83 FR 17526 - Developing an Update to the National Space Weather Strategy

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)

Page Range		17526-17527
FR Document		2018-08336

On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Committee on Homeland and National Security, the National Weather Service (NWS) requests input from all interested parties on the development of an update to the National Space Weather Strategy (Strategy). Through this Request for Information (RFI), NWS seeks input from the public on ways to improve government coordination and on long- term guidance for Federal programs and activities to enhance national preparedness to space weather events, including geomagnetic disturbance (a natural source of electromagnetic pulse); promote American leadership in space weather research, technology, and innovation; and improve the safety and viability of human and robotic space activities. This RFI also seeks input on ways to enhance private sector engagement across these endeavors. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform the NSTC as it works with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop the updated Strategy.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17526-17527]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08336]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Developing an Update to the National Space Weather Strategy

AGENCY: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for information.

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SUMMARY: On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council 
(NSTC), Committee on Homeland and National Security, the National 
Weather Service (NWS) requests input from all interested parties on the 
development of an update to the National Space Weather Strategy 
(Strategy). Through this Request for Information (RFI), NWS seeks input 
from the public on ways to improve government coordination and on long-
term guidance for Federal programs and activities to enhance national 
preparedness to space weather events, including geomagnetic disturbance 
(a natural source of electromagnetic pulse); promote American 
leadership in space weather research, technology, and innovation; and 
improve the safety and viability of human and robotic space activities. 
This RFI also seeks input on ways to enhance private sector engagement 
across these endeavors. The public input provided in response to this 
RFI will inform the NSTC as it works with Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders to develop the updated Strategy.

DATES: Responses are due by May 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by email to swxo2rplan@noaa.gov. 
Please include ``Space Weather Strategy Update'' in the subject line of 
the message.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need 
not reply to all questions. Responses exceeding 2,000 words will not be 
considered. Clearly indicate which questions are being answered. Each 
individual or institution is requested to submit only one response. NWS 
may post responses to this RFI, without change, on a Federal website. 
NWS, therefore, requests that no business proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the U.S. Government 
will not pay for response preparation or for the use of any information 
contained in the response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Bonadonna, 
michael.bonadonna@noaa.gov, Office of the Federal Coordinator for 
Meteorology, (301) 686-0058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Space weather, a natural source of 
electromagnetic pulse (EMP), can disrupt, degrade, or damage 
infrastructure and technology systems, including the electric power 
grid. Space weather can also blackout air traffic control and high 
frequency communications systems. Beyond terrestrial systems, space 
weather can affect satellite systems, interfere with GPS service, 
endanger the lives of humans in space, and delay the launch of space 
missions. This makes preparing for space weather events critical to 
national security, infrastructure services, space missions, and 
technology innovations (such as autonomous vehicles) that rely on 
communications systems and GPS for positioning, navigation, and timing 
services.
    Preparing the Nation for space weather events will contribute to 
addressing many priorities identified in the 2017 National Security 
Strategy (NSS). The NSS identifies the need for America to lead in 
research, technology, and inventions through collaborations with allies 
and partners, leveraging private capital and expertise, and rapidly 
fielding innovations. Additionally, the NSS calls for promoting 
American resilience through improving risk management, building a 
culture of preparedness, and improving planning. Space weather 
phenomena, including EMP, can disrupt or damage technology and critical 
infrastructure systems, challenging national resilience and 
necessitating new and innovative approaches to addressing this hazard.

[[Page 17527]]

    The NSS identifies the need for the United States to maintain 
leadership and freedom of action in space, including advancing space as 
a priority domain, promoting space commerce, and maintaining the lead 
in exploration. In addition to the NSS, Space Policy Directive--1 
(December 11, 2017) calls for the Nation to lead an innovative and 
sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international 
partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring 
back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. Robust space weather 
observing and forecasting capabilities are key to the safety and 
viability of human and robotic space activities.
    NSTC has begun the process to update the Strategy, and is 
soliciting public input through this RFI to obtain recommendations from 
a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from diverse 
industries, academia, and other relevant organizations and 
institutions. The public input provided in response to this RFI will 
inform the NSTC as it works with Federal agencies and other 
stakeholders to update the Strategy.

Questions To Inform Development of the Strategy

    Through this RFI, NSTC seeks responses to the following questions 
to improve government coordination and provide long-term guidance for 
Federal programs and activities in support of national preparedness for 
space weather events, on Earth and in space; and, to promote American 
leadership in space weather research, technology, and innovation. 
Responses should clearly indicate which question is being addressed.
    1. How can the Federal Government improve internal and external 
coordination and better inform the long-term guidance and direction for 
Federal programs and activities that support national preparedness for 
space weather events?
    2. In priority order, how, where, and why should the Federal 
Government invest limited resources to enhance research, technology, 
and innovation to improve observations and understanding of space 
weather events? Please include near-term and long-term objectives for 
each investment.
    3. In priority order, what activities should the Federal Government 
undertake to enhance national capabilities to prepare for, recover 
from, adapt to, or otherwise mitigate the effects of space weather 
events? Please include near-term and long-term objectives for each 
activity.
    4. What innovative tools, platforms, or technologies are needed by 
the Federal Government and space weather research and development 
communities to advance the transition of research to operations for 
models and observations of space weather phenomena? Please include any 
barriers to implement the identified tools, platforms, or technologies.
    5. In priority order, what opportunities exist to enhance U.S. 
operational space weather predictions, alerts, and services, for Earth, 
near-Earth, and deep space applications? Please include any barriers 
for implementation and utilization of these capabilities.
    6. Are there regulatory or other barriers to commercial activities 
associated with space weather prediction, observation, or the 
transitioning of research to operations? Please list any, in priority 
order, and describe how the barrier(s) impedes activity.
    7. Beyond regulation and grant programs, what can the federal 
government do to enable and advance the private sector role for 
capabilities, forecasting, modeling, mitigation, research, development, 
and observation in the space weather domain?
    8. What opportunities exist for the United States to marshal the 
collective resources of like-minded nations and organizations to 
address the global hazard of space weather?
    9. Is there any additional information related to enhancing 
national capabilities to address space weather events, not requested 
above, that you believe NSTC should consider?

    Dated: April 17, 2018.
Louis W. Uccellini,
Director, National Weather Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08336 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-KE-P

17526 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, available, both before and after the Please include ‘‘Space Weather Strategy
pursuant to the provisions of the rules meeting. Persons interested in the work Update’’ in the subject line of the
and regulations of the U.S. Commission of this Committee are directed to the message.
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Commission’s website, https:// Instructions: Response to this RFI is
Federal Advisory Committee Act www.usccr.gov, or may contact the voluntary. Respondents need not reply
(FACA) that a meeting of the Alaska Regional Programs Unit at the above to all questions. Responses exceeding
Advisory Committee (Committee) to the email or street address. 2,000 words will not be considered.
Commission will be held at 12:00 p.m. Clearly indicate which questions are
Agenda being answered. Each individual or
(Alaska Time) Thursday, May 10, 2018.
The purpose of the meeting is for the I. Welcome institution is requested to submit only
Committee to discuss report writing II. Update on Advisory Memorandum one response. NWS may post responses
schedule. Status to this RFI, without change, on a Federal
III. Discuss Report Writing Schedule website. NWS, therefore, requests that
DATES: The meeting will be held on
• Delegate section assignments no business proprietary information,
Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. IV. Public Comment
AKT. copyrighted information, or personally
V. Next Steps identifiable information be submitted in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ana VI. Adjournment response to this RFI. Please note that the
Victoria Fortes (DFO) at afortes@ U.S. Government will not pay for
Dated: April 17, 2018.
usccr.gov or (213) 894–3437. response preparation or for the use of
David Mussatt,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: any information contained in the
Public Call Information: Dial: 877– Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2018–08279 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am]
response.
874–1563; Conference ID: 2785200.
This meeting is available to the public BILLING CODE P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
through the following toll-free call-in Michael Bonadonna,
number: 877–874–1563, conference ID michael.bonadonna@noaa.gov, Office of
number: 2785200. Any interested DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the Federal Coordinator for
member of the public may call this Meteorology, (301) 686–0058.
number and listen to the meeting. Developing an Update to the National SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Space
Callers can expect to incur charges for Space Weather Strategy weather, a natural source of
calls they initiate over wireless lines, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), can
AGENCY: National Weather Service,
and the Commission will not refund any disrupt, degrade, or damage
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
incurred charges. Callers will incur no infrastructure and technology systems,
Administration, U.S. Department of
charge for calls they initiate over land- including the electric power grid. Space
Commerce.
line connections to the toll-free weather can also blackout air traffic
ACTION: Notice of request for control and high frequency
telephone number. Persons with hearing
impairments may also follow the information. communications systems. Beyond
proceedings by first calling the Federal SUMMARY: On behalf of the National terrestrial systems, space weather can
Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and Science and Technology Council affect satellite systems, interfere with
providing the Service with the (NSTC), Committee on Homeland and GPS service, endanger the lives of
conference call number and conference National Security, the National Weather humans in space, and delay the launch
ID number. Service (NWS) requests input from all of space missions. This makes preparing
Members of the public are entitled to interested parties on the development of for space weather events critical to
make comments during the open period an update to the National Space national security, infrastructure
at the end of the meeting. Members of Weather Strategy (Strategy). Through services, space missions, and
the public may also submit written this Request for Information (RFI), NWS technology innovations (such as
comments; the comments must be seeks input from the public on ways to autonomous vehicles) that rely on
received in the Regional Programs Unit improve government coordination and communications systems and GPS for
within 30 days following the meeting. on long-term guidance for Federal positioning, navigation, and timing
Written comments may be mailed to the programs and activities to enhance services.
Western Regional Office, U.S. Preparing the Nation for space
national preparedness to space weather
Commission on Civil Rights, 300 North weather events will contribute to
events, including geomagnetic
Los Angeles Street, Suite 2010, Los addressing many priorities identified in
disturbance (a natural source of
Angeles, CA 90012. They may be faxed the 2017 National Security Strategy
electromagnetic pulse); promote
to the Commission at (213) 894–0508, or (NSS). The NSS identifies the need for
American leadership in space weather
emailed Ana Victoria Fortes at afortes@ America to lead in research, technology,
research, technology, and innovation;
usccr.gov. Persons who desire and inventions through collaborations
and improve the safety and viability of
additional information may contact the with allies and partners, leveraging
human and robotic space activities. This
Regional Programs Unit at (213) 894– private capital and expertise, and
RFI also seeks input on ways to enhance
3437. rapidly fielding innovations.
private sector engagement across these
Records and documents discussed Additionally, the NSS calls for
endeavors. The public input provided in
during the meeting will be available for promoting American resilience through
response to this RFI will inform the
public viewing prior to and after the improving risk management, building a
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

NSTC as it works with Federal agencies
meeting at https://facadatabase.gov/ culture of preparedness, and improving
and other stakeholders to develop the
committee/meetings.aspx?cid=234. planning. Space weather phenomena,
updated Strategy.
Please click on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ including EMP, can disrupt or damage
and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records DATES: Responses are due by May 16, technology and critical infrastructure
generated from this meeting may also be 2018. systems, challenging national resilience
inspected and reproduced at the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and necessitating new and innovative
Regional Programs Unit, as they become by email to swxo2rplan@noaa.gov. approaches to addressing this hazard.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices 17527

The NSS identifies the need for the 4. What innovative tools, platforms, or DATES: Applicable April 20, 2018.
United States to maintain leadership technologies are needed by the Federal FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and freedom of action in space, Government and space weather research Yang Jin Chun or Bryan Hansen, AD/
including advancing space as a priority and development communities to CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement
domain, promoting space commerce, advance the transition of research to and Compliance, International Trade
and maintaining the lead in exploration. operations for models and observations Administration, U.S. Department of
In addition to the NSS, Space Policy of space weather phenomena? Please Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
Directive—1 (December 11, 2017) calls include any barriers to implement the NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
for the Nation to lead an innovative and identified tools, platforms, or (202) 482–5760 and (202) 482–3683,
sustainable program of exploration with technologies. respectively.
commercial and international partners 5. In priority order, what
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
to enable human expansion across the opportunities exist to enhance U.S.
solar system and to bring back to Earth operational space weather predictions, Background
new knowledge and opportunities. alerts, and services, for Earth, near- On December 6, 2017, Commerce
Robust space weather observing and Earth, and deep space applications?
published the preliminary results of the
forecasting capabilities are key to the Please include any barriers for
administrative review of the
safety and viability of human and implementation and utilization of these
antidumping duty order on diamond
robotic space activities. capabilities.
6. Are there regulatory or other sawblades from China covering the
NSTC has begun the process to update period of review (POR) November 1,
the Strategy, and is soliciting public barriers to commercial activities
associated with space weather 2015, through October 31, 2016.1 We
input through this RFI to obtain received case and rebuttal briefs with
recommendations from a wide range of prediction, observation, or the
transitioning of research to operations? respect to the Preliminary Results. The
stakeholders, including representatives deadline for the final results of this
from diverse industries, academia, and Please list any, in priority order, and
describe how the barrier(s) impedes review is April 16, 2018.2 We conducted
other relevant organizations and this administrative review in
activity.
institutions. The public input provided accordance with section 751 of the
7. Beyond regulation and grant
in response to this RFI will inform the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
programs, what can the federal
NSTC as it works with Federal agencies government do to enable and advance
and other stakeholders to update the Scope of the Order
the private sector role for capabilities,
Strategy. forecasting, modeling, mitigation, The merchandise subject to the order
research, development, and observation is diamond sawblades. The diamond
Questions To Inform Development of
in the space weather domain? sawblades subject to the order are
the Strategy
8. What opportunities exist for the currently classifiable under subheadings
Through this RFI, NSTC seeks United States to marshal the collective 8202 to 8206 of the Harmonized Tariff
responses to the following questions to resources of like-minded nations and Schedule of the United States (HTSUS),
improve government coordination and organizations to address the global and may also enter under subheading
provide long-term guidance for Federal hazard of space weather? 6804.21.00. The HTSUS subheadings
programs and activities in support of 9. Is there any additional information are provided for convenience and
national preparedness for space weather related to enhancing national customs purposes. A full description of
events, on Earth and in space; and, to capabilities to address space weather the scope of the order is contained in
promote American leadership in space events, not requested above, that you the Issues and Decision Memorandum.3
weather research, technology, and believe NSTC should consider? The written description is dispositive.
innovation. Responses should clearly
Dated: April 17, 2018. Analysis of Comments Received
indicate which question is being
Louis W. Uccellini, All issues raised in the case and
addressed.
Director, National Weather Service. rebuttal briefs by parties to this
1. How can the Federal Government
improve internal and external [FR Doc. 2018–08336 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am] administrative review are addressed in
coordination and better inform the long- BILLING CODE 3510–KE–P
1 See Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof from
term guidance and direction for Federal
the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Results
programs and activities that support of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2015–
national preparedness for space weather DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
2016, 82 FR 57585 (December 6, 2017) (Preliminary
events? International Trade Administration Results), and accompanying Preliminary Decision
2. In priority order, how, where, and Memorandum.
2 See the Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
why should the Federal Government [A–570–900]
Memorandum for the Administrative Review of the
invest limited resources to enhance Antidumping Duty Order on Diamond Sawblades
Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof
research, technology, and innovation to and Parts Thereof from the People’s Republic of
From the People’s Republic of China: China,’’ (Issues and Decision Memorandum) dated
improve observations and
Final Results of Antidumping Duty concurrently with and hereby adopted by this
understanding of space weather events? notice, at 2, for tolling the due date for the final
Administrative Review; 2015–2016
Please include near-term and long-term results of this administrative review as a result of
objectives for each investment. AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, the shutdown of the Federal Government from
3. In priority order, what activities International Trade Administration, January 20 through 22, 2018, and a subsequent
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

extension of the deadline for the final results. See
should the Federal Government Department of Commerce. also Memoranda, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the
undertake to enhance national SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’ dated
capabilities to prepare for, recover from, (Commerce) continues to find that January 23, 2018, and ‘‘Diamond Sawblades and
adapt to, or otherwise mitigate the certain companies covered by this Parts Thereof from the People’s Republic of China:
Extension of Deadline for Final Results of
effects of space weather events? Please administrative review made sales of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,’’ dated
include near-term and long-term subject merchandise at less than normal April 9, 2018.
objectives for each activity. value. 3 See Issues and Decision Memorandum at 2–3.

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Document Created: 2018-04-20 00:02:42
Document Modified: 2018-04-20 00:02:42

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 of request for information.
Dates		Responses are due by May 16, 2018.
Contact		Michael Bonadonna, [email protected], Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, (301) 686-0058.
FR Citation		83 FR 17526