name people to the review team that were not nominated if it deems 
it necessary to achieve the desired balance. Once selected, the SAB 
will post the review panel, with abridged resumes, at: https://
www.sab.noaa.gov/Doc/Documents.html.

DATES: Nominations should be sent to the address specified and must be 
received by February 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted electronically to Dr. 
Michael Uhart (Michael.Uhart@noaa.gov) or mailed to Dr. Michael Uhart, 
Executive Director, SAB, NOAA, Rm. 11142, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael Uhart: (301) 713-9121, 
ext. 159.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Panel members shall not be employed or 
currently funded by NOAA. Nominations should describe the nominee's 
contact information and qualifications relative to the criteria given 
below, or include a resume. Anyone is eligible to nominate and self-
nominations will be accepted. The external review team will have at 
least seven members with a variety of backgrounds (recognizing it will 
not be practical to have all backgrounds represented), with respect to:
    1. Scientific disciplines of physical sciences, biological sciences 
(including fisheries science), and social sciences;
    2. Experience in academia, within mission-oriented government 
agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the private sector;
    3. Familiarity with NOAA's mandates; and
    4. Being a science provider to key generic groups of stakeholders, 
science interpreter to groups of stakeholders, science user, or 
stakeholder with a history of interaction with science providers.
    The reviewers should have the following qualifications:
    1. National and international recognition within their profession;
    2. Knowledge of the scientific information needs to support NOAA's 
ecosystem stewardship missions, coupled with broad familiarity with 
NOAA's total mission;
    3. Knowledge of, and experience with, the organization and 
management of complex mission-oriented scientific programs; and
    4. No perceived or actual vested interest or conflict of interest 
that might undermine the credibility of the review.
    It is of note that, except for qualification criteria 4, the 
criteria are not absolute requirements. The qualifications of 
individuals are expected to be outstanding enough with respect to one 
or more, but not necessarily all, of the criteria. Because of the 
limited size of the review panel, management organization expertise 
must include expertise on ecosystem science or the very special 
features of science applied to government decision-making.
    The purpose of the review is to answer the following questions: (1) 
Is the mix of scientific activities conducted and/or sponsored by NOAA 
appropriate for its mission needs and (2) how should NOAA organize its 
ecosystem research and science enterprise? The framework for the 
review, including additional background, is posted at: https://
www.sab.noaa.gov/Doc/Documents.html.
    The review will be conducted and the final report presented to the 
SAB by November 2005. The review will involve up to three site visits, 
approximately five meetings and the drafting of the report of the 
panel's review.

    Dated: January 21, 2005.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-1480 Filed 1-26-05; 8:45 am]
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