[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40860-40861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16919]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC071
Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean
Acidification
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that a Draft Strategic Plan for
Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification is being made
available for public review and comment. The Draft Research Plan
presents a vision for how to move Federal agencies toward a better
understanding of the process of ocean acidification, its effects on
marine ecosystems, and the steps that could be taken to adapt marine
resource management to account for it.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Please visit http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/iwgoa/pages/research_strategy.html to view and provide comments on the draft
Strategy. Comments can be submitted via an online form or by submitting
revised version of the strategy, with changes tracked, to
NMFS.ST.OAStrategy@noaa.gov. Alternatively, you may send comments by
U.S. mail to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National
Marine Fisheries Service, ATTN: OA Strategy Coordinator, 1315 East-West
Highway, F/ST7, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jennifer Howard, 301-713-8173,
NMFS.ST.OAStrategy@noaa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The development of this Strategic Plan (Plan) was directed by
section 12404(c) and guided by section 12405 of the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009, 33 U.S.C. 3701-3708,
(FOARAM Act). The Plan is intended to guide ``Federal research and
monitoring on ocean acidification that will provide for an assessment
of the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms and marine
ecosystems and the development of adaption and mitigation strategies to
conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems.''
This Plan presents a vision on how to move Federal agencies toward
a better understanding of the process of ocean acidification, its
effects on marine ecosystems, and the steps that could be taken to
adapt marine resource management to account for it. The Plan calls for
the implementation of a comprehensive global and regional ocean
acidification observing system that includes the monitoring of
biological effects on marine organisms and ecosystems. Researchers will
quantify the physiological effects of ocean acidification, under a
range of scenarios, on a wide variety of marine organisms. Enhanced
modeling efforts
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will lead to improved understanding of the global biogeochemical
processes of ocean acidification and its impact on marine ecosystems.
Pursuant to section 12404 of the FOARAM Act, 33 U.S.C. 3703, a National
Ocean Acidification Program will be established to lead U.S.
coordination of ocean acidification activities between the Federal
agencies, and with academic institutions, industry, and other private
sector and international partners. A national ocean acidification data
management and information exchange program will ensure that ocean
acidification information reaches scientists, decision makers, and the
public in a timely manner. Finally, the U.S. will join other countries
in establishing a robust international research program to address this
global challenge.
Overview
The Plan is organized into seven priority themes:
Theme 1--``Monitoring of Ocean Chemistry and Biological Impacts,''
identifies sampling programs that collect ocean acidification data, and
it prioritizes additional monitoring systems necessary for adequate
data collection and monitoring.
Theme 2--``Research to Understand Responses to Ocean Acidification,''
describes the goals and priorities to understand the physiological
responses of marine organisms to ocean acidification and its
interactions with other stressors, the impacts to marine food webs, and
possible approaches to track ecosystem responses.
Theme 3--``Modeling to Predict Changes in the Ocean Carbon Cycle and
Impacts on Marine Ecosystems and Organisms,'' summarizes requirements
and recommendations for modeling ocean acidification, and its impacts
on marine organisms and ecosystems, including codifying our research
understanding and studying the interplay of factors affecting marine
ecosystems, thus permitting analysis of the efficacy of adaptation and
mitigation strategies.
Theme 4--``Technology Development and Standardization of
Measurements,'' describes goals that ensure the ability to measure all
required parameters through technology development and adequate data
quality via measurement standardization.
Theme 5--``Assessment of Socioeconomic Impacts and Development of
Strategies to Conserve Marine Organisms and Ecosystems,'' focuses on
assessing the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and
developing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Theme 6--``Education, Outreach, and Engagement Strategy on Ocean
Acidification,'' describes goals for designing and coordinating
educational, public outreach, and domestic and international engagement
activities, as well as ensuring results and assessments of monitoring
and research efforts are accessible to and understandable by all
stakeholders.
Theme 7--``Data Management and Integration,'' discusses the need for
effective data management and integration within the context of other
international, Federal, State, local and private activities.
Description of Desired Comments
General comments are welcome and specific comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the proposed strategy meets the requirements of the FOARAM
Act, (2) whether the proposed strategy meets the ocean acidification
research needs of the United States; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the strategy; and (4) any additional
information that is currently absent that should be included. Comments
submitted in response to this notice will become a matter of public
record and will be posted online together with responses from the
Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification established under
section 12404 of the FOARAM Act. Id. All comments will be carefully
considered and addressed in the Strategic Research Plan to the extent
possible.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments received are a part of the public record and may be
posted for public viewing at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/iwgoa/pages/research_strategy.html without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted via email to NMFS.ST.OAStrategy@noaa.gov in Microsoft Word or
Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
Dated: July 5, 2012.
David Detlor,
Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16919 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
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