National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 7, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Services (NESDIS) invites applications for a Cooperative Institute (CI) that will focus on (1) Climate and satellite research and applications, (2) climate and satellite observations and monitoring, and (3) climate research and modeling. Through this competition, NOAA intends to establish competitively a new CI according to the policy and procedures described in NOAA Administrative Order 216?107 and the Cooperative Institute Interim Handbook both available at https://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ ci. The proposed CI should be composed of two or more member institutions (e.g., multiple universities). At least one research institution should be in Maryland, Washington DC or the adjacent states (Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia). At least two research institutions should be in North Carolina or the adjacent states (Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia), with a presence in Asheville, North Carolina. NOAA has identified three research themes that will address specific needs within the NOAA Mission Support Satellite Service program and the NOAA Climate Goal that would benefit from collaborations with the CI. The CI should possess outstanding capabilities to work in the three research themes summarized below, as well as possess the capability to conduct outreach and education activities in support of these research themes. I. Climate and Satellite Research and Applications: Research conducted under this theme is associated with the development of new and innovative uses of non-NOAA satellite assets that can ultimately be transitioned into NOAA operations to support climate information needs. This theme also includes performing research and development aimed at improving the utilization of long time series of satellite measurements that will offer NOAA scientists a homogeneous record of satellite radiances. II. Climate and Satellite Observations and Monitoring: Research conducted under this theme involves (1) Designing indices and applications that incorporate satellite observations to detect, monitor and investigate climatic changes and their impacts on coastal and open ocean ecosystems, (2) identifying and meeting the satellite climate needs of a wide variety of users, including research, business and industry, and government and private sector users, and (3) contributing significantly to climate reanalysis projects when satellite data is a key input. III. Climate Research and Modeling: Research conducted under this theme is focused on improving climate forecasts on mesoscale, regional and global scales when satellite data is a key input, and developing regional ecosystem models that can incorporate satellite observations to predict the impact of climate change on these ecosystems, particularly those located in the Mid-Atlantic region. The CI is also expected to play a significant role in National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Test Bed projects when satellite data is a key input. This announcement provides requirements for the proposed CI and includes details for the technical program, evaluation criteria, and competitive selection procedures. Applicants should review the NOAA CI Policy and CI Interim Handbook (both available at https://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci) prior to preparing a proposal for this announcement.

NMFS announces correction to Federal regulations for the West Coast groundfish fishery. This action corrects trip limits for vessels using multiple bottom trawl gears, which were published in a final rule. That final rule announced inseason changes to management measures in the commercial Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. This correction is intended to eliminate any confusion for the public that may have occurred as a result of prior incorrect NMFS publications.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non- American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NOAA Office of Oceans and Atmospheric Research (OAR) invites applications for a Cooperative Institute (CI) that will collaborate with NOAA scientists to improve weather forecast and warning accuracy; contribute to improvements in water resource forecasting capabilities; provide integrated weather information to meet future aviation and surface transportation needs; advance satellite sensor technology; develop high-performance computing, visualization, and scientific workstation technologies; and enhance environmental literacy to improve understanding. The CI would also conduct research needed to develop multiscale (global to local) data assimilation techniques with a strong satellite data emphasis, and provide the scientific expertise and the necessary computing infrastructure to help NOAA move forward on these issues. Through this competition, NOAA intends to establish competitively a new CI according to the policy and procedures described in NOAA Administrative Order 216-107 and the Cooperative Institute Interim Handbook both available at https://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ ci/. The proposed CI should be within daily commuting distance of NOAA facilities in Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado. NOAA has identified five research themes that will address identified needs within the NOAA Weather and Water Goal that would benefit from collaborations with the CI. I. Satellite algorithm development, training and education. Research conducted under this theme is associated with development of satellite-based algorithms for weather forecasting, with emphasis on regional and mesoscale meteorological phenomenon. This work includes applications of basic satellite products such as feature track winds, thermodynamic retrievals, sea surface temperature, etc., in combination with model analyses and forecasts, as well as in situ and other remote sensing observations. Applications can be for current or future satellites. Also under this theme, satellite and related training material will be developed and delivered to a wide variety of users, with emphasis on operational forecasters. A variety of techniques can be used, including distance learning methods, Web-based demonstration projects and instructor-led training. II. Regional to Global Scale Modeling Systems. Research conducted under this theme is associated with the improvement of weather/climate models (minutes to months) that simulate and predict changes in the Earth system. Topics include atmospheric and ocean dynamics, radiative forcing, clouds and moist convection, land surface modeling, hydrology, and coupled modeling of the earth system. III. Data Assimilation. Research conducted under this theme will develop and improve techniques to assimilate environmental observations, including satellite, terrestrial, oceanic, and biological observations, to produce the best estimate of the environmental state at the time of the observations for use in analysis, modeling, and prediction activities associated with weather/climate predications (minutes to months) and analysis. IV. Climate-Weather Processes. Research conducted under this theme will focus on using numerical models and environmental data, including satellite observations, to understand processes that are important to creating environmental changes on weather and short-term climate timescales (minutes to months) and the two-way interactions between weather systems and regional climate. V. Data Distribution. Research conducted under this theme will focus on identifying effective and efficient methods of quickly distributing and displaying very large sets of environmental and model data using data networks, using web map services, data compression algorithms, and other techniques. This announcement provides requirements for the proposed CI and includes details for the technical program, evaluation criteria, and competitive selection procedures. Applicants should review CI Interim Handbook (available at https://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci) prior to preparing a proposal for this announcement.

The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the NOAA Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR) invite applications for the establishment of a cooperative institute (CI) that will focus on the themes of (1) Ecosystem Forecasting, (2) Ecosystem Monitoring, (3) Ecosystem Management, Protection and Restoration of Resources, (4) Sustained Ocean Observations and (5) Climate Research. These 5 themes will be supported by a variety of research activities, which may include: Research on the linkages among productivity, fish and fisheries, pollution, climate change, and ecosystem health; Research to improve the integration and availability of ocean observations across spatial scales, from global to regional and local; Research to distinguish marine resource changes due to human impacts from those resulting from natural forcing, including climate variability and change; Development and application of new tools and approaches for monitoring ecosystem health and forecasting ecosystem change' Examination of the expected increases in socioeconomic benefits accrued from a better understanding of the effects of climate change, food webs, physical-chemical coupling, and ecosystem production dynamics' Collaborative research and education leading to closer linkages between scientific assessments and management actions. This research, conducted within the New England and the Mid- Atlantic regions, is described in the full Federal Funding Opportunity notice. Through this new CI, NOAA also seeks to augment its existing North East Regional climate research with an expanded fisheries forecasting capability, and to develop an integrated capability to research emerging issues from an ecosystem perspective. The CI may consist of one or more research institutions with expertise and capabilities in the NOAA priority areas that contribute to the areas of research described as research themes above. Through this competition, NOAA intends to establish competitively a new CI according to the policy and procedures described in NOAA Administrative Order 216-107 and the Cooperative Institute Interim Handbook both available at https:// www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/. This announcement provides requirements for the proposed CI and includes details for the technical program, evaluation criteria, and competitive selection procedures. Applicants should review the CI Interim Handbook prior to preparing a proposal for this announcement.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public meetings.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.