82 FR 41211 - Request for Information on the Development of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science 2.0
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 167 (August 30, 2017)
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 167 (August 30, 2017)
| Page Range | 41211-41213 | |
| FR Document | 2017-18355 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 41211-41213] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-18355] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No.: 170717677-7677-01] Request for Information on the Development of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science 2.0 AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) established the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science in 2013 as part of a larger effort to strengthen forensic science in the United States. NIST has primary responsibility to support the OSAC and has publicly announced its intention to transition the administration of the OSAC to another host within five to ten years. NIST made a commitment to the forensic science community (community) that OSAC 2.0 will ensure the continued scientific integrity and stability of the organization. NIST publishes this notice to request information for consideration in the development of a comprehensive transition plan for the OSAC that meets the needs of the community and ensures that transition is conducted in a manner that safeguards the efficiency and effectiveness of the OSAC. DATES: NIST will accept written responses to this request for information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: Responses to this request for information must be made electronically through the Federal [[Page 41212]] eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Please include your name, organization's name (if any) and cite ``Response to OSAC Request for Information'' in all correspondence. All responses, including attachments, will be posted to the docket at https://www.regulations.gov/ without change or redaction. Accordingly, respondents should not include information they do not wish to be posted (e.g., personal or confidential business information). Responses that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language will not be posted or considered. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Grace Hao, (301) 975-4752 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In February 2013, DOJ and NIST announced a partnership that included the formation of the OSAC. As is stated in the OSAC Charter, the purpose of the OSAC is to strengthen the Nation's use of forensic science by: Providing technical leadership necessary to facilitate the development and promulgation of consensus-based documentary standards and guidelines for forensic science; promoting standards and guidelines that are fit-for-purpose and based on sound scientific principles; promoting the use of OSAC standards and guidelines by accreditation and certification bodies; and establishing and maintaining working relationships with other similar organizations. The OSAC Charter and Bylaws are available online at: https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/about-osac. These purposes of the OSAC are achieved through the OSAC Registry, the repository for all standards and guidelines. A standard or guideline is posted on the OSAC Registry only after the validity of any methods it contains has been assessed by forensic practitioners, academic researchers, measurement scientists, and statisticians through a consensus development process that allows participation and comment from all relevant stakeholders. NIST retains ultimate authority over posting of standards and responsibility for support of the OSAC Registry. The OSAC Charter states that the aims of the OSAC are to: Populate the OSAC Registry; develop and maintain the Principles of Professional Practice; compile and update the forensic science catalog of standards and related documents; maintain Priority Action Plan documents on OSAC strategic objectives and associated goals and intended actions; promote and improve the communication, dissemination and use of forensic science standards, accreditation, and personnel competencies; encourage forensic science service providers in the United States to implement guidelines and standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025, etc.) for quality and competency; provide insight on each forensic science discipline's research and measurement standard needs; and enlist stakeholder involvement from a broad community to provide public comment on OSAC outputs. Under the OSAC Charter, NIST has primary responsibility to coordinate development of a quality infrastructure for forensic science standards development and to support the OSAC. NIST envisioned the OSAC as a multi-level organization consisting of five Scientific Area Committees (SACs) that report to a Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB). Each of the five SACs oversees discipline-specific subcommittees. In addition, there are three Resource Committees that provide input to the FSSB, SACs, and SAC Subcommittees. DOJ funds the OSAC through appropriated funds that are transferred to NIST. While DOJ personnel participate as members of OSAC committees and subcommittees, DOJ itself does not review or approve OSAC standards prior to posting on the Registry. Both NIST and DOJ recognized from the outset that the OSAC would be realigned over time to ensure continuous improvement and better realize its purpose and objectives. NIST has publicly announced its intention to transition the administration of the OSAC to another host within five to ten years. NIST's goals in this transition process are to establish the next generation of OSAC (OSAC 2.0) that strengthens forensics science, follows American National Standards Institute principles for standards development, and promotes a collaborative process that actively involves practitioners and researchers. NIST notes that, as a non-regulatory research and development agency, it does not contemplate undertaking any a regulatory or quasi-regulatory function in connection with OSAC 2.0. NIST is open to maintaining elements of the current OSAC structure, to modifications to the structure, as well as to substantially different structural concepts, including several examples of concepts at: https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/potential-concepts-osac-20. NIST notes its continuing commitment to the forensic science community, that OSAC 2.0 will promote the continued scientific integrity and stability of the organization. NIST is now in the process of developing a process for the transition of OSAC 1.0 to an OSAC 2.0 structure that will accomplish these goals and safeguard the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. To ensure that the transition plan is comprehensive and meets the needs of the community, NIST, in collaboration with DOJ, requests from the public, comments on the questions below, which will inform the approach to an OSAC 2.0 in the following six areas: (A) Purpose, (B) oversight and independence, (C) work product and aims, (D) structure, (E) participation, and (F) funding. (A) Purpose: As stated above, the OSAC charter identifies four purposes. (See section 1.1: https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2017/03/16/fssb_osac_charter_and_bylaws_v_1.3.pdf). What is your opinion regarding whether the OSAC is fulfilling these purposes under the current structure? What is your opinion regarding whether these purposes/functions are appropriate for the OSAC and whether the purposes should be modified in any way? What is your opinion regarding what role, if any, the OSAC should be playing in addressing the recommendations of the 2009 National Academies of Sciences report, ``Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward'' (https://www.nap.edu/read/12589/chapter/1)? (B) Oversight and independence: Please provide your views regarding what type of entity should host the OSAC (e.g., governmental, professional association, etc.). What is your opinion about the preferred characteristics of a host organization for an effective OSAC? What are your views as to the type of organization that should provide oversight to the OSAC? Do you believe that the OSAC should have more/ less independence from a host organization? (C) Work products and aims: As stated above, the OSAC Charter identifies eight aims. (See section 1.2: https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2017/03/16/fssb_osac_charter_and_bylaws_v_1.3.pdf.) What is your opinion regarding whether the OSAC is fulfilling these aims as structured? Do you believe that the OSAC is addressing the correct aims? What are your views as to the type of work products the OSAC should produce? What do you believe are the essential elements of work products? Please provide your opinion as to whether there should be implementation/enforcement of the [[Page 41213]] work products. Do you believe that the OSAC should develop ``best practices'' and other materials that are not formal ``standards''? (D) Structure: What are your views as to whether the current the OSAC structure works efficiently? Do you believe that another structure should be utilized? Please provide your opinion about whether there are any issues in the current work product development process that should be addressed structurally. In your view, does the reliance on standards development organizations function as intended (please include the reasons for your opinion)? (E) Participation: What are your views as to the community the OSAC should serve? In your opinion, what stakeholders must be a part of the OSAC (e.g., practitioners, researchers, forensic science societies, accreditation bodies, scientific societies, human factors experts, metrologists, standards development organizations, legal practitioners)? If you think that any of these entities should be excluded, please explain why and identify other venues for the views of the excluded entities to be incorporated into forensic practice, if appropriate. In your view, should some stakeholders serve more limited roles and, if so, how and why? (F) Funding: What is your opinion as to the funding model that the OSAC should employ--Entirely funded by the Federal government, by non- Federal funds, or a combination of funding sources? (Please include your thoughts on the role of funding sources such as membership fees, certification fees, and meeting registration fees.) What are your views about the implications of funding models for the other traits, particularly oversight and independence? Response to this request for information (RFI) is voluntary, and comments are not limited to the specific questions posed. Respondents need not reply to all questions; however, it is requested that they clearly indicate the letter of each question to which they are responding. All responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov. All responses received will be posted on www.regulations.gov without making any changes to the responses or redacting any information, including any personally identifiable information provided. It is the responsibility of the respondent to safeguard personally identifiable information. You are not required to submit personally identifying information in order to respond and it is recommended that respondents' personally identifiable information not be included. Responses may be provided anonymously, but those respondents who do share contact information are requested to include brief background information regarding the respondent's subject-matter experience and expertise. Responses submitted through www.regulations.gov will not include the email address of the respondent unless the respondent chooses to include that information as part of the response. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10). Kevin Kimball, NIST Chief of Staff. [FR Doc. 2017-18355 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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Working Group is open to all interested Documents explaining how the group produce an implementation of this
parties. will be run will be made available at the reference material and create a
DATES: An initial teleconference will first meeting to all Working Group compliant technical standard. A list of
take place on Thursday, August 31, members. Final technical NIST’s Cloud Computing Working
2017, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The recommendations from the Working Groups can be found at http://
goal for completion of the work is June Group will be made publicly accessible collaborate.nist.gov/twiki-cloud-
30, 2018. on the NIST Cloud Computing Portal, computing/bin/view/CloudComputing/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and NIST may make the results of this WebHome#Working_Groups_of_NIST_
Robert Bohn, National Institute of Working Group available to Standards Cloud_Com. The work of the NIST
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Developing Organizations and other Cloud Computing Working Groups is
Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899– interested parties. interrelated, and this Working Group
4800, telephone number 301–975–4731, will also liaise with other working
Background groups as needed.
email: robert.bohn@nist.gov.
The Cloud Computing Roadmap is Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(3) & (c)(12).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NCCP
being used industry-wide to advance the
announces the reconstitution of its Kevin Kimball,
rapid adoption of cloud computing.
Federated Cloud Public Working Group
Two of the 10 requirements (numbers 5 NIST Chief of Staff.
(Working Group). The Working Group
and 8) in the Cloud Computing [FR Doc. 2017–18354 Filed 8–29–17; 8:45 am]
was formed to address Requirement #5
Roadmap point to the next generation of BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
of NIST’s US Government Cloud
cloud computing which will be focused
Computing Technology Roadmap (NIST
on the concept of federated clouds.
SP 500–293) (Cloud Computing DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Federated clouds represent a future
Roadmap), ‘‘Frameworks to Support
where there is seamless integration
Federated Community Clouds.’’ This National Institute of Standards and
between multiple cloud service
requirement calls for ‘‘frameworks to Technology
providers. Fulfilling this vision of the
support seamless implementation of
future of cloud computing will require [Docket No.: 170717677–7677–01]
federated community cloud
a foundational effort to understand all
environments.’’ The Working Group’s Request for Information on the
the technological and standards-based
activities will resume and initiate work Development of the Organization of
obstacles that will need to be addressed
to try and fully understand and describe Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for
to build the necessary underlying
the elements of federated cloud Forensic Science 2.0
architecture.
computing. Assorted topics include
developing and gaining consensus on a Scope AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
common federated cloud computing The scope of the project is to fully and Technology, Department of
vocabulary, as well as developing an understand and describe the elements of Commerce.
underlying conceptual model of what federated cloud computing. This will ACTION: Notice; request for information.
federated cloud computing is, its major involve developing and gaining
components, and users/stakeholders. SUMMARY: The National Institute of
consensus on a common federated cloud Standards and Technology (NIST) and
An initial teleconference will take computing vocabulary, as well as
place on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at the Department of Justice (DOJ)
developing an underlying conceptual established the Organization of
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The dial-in model of what federated cloud
number is 1–877–953–0273, and the Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for
computing is, its major components, Forensic Science in 2013 as part of a
passcode is 456–4979. Members of the and users/stakeholders. The Working
public who wish to participate in the larger effort to strengthen forensic
Group will then use that conceptual science in the United States. NIST has
teleconference should provide their model to map out an implementation
name and email address to fedcloud@ primary responsibility to support the
strategy including a gap analysis to OSAC and has publicly announced its
nist.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern identify the missing technologies and
Time on Thursday, August 24, 2017. intention to transition the
standards needed to cultivate a seamless administration of the OSAC to another
Responses received after the deadline system of systems. The anticipated
will also be added to the group’s host within five to ten years. NIST made
results are: a commitment to the forensic science
mailing list, but they may not receive • Federated Cloud Computing
initial documentation prior to the first community (community) that OSAC 2.0
Vocabulary; will ensure the continued scientific
meeting. Members of the public who • Conceptual Model of Federated
provide their email addresses but who integrity and stability of the
Clouds; and
cannot participate in the initial • Technology Gap Analysis. organization. NIST publishes this notice
teleconference will still be notified The Working Group will also to request information for consideration
about subsequent meetings. It is investigate and identify the needed in the development of a comprehensive
anticipated that there will be technologies, tools, and standards to transition plan for the OSAC that meets
subsequent monthly meetings by enable these environments. They will the needs of the community and ensures
teleconference on the fourth Thursday use material from NIST’s Cloud that transition is conducted in a manner
of every month from either 11:00 a.m. to Computing Reference Architecture that safeguards the efficiency and
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time or 1:30 p.m. to (NIST SP 500–292) and materials effectiveness of the OSAC.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A schedule of located at the group’s public twiki site: DATES: NIST will accept written
meeting times will be provided to all http://collaborate.nist.gov/twiki-cloud- responses to this request for information
participants who submit their name and computing/bin/view/CloudComputing/ until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
email address as provided above. RATax_FedCommunity. October 30, 2017.
Participation in the Working Group is The Working Group will work in a ADDRESSES: Responses to this request
open to all interested parties; there is no coordinated effort with the IEEE ICWG/ for information must be made
fee to participate. Standing Rules 2302 WG—Intercloud Working Group to electronically through the Federal
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 167 / Wednesday, August 30, 2017 / Notices 41213
work products. Do you believe that the may be provided anonymously, but Control Number 0648–0551, Southeast
OSAC should develop ‘‘best practices’’ those respondents who do share contact Region IFQ (individual fishing quota)
and other materials that are not formal information are requested to include Programs. The NMFS Southeast
‘‘standards’’? brief background information regarding Regional Office manages three
(D) Structure: What are your views as the respondent’s subject-matter commercial IFQ and individual
to whether the current the OSAC experience and expertise. Responses transferable quota (ITQ) programs in the
structure works efficiently? Do you submitted through www.regulations.gov Southeast Region under the authority of
believe that another structure should be will not include the email address of the the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
utilized? Please provide your opinion respondent unless the respondent Conservation and Management Act
about whether there are any issues in chooses to include that information as (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801
the current work product development part of the response. et seq. The IFQ programs for red
process that should be addressed Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(10). snapper, and grouper and tilefish occur
structurally. In your view, does the in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico,
reliance on standards development Kevin Kimball, and the ITQ program for wreckfish
organizations function as intended NIST Chief of Staff. occurs in Federal waters of the South
(please include the reasons for your [FR Doc. 2017–18355 Filed 8–29–17; 8:45 am] Atlantic.
opinion)? BILLING CODE 3510–13–P This collection of information tracks
(E) Participation: What are your views the transfer and use of IFQ and ITQ
as to the community the OSAC should shares, and IFQ allocation and landings
serve? In your opinion, what DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE necessary to operate, administer, and
stakeholders must be a part of the OSAC review management of the IFQ and ITQ
(e.g., practitioners, researchers, forensic National Oceanic and Atmospheric programs. Regulations for the IFQ and
science societies, accreditation bodies, Administration ITQ programs are located at 50 CFR part
scientific societies, human factors 622.
experts, metrologists, standards Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Southeast Region The NMFS Southeast Regional Office
development organizations, legal also proposes to revise parts of the
practitioners)? If you think that any of IFQ Programs
information collection approved under
these entities should be excluded, AGENCY: National Oceanic and OMB Control Number 0648–0551 to
please explain why and identify other Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), account for updates to burden time and
venues for the views of the excluded Commerce. cost estimates, as well as administrative
entities to be incorporated into forensic ACTION: Notice. updates to online and paper forms.
practice, if appropriate. In your view, NMFS intends the revisions would
should some stakeholders serve more SUMMARY: The Department of make instructions and data collection
limited roles and, if so, how and why? Commerce, as part of its continuing requirements clearer and easier to
(F) Funding: What is your opinion as effort to reduce paperwork and understand, resulting in more accurate
to the funding model that the OSAC respondent burden, invites the general and efficient information available for
should employ—Entirely funded by the public and other Federal agencies to use by fishery managers.
Federal government, by non-Federal take this opportunity to comment on
funds, or a combination of funding proposed and/or continuing information II. Method of Collection
sources? (Please include your thoughts collections, as required by the Information for the Gulf red snapper,
on the role of funding sources such as Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. and grouper and tilefish IFQ programs
membership fees, certification fees, and DATES: Written comments must be is collected electronically via a web-
meeting registration fees.) What are your submitted on or before October 30, based system, through satellite-linked
views about the implications of funding 2017. vessel monitoring systems, through a
models for the other traits, particularly 24-hour call line, and with paper form
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
oversight and independence? submission for landing corrections,
Response to this request for to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, closing an account, and account
information (RFI) is voluntary, and applications, as well as landing
comments are not limited to the specific Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW., transactions under catastrophic
questions posed. Respondents need not circumstances.
reply to all questions; however, it is Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at pracomments@doc.gov). The share transfer process in the
requested that they clearly indicate the wreckfish ITQ program requires the
letter of each question to which they are FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
signatures of witnesses on paper forms.
responding. All responses to this RFI Requests for additional information or
The ITQ program remains paper based
must be submitted electronically copies of the information collection
until the South Atlantic Fishery
through www.regulations.gov. instrument and instructions should be
Management Council and NMFS
All responses received will be posted directed to Adam Bailey, National
consider whether to implement an
on www.regulations.gov without making Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
electronic system.
any changes to the responses or Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th
redacting any information, including Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, III. Data
any personally identifiable information (727) 824–5303, or adam.bailey@ OMB Control Number: 0648–0551.
provided. It is the responsibility of the noaa.gov. Form Number(s): None.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
respondent to safeguard personally SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Type of Review: Regular submission
identifiable information. You are not (extension and revision of a currently
required to submit personally I. Abstract approved information collection).
identifying information in order to This request is for an extension and Affected Public: Business or other for-
respond and it is recommended that revision of a currently approved profit organizations.
respondents’ personally identifiable information collection under the Office Estimated Number of Respondents:
information not be included. Responses of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 1,059.
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Document Created: 2017-08-30 04:08:39
Document Modified: 2017-08-30 04:08:39
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice; request for information. | |
| Dates | NIST will accept written responses to this request for information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2017. | |
| Contact | Ms. Grace Hao, (301) 975-4752 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 41211 |
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