Opening Remarks National Ocean Research Leadership Council National Oceanographic Partnership Program 7 July 2003, 1:30 PM White House Conference Center, Truman Room 726 Jackson Place Washington, DC R. Colwell called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Introductions around the room were made. The Department of Homeland Security was welcomed as the newest NORLC member and invited to provide a briefing at a future meeting on its role in ocean science and technology. Consent Calendar The Council unanimously agreed to delegate approval authority to the Interagency Working Group for the FY2003 and 2004 NOPP Request For Proposals/Broad Agency Announcement awards. NOPP Status Report J. Yoder delivered a brief update on NOPP programmatic activities. Key upcoming issues and activities for NOPP include: getting the clearance process for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) implementation plan underway prior to the release of the US Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) report; bringing the need for academic fleet renewal to the attention of Congress; broadening agency participation in NOPP funding activities; preparing a NOPP strategic plan; and responding to the USCOP report. It was noted that the USCOP report is due out in the fall and that two chapters, Advancing Our Understanding of the Ocean and Promoting Ocean Awareness have significant overlap with NOPP activities. It was announced that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has been charged with responding to the USCOP report on behalf of the Administration and the members were encouraged to foster discussion between their agency CEQ representatives and NOPP. G. Asrar reported that getting input from NOPP was discussed and welcomed at the last CEQ meeting. During the discussion the feasibility of a coordinated NOPP input to CEQ was addressed. It was stated that at a minimum NOPP and CEQ should be in communication. The point was made that agencies should provide input to CEQ on an individual basis as well as through NOPP. The Council asked the Interagency Working Group (IWG) to review the USCOP report and identify areas of particular pertinence to NOPP that agencies may want to specifically reinforce in their responses. National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 1 of 6
Integrated Ocean Observing System R. Spinrad provided an overview of Ocean.US Executive Committee (ExCom) activities pertaining to the IOOS. Recent major accomplishments include submission to Congress of the Airlie House report Building Consensus: Toward An Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observing System ; establishment of a federation of regional associations of coastal observing systems; and development and approval by ExCom of Part I of the IOOS Implementation Plan. It was noted that a significant amount of thought has gone into multi-year planning for the IOOS and merging IOOS planning with existing agency planning and budgeting processes; defining clear roles for stakeholders; and identifying research, pilot, pre-operational, and operational pieces of the IOOS. It was announced that Parts 2 and 3 of the IOOS Implementation Plan will be presented at the next NORLC meeting. R. Spinrad also reported that a large hurdle facing the IOOS is getting complete participation from all NOPP agencies. E. Lindstrom provided an overview of Ocean.US activities pertaining to IOOS implementation. Part I of the IOOS Implementation Plan defines the process for establishing budgeting and planning priorities. It was noted that Part I does not specifically mention individual agencies, focusing more on processes than on roles, by defining principles for implementation and operation, identifying governance mechanisms, and creating and aligning a planning and budget cycle with federal agency schedules. It was reported that for the IOOS Implementation Plan Part II Initial IOOS: Building on Existing Assets, agencies have provided inventories of activities that are candidates for the initial system. It was noted that Ocean.US is working with the agencies to verify the status of each program and to assign budget numbers to each of them. Part II will define roles and responsibilities, designate lead agencies, and describe a recommended initial system and associated costs for the period FY03-FY05. E. Lindstrom stated that the report from the Airlie House workshop provides a foundation for Part III of the IOOS Implementation Plan, Improving the IOOS: Enhancements and New Initiatives, which will focus on expanding the IOOS in FY06 and beyond. It was reported that a Regional Summit held in April 2003 gained consensus on the establishment of a National Federation of Regional Associations (NFRA). The NFRA will coordinate activities of regional associations (RA) at a national level, synthesize regional priorities, provide a focal point for regional involvement and ensure the national backbone of the IOOS meets RA needs, facilitate interaction and cross-fertilization of RAs, develop standard performance criteria, and facilitate international collaboration with neighboring countries. An approval process for the IOOS Implementation Plan was agreed to whereby Ocean.US will obtain approval by the ExCom for each part and submit the completed plan to the Council for approval at the NORLC winter 2003 meeting. During the discussion, the absence of USCG and EPA programs in the inventory of existing programs was questioned. It was noted that the inventory represented the entire response to the data call, but that the data call was only sent to ExCom agencies, which does not include EPA. The point was made that it is of greater immediate importance to have EPA and other agencies provide information on existing programs than it is for them to be members of the ExCom. In response to a question about how to approach National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 2 of 6
measurements at the land-sea or air-sea interface, it was noted that the regional associations are addressing the handling of these measurements on an individual basis. There was also a question on the type of data the IOOS would provide, and it was noted that the majority of IOOS measurements in the short term would be physical variables. R. Colwell announced that NSF has issued an RFP for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Project Office whose duties will include providing a link between the research observatories and the IOOS. A question was asked about the point at which Ocean.US intends to merge the IOOS with international efforts. It was stated that the IOOS planning is compatible with planning for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Federal Oceanographic Facilities M. Leinen, the Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee (FOFC) Chair, gave a brief overview of FOFC activities. A brochure on Federal research aircraft had been finalized at the 28 May FOFC meeting and was circulated to the Council. It was noted that at the last NORLC meeting the FOFC was asked to conduct an analysis of vessel acquisition methods that could be applied to renewal of the academic research fleet. The statement was made that the preferred methods of acquisition are new construction and conversion of existing vessels. FOFC has acknowledged that leasing vessels may be a viable option and has tasked the FOFC Working Group with determining the level of effort required to conduct a detailed study of leasing vs. purchasing academic fleet vessels. It was noted that utilizing ships of opportunity or partial leases by the Federal agencies addresses occasional needs for an added specialized capability. It was reported that the FOFC has also discussed the merits of an integrated fleet renewal plan. The statement was made that the federal fleet could be integrated at many different levels: coordinated plans, coordinated acquisition, and coordinated management. The FWG has been tasked with determining the level of effort necessary to do a detailed study of integrating existing fleet plans. It was stated that the FOFC intends to report on these activities at the next Council meeting. During the discussion, the question was asked whether the FOFC had considered analyzing acquisition plans and integration for the federal aircraft fleet. It was noted that the FOFC has not started those activities but intends to expand its scope beyond vessels to include aircraft, satellites, ROVs, etc. The Council requested that the FOFC look at airborne facilities in a similar manner. It was also suggested that issues related to joint scheduling of aircraft and vessels be examined by the FOFC. NOPP Strategic Plan Development M. Briscoe provided an overview of the development of the NOPP strategic plan. It was noted that the request for a NOPP strategic plan followed from the development of an ORAP education strategy that was presented at the 9 January 2003 NORLC meeting. The stated motivation was three-fold: to develop a NOPP-wide context for the ORAP education strategy and other ongoing planning efforts, to provide a background for an assessment of NOPP, and to foster improved rationale for all NOPP agencies to National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 3 of 6
participate in the NOPP activities. The format and content of the strategic plan was developed over a series of supplemental IWG meetings. A draft plan was then presented to the ORAP, and their comments were incorporated. It was noted that the mission statement in the draft strategic plan was taken from the enabling legislation. The process for developing the plan was discussed, and a proposed structure was presented that included background, goals, subgoals, and evaluation metrics. The 5 prioritized goals recommended by the IWG were: 1) implement a long-term integrated and sustained ocean observing system, 2) achieve national ocean understanding and appreciation, 3) modernize oceanographic infrastructure, 4) collaborate to strengthen ocean exploration, research and operational efforts, and 5) identify and remove obstacles to interagency and inter-sector partnering. The IWG requested approval to proceed and report back at the next NORLC meeting. During the discussion, the point was made that collaboration refers to increasing the integration of joint agency efforts, such that they transcend the scope of individual agencies. The suggestion was made to emphasize integration more strongly. It was noted that the unique contribution of NOPP does not stand out in the current version and that the plan should address not only the process but the potential benefits of achieving NOPP goals. The suggestion was also made to state the long-term questions or grand challenges that the agencies should address collaboratively. To capture the public imagination, it needs to be clear why investments in ocean science and technology need to be made. The point was made that the National Science and Technology Council s (NSTC) Subcommittee on Oceans might address these issues as well. C. Lautenbacher stated that NOPP needs to increase its effort on goals 2 through 5 and develop specific ways to address them. He also suggested that the plan include a reference to the importance of the ocean in understanding climate change and the relationship to human health and management of coastal zones. It was suggested that the reports from the Pew Oceans Commission and the USCOP be used as input to the development of the NOPP strategic plan. Another suggestion was made to address the transition from research to operations and the value of the oceans in relation to climate and human health. The Council instructed the IWG to proceed with the development of the plan with the expectation that the plan be submitted for approval at the next NORLC meeting Ocean Research Advisory Panel M. McNutt provided a brief update of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) activities. It was noted that at an informal meeting of ORAP candidates was held 2-3 June in New Orleans, LA. Topics of discussion included the economic impacts of the IOOS, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), the NOPP strategic plan, and a possible assessment by ORAP of NOPP investments. It was reported that the ORAP will hear a presentation on the potential return on investment in the IOOS at their official meeting in the fall. M. McNutt stated that the ORAP would like to help OBIS organize a workshop in the context of the NOPP strategic plan and ecosystem-based marine resource management. It was noted that the ORAP was pleased to see that the NOPP strategic plan contained metrics that would allow ORAP to assess NOPP investments more objectively. National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 4 of 6
H. Johnson announced that the letters of approval for the ORAP candidates had been finalized. Conclusion R. Colwell noted that C. Lautenbacher will become NORLC Chair at the next meeting. C. Lautenbacher reminded the Council of the 31 July 2003 Earth Observing Summit. The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. List of Meeting Participants NORLC Dr. Ghassem Asrar (for Mr. Sean O Keefe) Dr. Rita Colwell, Chair Mr. Walter Cruickshank (for Ms. Rejane Burton) CAPT James Evans (for Dr. Charles McQueary) Ms. Cynthia Garman-Squier (for Mr. George Dunlop) Dr. Charles Groat Mr. Benjamin Grumbles (for Hon. Christine Todd Whitman) RADM Jeffrey J. Hathaway (for ADM Thomas H. Collins Hon. Hansford T. Johnson, Vice-chair VADM Conrad Lautenbacher, Vice-chair Dr. Kathie Olson (for Dr. John H. Marburger, III) Dr. Aristides Patrinos (for Mr. Kyle McSlarrow) Mr. Anthony Rock (for Mr. John Turner) Dr. Theo Kooij (for Dr. Anthony J. Tether) Invitees Dr. Melbourne Briscoe, IWG Vice-Chair Dr. Margaret Leinen, FOFC Chair Dr. Eric Lindstrom Dr. Marcia McNutt, ORAP Chair Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Science Foundation Minerals Management Service Department of Homeland Security U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Geological Survey Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Coast Guard U. S. Navy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Science and Technology Policy Department of Energy Department of State Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Office of Naval Research National Science Foundation Ocean.US Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 5 of 6
Dr. Richard Spinrad, ExCom Chair Dr. James Yoder, IWG Chair National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Science Foundation National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office Page 6 of 6