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

OSTP, and the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Subcommittee on Open Science (SOS), are engaged in ongoing efforts to facilitate implementation and compliance with the 2013 memorandum Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research and to address recommended actions made by the Government Accountability Office in a November 2019 report. OSTP and the SOS continue to explore opportunities to increase access to unclassified published research, digital scientific data, and code supported by the U.S. Government. This RFI aims to provide all interested individuals and organizations with the opportunity to provide recommendations on approaches for ensuring broad public access to the peer-reviewed scholarly publications, data, and code that result from federally funded scientific research.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public comments on a draft set of desirable characteristics of data repositories used to locate, manage, share, and use data resulting from Federally funded research. The purpose of this effort is to identify and help Federal agencies provide more consistent information on desirable characteristics of data repositories for data subject to agency Public Access Plans and data management and sharing policies, whether those repositories are operated by government or non- governmental entities. Optimization and improved consistency in agency- provided information for data repositories is expected to reduce the burden for researchers. Feedback obtained through this Request for Comments (RFC) will help to inform coordinated agency action.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy publishes the names of the members selected to serve on its SES Performance Review Board (PRB).

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public comments on a draft set of desirable characteristics of data repositories used to locate, manage, share, and use data resulting from Federally funded research. The purpose of this effort is to identify and help Federal agencies provide more consistent information on desirable characteristics of data repositories for data subject to agency Public Access Plans and data management and sharing policies, whether those repositories are operated by government or non- governmental entities. Optimization and improved consistency in agency- provided information for data repositories is expected to reduce the burden for researchers. Feedback obtained through this Request for Comments (RFC) will help to inform coordinated agency action.

On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC's) Joint Committee on the Research Environment (JCORE), the OSTP requests input on actions that Federal agencies can take, working in partnership with private industry, academic institutions, and non- profit/philanthropic organizations, to maximize the quality and effectiveness of the American research environment. Specific emphasis is placed on ensuring that the research environment is welcoming to all individuals and enables them to work safely, efficiently, ethically, and with mutual respect, consistent with the values of free inquiry, competition, openness, and fairness.

To advance the President's vision of a National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Suicide, OSTP and VA will lead development of a National Research Strategy to improve the coordination, monitoring, benchmarking, and execution of public- and private-sector research related to the factors that contribute to veteran suicide. Through this RFI, we seek input on ways to increase knowledge about factors influencing suicidal behaviors and ways to prevent suicide; inform the development of a robust and forward looking research agenda; coordinate relevant research efforts across the Nation; and measure progress on these efforts. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform the Veteran Wellness, Empowerment, and Suicide Prevention Task Force, who will develop and implement the National Research Strategy.

To advance the President's vision of a National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Suicide, OSTP and VA will lead development of a National Research Strategy to improve the coordination, monitoring, benchmarking, and execution of public- and private-sector research related to the factors that contribute to veteran suicide. Through this RFI, we seek input on ways to increase knowledge about factors influencing suicidal behaviors and ways to prevent suicide; inform the development of a robust and forward looking research agenda; coordinate relevant research efforts across the Nation; and measure progress on these efforts. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform the Veteran Wellness, Empowerment, and Suicide Prevention Task Force, who will develop and implement the National Research Strategy.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is amending its regulations to implement the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. The regulations reflect OSTP's policy and practices and reaffirm its commitment to provide the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy publishes the names of the members selected to serve on its SES Performance Review Board (PRB).

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 one or more workshops to engage stakeholders and facilitate discussion on key nanotechnology matters. Topics covered may include nanosensor manufacturing; environmental, health, and safety issues; converging technologies; or other areas of potential interest to the nanotechnology community.

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.

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), requests comment on the draft Common Framework for Earth-observation data (referred to in this document as ``the Common Framework''). The draft Common Framework will be posted at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ administration/eop/ostp/library/shareyourinput. Comments of approximately five pages or less in length (up to 20,000 characters) are requested and must be received by 8 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), January 15, 2016 to be considered. The public input provided in response to this Notice will inform USGEO as it works to develop the Common Framework.

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council and in collaboration with the European Commission, will host meetings for the U.S.-EU Communities of Research (CORs) on the topic of environmental, health, and safety issues related to nanomaterials (nanoEHS) between the publication date of this Notice and September 30, 2016. The CORs are a platform for scientists to develop a shared repertoire of protocols and methods to overcome research gaps and barriers. The co-chairs for each COR will convene meetings and set meeting agendas with administrative support from the European Commission and the NNCO.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek suggestions for Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenges for the Next Decade: Ambitious but achievable goals that harness nanoscience, nanotechnology, and innovation to solve important national or global problems and have the potential to capture the public's imagination. This RFI is intended to gather information from external stakeholders about potential grand challenges that will help guide the science and technology priorities of Federal agencies, catalyze new research activities, foster the commercialization of nanotechnologies, and inspire different sectors to invest in achieving the goals. Input is sought from nanotechnology stakeholders including researchers in academia and industry, non-governmental organizations, scientific and professional societies, and all other interested members of the public.

Advanced sequencing technologies have illuminated vast networks of microorganisms that drive essential functions in all environments on Earth. The study of these communities of microorganisms, or microbiomes, is nascent, and the potential of microbiome research has only begun to be tapped. Primary to achieving this potential is a functional understanding of microbiomes, which would be greatly advanced by addressing fundamental questions common to all fields of microbiome research; developing platform technologies useful to all fields; and identifying gaps in training or fields of research that should be addressed. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is interested in developing an effort to unify and focus microbiome research across sectors. The views of stakeholdersacademic and industry researchers, private companies, and charitable foundationsare important to inform an understanding of current and future needs in diverse fields.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has a legal mandate to conduct a National Climate Assessment (NCA) not less frequently than every four years. Under its current decadal strategic plan (https://go.usa.gov/3qGU4), USGCRP is building sustained assessment capacity to support the Nation's ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to global change impacts and vulnerabilities. The recent Third NCA process and resulting 2014 Report (https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/) provide a foundation for subsequent activities and reports under the sustained assessment process. More broadly, climate assessments increasingly involve participation and leadership by state, local, and tribal governments as well as the private sector. Noting these developments in the climate assessment landscape, USGCRP seeks ideas about (1) what scientific information on climate change, impacts, and responses would be of most value to inform future assessment activities; (2) how to effectively communicate climate change assessment information; and (3) what mechanisms could be used to more effectively connect to other assessment-related efforts. Public responses to these questions will be evaluated and, if appropriate, used to inform the structure and content of USGCRP's sustained National Climate Assessment process. Updates on the sustained assessment will be posted on the NCA Web site (https:// assessment.globalchange.gov) as they are available.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy published a document in the Federal Register Notice, 2015-05906, on March 16, 2015, pages 13639-13641, concerning a Request for Public Comment on the Impact of the Select Agent Regulations. The document contains incorrect dates as we wish to extend the comment period to April 10, 2015, 5 p.m. ET.

Public comment is requested on the impact that the Select Agent Regulations have had on science, technology, and national security, and on the benefits, costs, and limitations of these regulations. Drawing on these comments and other information available to it, a Fast Track Action Committee under the Committee on Homeland and National Security of the National Science and Technology Council will review the impacts and consider options to address the identified challenges or gaps concerning those regulations. Comments of up to three pages or fewer (12,000 characters) are requested and must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 30, 2015 to be considered.