Notice of Availability for Public Comment on Proposed Data Management and Communications Standards for U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, 5812-5813 [E8-1723]

Download as PDF 5812 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2008 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Solicitation for Members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. ACTION: Notice of solicitation for members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for members of the SAB. The NOAA Science Advisory Board is the only Federal Advisory Committee with the responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, and application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction. The SAB consists of 15 members reflecting the full breadth of NOAA’s areas of responsibility and assists NOAA in maintaining a complete and accurate understanding of scientific issues critical to the agency’s missions. As a Federal Advisory Committee the SAB’s membership is required to be balanced in terms of viewpoints represented and the functions to be performed as well as including the interests of geographic regions of the country and the diverse sectors of our society (business and industry, science, academia, and the public at large). DATES: Nominations should be sent to the address specified and must be received by thirty calendar days from publication of this notice. ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted electronically to noaa.sab.2008members@noaa.gov. Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301– 734–1156, Fax: 301–713–1459, E-mail: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov); or visit the NOAA SAB Web site at https:// www.sab.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that NOAA science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to NOAA’s rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mission Goals • Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:07 Jan 30, 2008 Jkt 214001 Through an Ecosystem Approach to Management • Understand Climate Variability and Change to Enhance Society’s Ability to Plan and Respond • Serve Society’s Needs for Weather and Water Information • Support the Nation’s Commerce with Information for Safe, Efficient, and Environmentally Sound Transportation • Provide Critical Support for NOAA’s Mission The SAB meets at least twice each year, exclusive of subcommittee, task force, and working group meetings. Board members must be willing to participate in periodic reviews of the conduct, support, and use of science in NOAA laboratories and programs. Board members are appointed for a 3-year term. Nominations Nominations should provide: (1) The nominee’s full name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information; (2) the nominee’s area(s) of expertise; and (3) a short description of their qualifications relative to the kinds of advice being solicited. Inclusion of a resume is desirable. Dated: January 24, 2008. Mark E. Brown, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E8–1698 Filed 1–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Availability for Public Comment on Proposed Data Management and Communications Standards for U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice of availability is hereby given for a 45-day public comment period on ‘‘proposed’’ Data Management and Communications (DMAC) standards for implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). A description and references for currently ‘‘proposed’’ standards are posted at the following URL: https://ioosdmac.fedworx.org. At PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 that Web site, standards are categorized in a three level sequence as either ‘‘submitted’’, ‘‘proposed’’ or ‘‘recommended’’. This announcement seeks public comments on those categorized as ‘‘proposed’’. The public may view any standard using the anonymous guest login provided; however, submission of comments on the ‘‘proposed’’ standards using the website requires registration as provided by the website interface. Public comments are sought as part of the ongoing DMAC standards process adopted by the DMAC Steering Team in May 2006 to manage the review and adoption of standards (including guidance and best practices) in an open, objective, and balanced manner. Suggested standards may be submitted at anytime as this process will run continuously for submission of suggested standards and for public comment on those elevated to ‘‘proposed’’ status. Subsequent comment periods will be announced at approximately six-month intervals. The Web site will remain open continuously and display information about the schedule for future comment periods. All substantive comments received during a review period will be considered by a broadly based, expert panel convened by Ocean.US for that purpose. Possible decisions are to: (1) Advance the standard to ‘‘recommended’’ status; (2) defer for technical modifications, additional testing or comments; or (3) reject as not appropriate for IOOS implementation. Decisions will be posted to that Web site. Any subsequently modifications or additions to the developing set of IOOS standards shall be subjected to public review and comment through this same process. DATES: Comments on the proposed standards must be received no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time, on February 29, 2008. For the public unable to access the internet, printed copies of the currently proposed standards can be requested by contacting Ocean.us at the address given below. Written comments in lieu of using the website facility may be submitted via regular mail, e-mail, or FAX to Ocean.US, Attention: DMAC Standards; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910, U.S.A. The FAX number is 301–427–2131. Email should be addressed to DMACStandards@ocean.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this notice, please contact the Office of Ocean.US, telephone: 843–740–1229 E-mail: DMACStandards@ocean.us. E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2008 / Notices The Ocean.US Office, operating by interagency agreement under the statutory authority of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP, 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.), serves as the national agent for integrating ocean observing activities (https:// www.ocean.us). Ocean.US is also the focal point for relating U.S. ocean observing system elements to associated international efforts, such as the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sponsored Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The U.S. IOOS represents the U.S. contribution to the ocean components of these international partnership efforts. Key to the realization of the U.S. IOOS is the establishment of an integrated DMAC infrastructure. This infrastructure will enable users to discover, retrieve, and use data from Federal and State government, government-sponsored, other public, private, and commercial coastal and ocean observing activities regardless of source or location. In 2005 Ocean.US established an IOOS DMAC Steering Team drawn from government, industry, academia, public, and nonprofit communities to: (a) Coordinate and oversee the evolution of DMAC standards; (b) identify and provide recommendations regarding gaps in needed standards; and, (c) help ensure that the DMAC standards process is conducted in an open, objective, and balanced manner. That team adopted a standards process in May 2006 that includes these public comment periods as a critical input to any decisions on a particular standard. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Review to Date of the Proposed Standards Proposed standards have been reviewed by members of the DMAC Steering Team and its Expert Teams for non-technical and technical criteria. Their designation as ‘proposed’ indicates the standard has potential merit for application in IOOS and should be evaluated further based on actual use in pilot projects and demonstrations and based on public comments on experience using the standard in IOOS applications. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Authority: 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq. Dated: January 17, 2008. Elizabeth R. Scheffler, Associate Assistant Administrator for Management, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. [FR Doc. E8–1723 Filed 1–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:07 Jan 30, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF16 Vessel Monitoring Systems; Specification of Requirements for Mobile Transmitting Unit Type Approval National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Revision of type approval requirements for mobile transmitting units. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This document provides notice of type approval requirements for Mobile Transmitting Units (MTU) to be authorized for use on any vessel participating in the NOAA Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) program. Vessels participating in VMS program must acquire an NMFS-approved MTU to comply with VMS standards set forth in NMFS rules requiring the use of VMS. To obtain copies of the list of NMFS-approved VMS MTU and VMS communications service providers, or to obtain information regarding the status of VMS systems being evaluated by NOAA, write to NOAA Fisheries, Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information contact the VMS Support Center by phone: 888– 210–9228, or by fax: 301–427–0049 or for questions regarding VMS installation and status of evaluations contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program Manager by phone: 301 427 2300 or by fax: 301–427–0049. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice supersedes all previous notices on MTU type approval requirements. Previously installed MTU approved under prior notices will continue to be approved for the remainder of their service life. New installations of a previously approved MTU occurring 120 days or more after the publication date of this notice must comply with all of the requirements herein. All new requests for type approval must comply with all of the requirements herein. ADDRESSES: Background The Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) maintains MTU PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5813 specification requirements as an OLE National Directive. This notice sets prerequisite standards for the purpose of type approval that must be met by an MTU and any associated software before it is authorized for use in the NOAA VMS program. Vessels participating in VMS program must acquire an NMFSapproved MTU to comply with the specific VMS standards set forth in NMFS rules requiring the use of VMS. The MTU is a transceiver or communications device, including antennae, dedicated message terminal and display, and an input device such as a keyboard installed on fishing vessels participating in the VMS requirement. The MTU allows OLE to determine the geographic position of the vessel during specified intervals or events. In addition, it enables mobile communications services between OLE and the vessel when using an NMFSaccepted Mobile Communication Service Provider (MCSP). (Note: Standards for the MCSP are written in the complementary directive titled Mobile Communication Service Provider Specification of Requirements.) Goal OLE seeks to deploy an ‘‘open system,’’ whereby the fishing industry participants may select from a variety of suppliers that qualify and have been approved to participate in VMS program. Fishermen must comply with applicable Federal fishery regulations regarding VMS and therefore may be cited for a violation and held accountable for monitoring anomalies not attributable to faults in the MCSP or MTU. Therefore, type approval is essential to establish and maintain uniformly high system integrity. By this directive, OLE seeks to approve reliable, robust, and secure MTU products and thereby create and maintain a VMS meeting the requirement of high integrity. Specific VMS programs are created to support particular NMFS rules requiring the use of VMS, which typically are designed to manage or protect fish and other marine species within designated areas. Process Based on a request for type approval from an MTU supplier and certification of certain minimal standards, OLE will conduct a thorough evaluation and then issue a statement accepting or denying the type approval of the particular MTU. An MTU must meet the minimal national VMS standards, as required by this directive, and the requirements of the specific fisheries for which approval is sought. MTU supplier requesters are encouraged to review the national VMS E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5812-5813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1723]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability for Public Comment on Proposed Data 
Management and Communications Standards for U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Notice of availability is hereby given for a 45-day public 
comment period on ``proposed'' Data Management and Communications 
(DMAC) standards for implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS). A description and references for currently 
``proposed'' standards are posted at the following URL: https://
ioosdmac.fedworx.org. At that Web site, standards are categorized in a 
three level sequence as either ``submitted'', ``proposed'' or 
``recommended''. This announcement seeks public comments on those 
categorized as ``proposed''. The public may view any standard using the 
anonymous guest login provided; however, submission of comments on the 
``proposed'' standards using the website requires registration as 
provided by the website interface. Public comments are sought as part 
of the ongoing DMAC standards process adopted by the DMAC Steering Team 
in May 2006 to manage the review and adoption of standards (including 
guidance and best practices) in an open, objective, and balanced 
manner. Suggested standards may be submitted at anytime as this process 
will run continuously for submission of suggested standards and for 
public comment on those elevated to ``proposed'' status. Subsequent 
comment periods will be announced at approximately six-month intervals. 
The Web site will remain open continuously and display information 
about the schedule for future comment periods. All substantive comments 
received during a review period will be considered by a broadly based, 
expert panel convened by Ocean.US for that purpose. Possible decisions 
are to: (1) Advance the standard to ``recommended'' status; (2) defer 
for technical modifications, additional testing or comments; or (3) 
reject as not appropriate for IOOS implementation. Decisions will be 
posted to that Web site. Any subsequently modifications or additions to 
the developing set of IOOS standards shall be subjected to public 
review and comment through this same process.

DATES: Comments on the proposed standards must be received no later 
than 5 p.m. eastern standard time, on February 29, 2008. For the public 
unable to access the internet, printed copies of the currently proposed 
standards can be requested by contacting Ocean.us at the address given 
below. Written comments in lieu of using the website facility may be 
submitted via regular mail, e-mail, or FAX to Ocean.US, Attention: DMAC 
Standards; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
U.S.A. The FAX number is 301-427-2131. E-mail should be addressed to 
DMACStandards@ocean.us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
notice, please contact the Office of Ocean.US, telephone: 843-740-1229 
E-mail: DMACStandards@ocean.us.

[[Page 5813]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean.US Office, operating by 
interagency agreement under the statutory authority of the National 
Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP, 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.), 
serves as the national agent for integrating ocean observing activities 
(https://www.ocean.us). Ocean.US is also the focal point for relating 
U.S. ocean observing system elements to associated international 
efforts, such as the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) 
and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sponsored 
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The U.S. IOOS represents the U.S. 
contribution to the ocean components of these international partnership 
efforts. Key to the realization of the U.S. IOOS is the establishment 
of an integrated DMAC infrastructure. This infrastructure will enable 
users to discover, retrieve, and use data from Federal and State 
government, government-sponsored, other public, private, and commercial 
coastal and ocean observing activities regardless of source or 
location. In 2005 Ocean.US established an IOOS DMAC Steering Team drawn 
from government, industry, academia, public, and non-profit communities 
to: (a) Coordinate and oversee the evolution of DMAC standards; (b) 
identify and provide recommendations regarding gaps in needed 
standards; and, (c) help ensure that the DMAC standards process is 
conducted in an open, objective, and balanced manner. That team adopted 
a standards process in May 2006 that includes these public comment 
periods as a critical input to any decisions on a particular standard.

Review to Date of the Proposed Standards

    Proposed standards have been reviewed by members of the DMAC 
Steering Team and its Expert Teams for non-technical and technical 
criteria. Their designation as `proposed' indicates the standard has 
potential merit for application in IOOS and should be evaluated further 
based on actual use in pilot projects and demonstrations and based on 
public comments on experience using the standard in IOOS applications.

    Authority: 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.

    Dated: January 17, 2008.
Elizabeth R. Scheffler,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management, Ocean Services and 
Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. E8-1723 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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