[Federal Register: January 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 21)]
[Notices]
[Page 5812-5813]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja08-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Availability for Public Comment on Proposed Data
Management and Communications Standards for U.S. Integrated Ocean
Observing System
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Notice of availability is hereby given for a 45-day public
comment period on ``proposed'' Data Management and Communications
(DMAC) standards for implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean
Observing System (IOOS). A description and references for currently
``proposed'' standards are posted at the following URL: https://
ioosdmac.fedworx.org. At that Web site, standards are categorized in a
three level sequence as either ``submitted'', ``proposed'' or
``recommended''. This announcement seeks public comments on those
categorized as ``proposed''. The public may view any standard using the
anonymous guest login provided; however, submission of comments on the
``proposed'' standards using the website requires registration as
provided by the website interface. Public comments are sought as part
of the ongoing DMAC standards process adopted by the DMAC Steering Team
in May 2006 to manage the review and adoption of standards (including
guidance and best practices) in an open, objective, and balanced
manner. Suggested standards may be submitted at anytime as this process
will run continuously for submission of suggested standards and for
public comment on those elevated to ``proposed'' status. Subsequent
comment periods will be announced at approximately six-month intervals.
The Web site will remain open continuously and display information
about the schedule for future comment periods. All substantive comments
received during a review period will be considered by a broadly based,
expert panel convened by Ocean.US for that purpose. Possible decisions
are to: (1) Advance the standard to ``recommended'' status; (2) defer
for technical modifications, additional testing or comments; or (3)
reject as not appropriate for IOOS implementation. Decisions will be
posted to that Web site. Any subsequently modifications or additions to
the developing set of IOOS standards shall be subjected to public
review and comment through this same process.
DATES: Comments on the proposed standards must be received no later
than 5 p.m. eastern standard time, on February 29, 2008. For the public
unable to access the internet, printed copies of the currently proposed
standards can be requested by contacting Ocean.us at the address given
below. Written comments in lieu of using the website facility may be
submitted via regular mail, e-mail, or FAX to Ocean.US, Attention: DMAC
Standards; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910,
U.S.A. The FAX number is 301-427-2131. E-mail should be addressed to
DMACStandards@ocean.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
notice, please contact the Office of Ocean.US, telephone: 843-740-1229
E-mail: DMACStandards@ocean.us.
[[Page 5813]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean.US Office, operating by
interagency agreement under the statutory authority of the National
Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP, 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.),
serves as the national agent for integrating ocean observing activities
(http://www.ocean.us). Ocean.US is also the focal point for relating
U.S. ocean observing system elements to associated international
efforts, such as the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS)
and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sponsored
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The U.S. IOOS represents the U.S.
contribution to the ocean components of these international partnership
efforts. Key to the realization of the U.S. IOOS is the establishment
of an integrated DMAC infrastructure. This infrastructure will enable
users to discover, retrieve, and use data from Federal and State
government, government-sponsored, other public, private, and commercial
coastal and ocean observing activities regardless of source or
location. In 2005 Ocean.US established an IOOS DMAC Steering Team drawn
from government, industry, academia, public, and non-profit communities
to: (a) Coordinate and oversee the evolution of DMAC standards; (b)
identify and provide recommendations regarding gaps in needed
standards; and, (c) help ensure that the DMAC standards process is
conducted in an open, objective, and balanced manner. That team adopted
a standards process in May 2006 that includes these public comment
periods as a critical input to any decisions on a particular standard.
Review to Date of the Proposed Standards
Proposed standards have been reviewed by members of the DMAC
Steering Team and its Expert Teams for non-technical and technical
criteria. Their designation as `proposed' indicates the standard has
potential merit for application in IOOS and should be evaluated further
based on actual use in pilot projects and demonstrations and based on
public comments on experience using the standard in IOOS applications.
Authority: 10 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.
Dated: January 17, 2008.
Elizabeth R. Scheffler,
Associate Assistant Administrator for Management, Ocean Services and
Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. E8-1723 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]
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