Science and Technology Policy Office – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of the determination, under Section 127(f) of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Act), to waive the requirements of Section 127(a) and (d) of the Act. Notice is also given that the Associated Decision Memorandum and an interagency technical analysis report are available on the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Web site at https://www.ostp.gov/KI. Section 127(a) of the Act directed the President to establish a Potassium Iodide (KI) distribution program, under which State and local governments could receive KI tablets for distribution to the population in the 20 mile radius surrounding nuclear power plants (NPPs). The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) already has such a program for the 10 mile emergency planning zones surrounding NPPs, so Section 127(a) effectively extended that program to the 10-20 mile range. Through Section 127(f), Congress authorized the President to waive this distribution requirement if there exists ``an alternative and more effective prophylaxis or preventive measures for adverse thyroid conditions that may result from the release of radionuclides from nuclear power plants.'' On July 3, 2007, the President delegated the Section 127(f) waiver authority to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. On July 30, 2007, to help inform his decision, the OSTP Director requested the Federal Radiological Policy Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) to provide a technical evaluation of the issues surrounding Section 127. The FRPCC is an interagency organization, with membership from 17 Federal agencies, established to coordinate Federal responsibilities for assisting State and local governments in emergency planning and preparedness for peacetime nuclear emergencies. The FRPCC transmitted its final technical evaluation paper to the OSTP Director on October 23, 2007. On January 22, 2008, the OSTP Director executed his final decision pursuant to the Section 127(f) delegation. The complete Decision Memorandum, as well as the FRPCC technical information paper, is available on the OSTP Web site at https://www.ostp.gov/KI. The OSTP Director's determination waived Section 127(f) because a more effective preventive measure does exist for the extended zone covered by the Act, namely avoidance of exposure altogether through evacuation of the potentially affected population and interdiction of contaminated food. Analysis of radiological release events that could lead to adverse thyroid conditions beyond the current 10 mile zone shows that limiting or avoiding exposure to radiation through these mechanisms is practical and much more effective than the administration of KI in the proposed extended zone.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: January 8, 2008, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 at the Keck Center of the National Academies at 500 5th St. NW., Washington DC. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday January 8, 2008, at approximately 9 a.m. The co-chairs of the PCAST subcommittee on nanotechnology are tentatively scheduled to lead a discussion on the findings of the PCAST review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). The PCAST also is tentatively scheduled to convene two panels. The first panel will address approaches and barriers to research partnerships among universities and the private sector. The second panel will address policy issues associated with realizing the benefits of personalized medicine. This session will end at approximately 4 p.m. Additional information and the final agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https:// www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Dr. Celia Merzbacher, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456-7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

Many areas of today's research require multi-disciplinary teams in which the intellectual leadership of the project is shared among two or more individuals. To facilitate this team approach through recognition of the contributions of the team leadership members, OSTP issued a memorandum to all Federal research agencies on January 4, 2005, requiring them to formally allow more than one PI on individual research awards. The Federal agencies then sought input from the research communityscientists, research administrators, and organizations that represent components of the scientific communityon how best to implement this policy. This input was sought via a Request for Information published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2005 that posed a series of questions around core elements that will comprise each agency's implementation plan. The six core elements, to be posted on the Research Business Models (RBM) Web Site, include: (1) Statement of what constitutes a PI; (2) designation of contact PI; (3) application instructions for listing more than one PI; (4) PIs at different institutions; (5) access to award and review information; and (6) identification of all PIs in public data systems. The Supplementary Information section of this Notice provides background on the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (COS), the plan to recognize multiple PIs on Federal research projects, a summary of the responses to the Request for Information, and the government response to the comments submitted. The final policy on the recognition of multiple PIs is contained in the Policy Section.

The Aeronautics Science and Technology Subcommittee (ASTS) of the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Committee on Technology will hold a public meeting to discuss development of the National Aeronautics Research and Development (R&D) Plan and the related Aeronautics Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Infrastructure Plan. Executive Order (E.O.) 13419National Aeronautics Research and Developmentsigned December 20, 2006, calls for the development of these Plans within one year. The Plans are to be guided by the National Aeronautics R&D Policy that was developed by the NSTC and endorsed by E.O. 13419.

The Aeronautics Science and Technology Subcommittee (ASTS) of the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Committee on Technology will hold a public meeting to discuss development of the National Aeronautics Research and Development (R&D) Plan and the related Aeronautics Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Infrastructure Plan. Executive Order (E.O.) 13419National Aeronautics Research and Developmentsigned December 20, 2006, calls for the development of these Plans within one year. The Plans are to be guided by the National Aeronautics R&D Policy that was developed by the NSTC and endorsed by E.O. 13419. Dates and Addresses: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room 233 of the Duke Energy Center, 525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Duke Energy Center information is available at the: https://www.duke-energycenter.com/700/ mapsdirectionsparking.asp Web site. Registration is required because seating is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Registration Requests: Registration requests (including your name, address, and phone number) should be submitted to Jon Montgomery, Office of Aerospace and Automotive Industries, Room 4020, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-3353, or e-mail your request to Jon.Montgomery@mail.doc.gov. Registration requests should be submitted no later than 4 p.m. (EST) on Friday, July 6, 2007.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: April 24, 2007, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 at the Keck Center of the National Academies at 500 5th St., NW., Washington, DC. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday April 24, 2007, at approximately 9 a.m. The co-chairs of the PCAST subcommittee on networking and information technology are tentatively scheduled to lead a discussion on the findings of the PCAST review of the Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program. The PCAST will hear presentations on modes of interaction between the private sector and traditionally Federally funded research communities. The PCAST also is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on personalized medicine as part of the Council's study of policy issues associated with realizing the benefits of scientific and technological advances in this area. This session will end at approximately 5 p.m. Additional information and the final agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/ PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Celia Merzbacher, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456- 7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

This notice announces the release of the Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade and Request for Public Comment by the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST). This draft document describes the ocean research priorities for the United States for the next decade. Dates and Addresses: Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade, a draft document that describes the ocean research priorities for the United States for the next decade is now available for public review (https:// ocean.ceq.gov/about/supjsostpubliccomment.html). Please note that all comments submitted will be available for public viewing. The NSTC JSOST must receive comments on this draft document no later than the close of business on October 20, 2006. Address for comments: Only electronic (e-mail) comments will be accepted. Individuals who wish to provide comments should refer to the guidelines for comment submission available at https://ocean.ceq.gov/ about/supjsostpubliccomment.html. Comments should be sent to: public-comment@jsost.org.

This notice announces the release of the planning document for the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Request for Public Comment by the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST). This planning document was prepared to serve as a basis for discussion of theme priorities in the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan. Dates and Addresses: The planning document for the development of the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan is now available for public review and can be accessed at https://ocean. ceq.gov/about/docs/ jsost orppplandoc. pdf. Comments on the development of the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan must be received by the National Science and Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology no later than the close of business on Monday, May 15, 2006 (45 days). Address for comments: Only electronic (e-mail) comments will be accepted. Individuals who wish to provide comments should refer to the guidelines for comment submission available at https://ocean. ceq.gov/ about/sup jsostpublic comment.html. Comments should be sent to: public-comment@jsost.org.

This document extends the comment period for ``Proposed Principles for Federal Support of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training in Science and Engineering'' published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2005. The proposed principles are intended to increase collaboration and consistency within the Federal agencies in support of graduate and postdoctoral education and training in science and engineering. Principles are: Federal Support of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training Is a Critical Investment in the Future; The Federal Investment Portfolio Must Broadly Support Science and Engineering Disciplines; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Must Receive Quality Education and Training; Federal Contributions toward Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training are Provided in Partnership with Academic and Other Non-Federal Institutions; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Should Be Adequately Supported to Encourage Their Pursuit of Science and Engineering Careers; and Federal Agencies Should Collaborate in Areas of Common Interest.

The proposed principles are intended to increase collaboration and consistency within the Federal agencies in support of graduate and postdoctoral education and training in science and engineering. Principles are: Federal Support of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training Is a Critical Investment in the Future; The Federal Investment Portfolio Must Broadly Support Science and Engineering Disciplines; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Must Receive Quality Education and Training; Federal Contributions toward Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training are Provided in Partnership with Academic and Other Non-Federal Institutions; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Should Be Adequately Supported to Encourage Their Pursuit of Science and Engineering Careers; and Federal Agencies Should Collaborate in Areas of Common Interest.

This notice announces an Integrated Earth Observation System Public Engagement Workshop by the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Interagency Working Group on Earth Observations (IWGEO) to discuss the nine societal benefit areas and the six near term opportunities identified in the Stratetic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System. This plan was developed to address the effective use of Earth observation systems to enable a healthy public, economy and planet.

A public forum sponsored by the Manufacturing Research and Development Interagency Working Group (IWG) of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will be held to review the current state of manufacturing research and development in three priority areas: nanomanufacturing, manufacturing for the hydrogen economy, and intelligent and integrated manufacturing systems.