 | | 23 October 2000 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Subj: MINUTES OF THE 16 OCTOBER 2000 NATIONAL OCEAN RESEARCH
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING
1. These are the minutes of the seventh National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC) meeting held in the Truman Room of the White House Conference Center, 726 Jackson Pl., Washington, DC on 16 October 2000.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. Mr. Pirie welcomed representatives from the Department of State and the Army Corps of Engineers. Agency representatives are listed below:
Mr. Robert Pirie, Under Secretary of the Navy (acting Chair)
Dr. D. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation
Dr. Ghassem Asrar, representing the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Dr. Anna Palmisano, representing the Deputy Secretary of Energy
Dr. Norine Noonan, representing the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CAPT Charles Lancaster, representing the Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Dr. Suzette Kimball, representing the Director, United States Geological Survey
Mr. Tom Green, representing the Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Dr. Thomas Kitsos, representing Director, Minerals Management Service
Mr. Duncan Moore, representing the Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Ms. Jennifer Baffi, representing the Director, Office of Management and Budget
Dr. L.E. Link, representing the Army Corps of Engineers
Dr. Harlan Cohen , representing the Department of State.
2. Opening Remarks
The Chair welcomed all participants and asked Dr. Steven E. Ramberg, Chair of the NOPP Interagency Working Group (IWG) to summarize the agenda and proposed action items. Due to a scheduling conflict requiring his early departure, Dr. D. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, requested a reordering of the agenda so that he would be present during the discussion of certain topics. All agreed.
3. OCEAN.US/Integrated Ocean Observing System
At the 22 May 2000 meeting, based on the ORAP Report implementation recommendations, the NORLC approved the establishment of an Office having the charter to develop a national capability for integrating and sustaining ocean observations and predictions. Dr. Ramberg reviewed the structure of OCEAN.US and explained that the signatories of the MOA will constitute a subset of the NORLC and comprise the OCEAN.US Executive Committee (Excom). In response to a question as to why the OCEAN.US Office and the NOPP Program Office are not co-located, Dr. Ramberg explained that this was done so that the OCEAN. US Office would be clearly identified as a new entity.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to set up the OCEAN.US Office has been extensively reviewed in the agencies. The approved MOA was available at the meeting so those agencies prepared to sign could do so.
4. Administration Transition Planning
The NORLC discussed the need to get information on NOPP, the NORLC, and the ORAP to the Administration transition teams, the Pew Oceans Commission and the 'Oceans Act' Commission on Ocean Policy. Dr. Baker commented that this is an opportunity to build on the current Congressional interest in ocean issues and that it is vital to keep the momentum going. The NORLC charged he IWG to put together a plan to brief the transition teams and the two commissions. The briefing for the commissions should describe what NOPP is, its successes, and its vision for the future. This would then be used as the basis for the briefing to each of the relevant transition teams, including science and technology, national security, and the environment. Dr. Baker suggested the ORAP should consider briefing the commissions and the transition teams. Dr. John Knauss, ORAP Chair, stated that he plans to send a letter to both commissions offering the services of ORAP. The IWG will work with the ORAP on how to best interact with the commissions and the teams. Dr. Baker recommended that preparation for NOPP interaction with the Commission on Ocean Policy should be on the agenda for the (Spring, 2001) NORLC meeting.
5. Consent Calendar
The Chair asked Dr. Ramberg to describe the Consent Calendar items.
Nominees for the next Chair and Vice Chair of the NORLC
NOPP legislation states that "…the chairman and vice chairman of the Council shall be appointed every two years by a selection committee of the Council composed of, at a minimum, the Secretary of the Navy, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], and the Director of the National Science Foundation [NSF]. The term of office of the chairman and vice-chairman shall be two years. A person who has previously served as chairman of vice chairman may be reappointed." The terms of the current Chair and Vice Chair end following this NORLC meeting and both have served two terms. At its 22 May 2000 meeting the NORLC agreed to form a Selection Committee to develop nominations for the next Chair and Vice Chair. This Selection Committee, composed of Navy, NOAA, NSF, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Minerals Management Service, has been deliberating on a slate of nominations for the next Chair and Vice Chair. Confirmation of these nominees was scheduled to be an agenda item for Fall 2000 NORLC meeting. However, due to the upcoming change in Administration, it is recommended that consideration of new nominees be postponed until Spring 2001
Implement OCEAN.US Memorandum of Agreement when signed
The OCEAN.US Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defines the first steps and outlines the initial functions and responsibilities agreed to by the participating agencies to establish the interagency ocean observations office/organization known as the OCEAN.US Office. The Office will serve as the national focal point for integrating ocean observing activities that meet specified needs of the participating agencies. The IWG requests approval to proceed with MOA implementation once the Agreement is signed.
NORLC membership for the Department of State and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
In order to capture the experience and expertise of additional Federal agencies involved in ocean and coastal research and policy, the IWG has invited the Department of State (DoS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to become members of the NOPP IWG. Both have accepted the invitation and appointed representatives. Participation of DoS and USACE in the NORLC was discussed informally at the 22 May 2000 NORLC meeting and raised at subsequent Congressional Hearings. Along with the agencies currently represented on the NORLC, DoS and USACoE are welcome to participate at the Council level. The IWG recommends membership for DoS and USACoE.
Approve FY 2001 NOPP solicitations
The IWG is developing solicitations to fund projects beginning in FY 2001. Topics will follow the NOPP programmatic themes. This year we expect to emphasize Topic A: Operational/Routine Observations (Argo); Topic B: Research "Observatories" (TBD); Topic C: Observational Technique Development (minor); Topic D: "Commons" for Ocean Information Network (more nodes); and Topic E: Education/Outreach (not this year). Proposals will be due in the January, 2001 timeframe. The IWG requests approval to release the NOPP FY 2001 solicitations.
The four Consent Calendar items were approved as presented.
4. NOPP Status Report
A. NOPP Program Update and Plans
Dr. Ramberg provided a brief overview of the current program. Information was provided on the structure of the program, including the OCEAN.US Excom and the Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee. Program activities to date and FY 2001 plans were also discussed. Dr. Ramberg ended the status report with a review of the five NOPP topics (operational/routine observations; research “observatories”; observational technique development; “commons” for ocean information; and education and outreach) including the projects and amount of funding in each. The information provided was for NOPP-funded activities only. The ORAP requested a similar overview of NOPP-coordinated activities.
B. Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) Update
Dr. Knauss provided a brief report on the activities of the ORAP and their meeting of 3 October 2000. Proposed new members in the final stages of the clearance process attended the meeting, including Dr. Marcia McNutt of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Mr. Lawrence Dickerson of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and Dr. Denise Stephenson-Hawk of The Stephenson Group and Spelman College. The Panel hopes to establish a formal rotation process in the near future.
Dr. Knauss reported that the ORAP is delighted with the progress of OCEAN.US. and noted the office was a Panel recommendation in its report “An Integrated Ocean Observing System: A Strategy for Implementing the First Steps of U.S. Plan.”
Panel members discussed the need for an in-depth review of ongoing NOPP programs. It was agreed that specific ORAP members would directly track/review specific NOPP topical areas and provide commentary regarding the status of their topic to the panel. Members noted the need to present success stories to illustrate the value of the program such as NOPP and the need to determine how the transition from research to the operational mode will be made within NOPP.
At its 22 May 2000 meeting, the NORLC, at the request of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, tasked the ORAP to develop a strategic vision for a U.S. research program to study marine biological resources within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and to work with the OCEAN.US office to determine appropriate observational strategies in support of the research program. Dr. Knauss reported that a subcommittee of ORAP met 25-26 September 2000 to respond to this tasking. The subcommittee focused more on the second part of the task, and developed a preliminary report. This report deals with observations in the coastal ocean and the fact that the kind of observational network the community wants and needs in the coastal ocean does not exist. Dr. Knauss commented that it is worthwhile to invest in the instruments needed for such a coastal observation system. A response to the first part of the tasking statement will be drafted by Dr. McNutt, with assistance from Dr. Robert Gagosian of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
The NORLC commented that integrated coastal observations are important and that the ORAP should keep in mind that coastal states collect much data and should be considered allies of the federal agencies in this effort. The Council also expressed concern that the ORAP develop and maintain a dialogue with operators and researchers in the field actually collecting the data.
C. Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee (FOFC)
Dr. Margaret Leinen of the National Science Foundation and Chair of FOFC presented an overview of FOFC, including information on the plan for management of the academic fleet currently being developed by the Committee. The plan will be presented to the NORLC at its Spring 2001 meeting for approval. In response to a question from the Council, Dr. Leinen reported that the plan is advisory in nature, but each relevant agency was involved in its development. It therefore contains information on the needs, roles, etc. of these agencies with regard to the fleet. Dr. Leinen further noted that this plan provides the direction and general architecture of the future academic fleet, addressing the concerns within the oceanographic community regarding at-sea research facilities. The plan will be reviewed by both the agencies and the oceanographic community.
In response to a question from the Council, Dr. Leinen commented that the plan's focus is on the fleet, rather than other tools and techniques, in keeping with the request for a fleet plan. She noted that the NORLC might request a future plan focusing on other oceanographic facilities.
RADM Richard D. West, Oceanographer of the Navy , and RADM Jay M. Cohen, Chief of Naval Research, stated that this discussion on ship needs is a key demonstration of why NOPP is so important. The program brings together the various interests and needs of the different agencies. This is especially vital for presenting a cohesive unit to Congress, rather than individual agencies. There was considerable discussion regarding national research capabilities in ice covered waters. It was agreed that dedicated research time aboard Navy nuclear submarines is critical to the success of future arctic research. ADM Watkins pointed out the cost of space-borne remote sensing platforms is comparable to costs associated with operating a nuclear submarine.
Dr. Rita Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation, commented that the administration transition is an opportunity for the agencies to get together to make things happen in a way not done before.
The NORLC charged the IWG to work with FOFC to include information on the preservation of oceanographic facilities in the transition teams and commissions briefing. This information should be presented in the context of a larger, long-range plan. A draft from the FOFC is due prior to the next NORLC meeting in Spring 2001. The next FOFC meeting is planned for November 2000 .
7. Other Business
On behalf of Dr. Baker, Dr. David Evans of the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research thanked the agencies for providing staff to work on the Ocean Exploration Panel. He expects the final report to be complete by the deadline.
Mr. Pirie and the rest of the NORLC thanked ADM James Watkins, President of the Consortium on Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), for his years of work in supporting and raising the visibility of ocean sciences on the national agenda. ADM Watkins will retire from CORE in the coming months.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. The next meeting of the NORLC will be in Spring 2001. At this meeting, the IWG will report on program activities and progress of the OCEAN.US office.
8. Summary of Approvals/Actions:
Approved:
All items on the Consent Calendar.
For Action:
The IWG will prepare a briefing to present to the Administration transition teams and the Pew and Commission on Ocean Policy. The IWG will work with the ORAP on how to best interact with the teams and commissions.
The IWG will work with the FOFC to include information on preservation of oceanographic facilities in the transition teams and commissions briefing.
The IWG will prepare an overview of NOPP-coordinated activities.
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