Office of Science and Technology Policy 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Soil Science Interagency Working Group (SSIWG) was established under the National Science and Technology Council to develop a Framework for a Federal Strategic Plan for Soil Science. This Framework aims to establish Federal soil research priorities, ensure availability of tools and information for improved soil management and stewardship, deliver key information to land managers to help them implement soil conserving systems, and inform related policy development and coordination. The Framework identifies current gaps, needs, and opportunities in soil science, and proposes Federal research priorities for the future. The Framework will inform a more comprehensive Federal Strategic Plan that will provide recommendations for improving the coordination of soil science research, as well as the development, implementation, and evaluation of soil conservation and management practices among Federal agencies and between Federal agencies and non-Federal organizations, both domestic and international. This notice solicits public comments on the Framework. The Framework can be accessed at the following link: https:// www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/ SSIWG_Framework_December_2016.pdf.

The Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) is requesting input on the overall framing and content of a plan for Ocean Research in the Coming Decade (``the Plan''). The SOST is chartered under the National Science and Technology Council to advise and assist on national issues related to ocean science and technology. The SOST contributes to the goals for Federal ocean science and technology, including identifying priorities and developing coordinated interagency strategies. The Plan will describe the most pressing research questions and most promising areas of opportunity within the ocean science and technology enterprise for the coming decade. It will set the stage for agency-specific and interagency coordinated actions across Federal agencies and with non-Federal sectors to address societal needs and issues of national importance. This notice solicits relevant public input, particularly suggestions directed toward how the Plan should be structured and specific topic areas that should be considered for inclusion.

Many modern service providers give people access to their own data in machine readable format to download and use as they see fit. Proponents of increased data portability point to numerous, significant benefits for users, service providers, and the broader public. For users, perhaps the most important benefits are the ability to create backups of their most important data, like photographs, tax returns, and other financial information while reducing the danger of becoming locked-in to a single service provider, especially in a world where service providers may change business models or discontinue products. Consumers may also benefit from increased competition. If consumers cannot switch easily between platforms, then it may be difficult for would-be services to enter the market, potentially resulting in less innovation or higher prices. Increasing data portability may induce businesses to compete with one another to offer better prices and higher quality services so as to win or retain a customer's business. Service providers, meanwhile, can benefit from offering data portability to increase user trust through the transparency and ease of switching data portability provides, and to help manage the termination of services. Finally, the public benefits when data portability increases competition, provides some sense of accountability, and promotes transparency as to what information a provider is holding. Others may point to potential private and public downsides. With lower switching costs, businesses might adjust their business models and become more selective in their initial customer acquisition strategy or invest less in their customer relationships, which might leave some sets of customers worse off than before. Some privacy and security advocates also worry that the strength of data portability easier sharing of informationcould encourage more information sharing, including when it might be inadvisable from a privacy perspective or when a criminal successfully breaks into an unsecured service. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is interested in understanding the benefits and drawbacks of increased data portability as well as potential policy avenues to achieve greater data portability. The views of the American people, including stakeholders such as consumers, academic and industry researchers, and private companies, are important to inform an understanding of these questions.

The purpose of this Notice of Request for Public Comment is to solicit relevant comments that can assist in the finalization of the proposed update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (Coordinated Framework) to clarify the current roles and responsibilities of the EPA, FDA, and USDA consistent with the objectives described in the July 2, 2015 Memorandum issued by the Executive Office of the President.

The Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (ARPA), P.L. 98- 373, established the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) to develop national Arctic research policy through five-year Federal research plans. Chaired by the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), IARPC is composed of representatives from 14 agencies. More information on IARPC can be found at https:// www.iarpccollaborations.org. IARPC seeks public comment on its new Arctic Research Plan FY2017- 2021 (Five-Year Plan). The Five-Year Plan describes research priorities that are expected to benefit from interagency collaboration; not all research conducted by Federal agencies is included in the Five-Year Plan. The Five-Year Plan and additional information, including any updates to this Federal Register notice, will be available at https:// review.globalchange.gov/.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offer great promise for creating new and innovative products, growing the economy, and advancing national priorities in areas such as education, mental and physical health, addressing climate change, and more. Like any transformative technology, however, AI carries risks and presents complex policy challenges along a number of different fronts. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is interested in developing a view of AI across all sectors for the purpose of recommending directions for research and determining challenges and opportunities in this field. The views of the American people, including stakeholders such as consumers, academic and industry researchers, private companies, and charitable foundations, are important to inform an understanding of current and future needs for AI in diverse fields. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback on overarching questions in AI, including AI research and the tools, technologies, and training that are needed to answer these questions.

On behalf of the U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO), a Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability (CENRS), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties regarding recommendations for the development of the 2017 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations (``National Plan'', or ``Plan''). An electronic template with questions will be posted at www.usgeo.gov. Comments of up to approximately 2,000 characters per question are requested and must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), July 1, 2016 to be considered. The public input provided in response to this Notice will inform the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as it works with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop this Plan.

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), will hold several events over the coming year in support of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), including two workshops and one or more webinars.