83 FR 28668 - Request for Information-Environmental Research and Education, National Security, and Economic Competitiveness

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 119 (June 20, 2018)

Page Range		28668-28669
FR Document		2018-13213

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek input from the public on possible future directions for fundamental environmental science and education. The RFI intends to gather views from external stakeholders on what environmental research and education is needed to further advance national security and economic competitiveness. NSF's Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education (AC ERE) will use the input to develop a report on these topics to inform NSF and the community.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28668-28669]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13213]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Information--Environmental Research and Education, 
National Security, and Economic Competitiveness

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek 
input from the public on possible future directions for fundamental 
environmental science and education. The RFI intends to gather views 
from external stakeholders on what environmental research and education 
is needed to further advance national security and economic 
competitiveness. NSF's Advisory Committee for Environmental Research 
and Education (AC ERE) will use the input to develop a report on these 
topics to inform NSF and the community.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by August 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Responses will be submitted via online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACERE-RFI-2018). See the instructions in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for guidelines.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Leah Nichols, Executive 
Secretary for the AC ERE, at [email protected] for further information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Science Foundation's Advisory 
Committee for Environmental Research and Education (AC ERE) invites 
your input on possible environmental research and education directions 
to further advance national security and economic competitiveness. The 
purpose of the AC ERE is to:
     Provide advice, recommendations and oversight concerning 
support for the NSF's environmental research and education portfolio;
     Be a base of contact with the scientific community to 
inform NSF of the impact of its research support and NSF-wide policies 
on the scientific community;
     Serve as a forum for consideration of interdisciplinary 
environmental topics as well as environmental activities in a wide 
range of disciplines;
     Provide broad input into long-range plans and partnership 
opportunities; and
     Provide advice about program management, overall program 
balance, and other aspects of program performance for environmental 
research and education activities.
    The Committee has been interested broadly in fundamental 
environmental research and education that also has societal utility. It 
has recently focused its attention on two major topics where there is 
broad consensus on the importance of the research to date, but where 
significant research questions remain. These topics are at the nexus of 
environmental science and engineering with economic growth and 
competitiveness, and the relationship of environmental factors to 
national and human security. The Committee is particularly interested 
in approaches that promote convergent research across disciplines and 
sectors to address economic competitiveness and economic security.
    To identify emerging research questions in these areas, the 
committee is reaching out to interested and knowledgeable members of 
the scientific community in all disciplines and interdisciplinary areas 
for their views. The AC ERE is also interested in the views of 
professionals who are directly involved in decision-making or 
operational activities in these areas, and who therefore can provide a 
very practical perspective on high-priority research and education 
topics.
    The AC ERE invites individuals and groups of individuals to provide 
input on one or both of the topics described above via this link: 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACERE-RFI-2018.
    The online submission form requires the following information:
    1. Author name(s) and affiliation(s);
    2. Valid contact email address;
    3. Title of the response;
    4. An abstract (200 words or less) summarizing the response; and
    5. Checkbox to consent to allow the AC ERE to display the submitted 
information, consistent with the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode).
    You will also be asked to identify whether your response focuses on 
questions in environmental research and education that are pertinent to 
(a) economic growth and competitiveness, (b) national and human 
security, or (c) both topics. The submission form includes the 
following question prompts. Respondents may respond to all or any 
subset of these questions.
     What are the major environmental research priorities with 
the greatest potential to contribute to economic growth and 
competitiveness and/or national or human security/wellbeing? Priorities 
could, for example, include empirical, theoretical, or qualitative 
analyses, establishing baselines, and/or experimental studies. (500 
words or less)
     What methodologies should be used for conducting such 
studies? Methodological recommendations could include the prospects for 
interdisciplinary and/or convergent research approaches, including 
modeling, theory, empirical, qualitative, and/or experimental studies. 
Methodological recommendations could also discuss the scope of studies, 
e.g. the balance between single-investigator studies and large teams. 
(500 words or less)
     What education (including formal and informal), research, 
and training opportunities--for students, postdoctoral researchers, and 
mid-career scientists--are needed? Opportunities might include 
interdisciplinary, team-based, or other innovative, value-added 
strategies for realizing higher levels of depth and breadth at the 
individual level, and/or expansion of the current environmental 
research community through inclusion of currently under-represented 
groups. (500 words or less)
     Beyond economic competitiveness and national security, 
what other high priority drivers of environmental science and education 
need attention? (200 words or less)
    Submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 
20, 2018. Respondents may edit their responses while completing the 
survey, but will not be able to save work in progress to complete 
later. Respondents will see a confirmation screen upon successful 
submission responses.
    The committee and associated staff will read and analyze all 
responses received, and use them, in addition to its own background 
work, to develop a report on these topics to inform NSF and the 
community. It intends to publish this report by the end of 2018.
    The AC ERE also anticipates making submissions publicly accessible 
through its website (https://www.nsf.gov/ere/ereweb/advisory.jsp). 
Authors who do not wish to have their full responses posted online may 
restrict access to the AC ERE and associated staff. However,

[[Page 28669]]

the author(s) name and affiliation, submission title, and abstract will 
be included in the publicly accessible list of responses regardless.
    The AC ERE invites you to step outside of the immediate demands of 
your current research and to think boldly about the opportunities for 
advancing environmental research and education into its next stage 
through a lens focused on economic competitiveness and/or national 
security. The Committee looks forward to your contributions.
    For questions concerning this effort and submission of input, 
please contact Leah Nichols, Executive Secretary for the AC ERE, at 
[email protected].

    Dated: June 15, 2018.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-13213 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

28668 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices

The company plans to manufacture • Serve as a forum for consideration economic growth and competitiveness,
small quantities of the listed controlled of interdisciplinary environmental (b) national and human security, or (c)
substances to make reference standards topics as well as environmental both topics. The submission form
which will be distributed to its activities in a wide range of disciplines; includes the following question
customers. • Provide broad input into long-range prompts. Respondents may respond to
Dated: June 12, 2018. plans and partnership opportunities; all or any subset of these questions.
and • What are the major environmental
John J. Martin,
• Provide advice about program research priorities with the greatest
Assistant Administrator.
management, overall program balance, potential to contribute to economic
[FR Doc. 2018–13221 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am] growth and competitiveness and/or
and other aspects of program
BILLING CODE 4410–09–P performance for environmental research national or human security/wellbeing?
and education activities. Priorities could, for example, include
The Committee has been interested empirical, theoretical, or qualitative
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION broadly in fundamental environmental analyses, establishing baselines, and/or
research and education that also has experimental studies. (500 words or
Request for Information— societal utility. It has recently focused less)
Environmental Research and its attention on two major topics where • What methodologies should be used
Education, National Security, and there is broad consensus on the for conducting such studies?
Economic Competitiveness importance of the research to date, but Methodological recommendations could
AGENCY: National Science Foundation. where significant research questions include the prospects for
ACTION:Notice of Request for remain. These topics are at the nexus of interdisciplinary and/or convergent
Information. environmental science and engineering research approaches, including
with economic growth and modeling, theory, empirical, qualitative,
SUMMARY: The purpose of this Request competitiveness, and the relationship of and/or experimental studies.
for Information (RFI) is to seek input environmental factors to national and Methodological recommendations could
from the public on possible future human security. The Committee is also discuss the scope of studies, e.g. the
directions for fundamental particularly interested in approaches balance between single-investigator
environmental science and education. that promote convergent research across studies and large teams. (500 words or
The RFI intends to gather views from disciplines and sectors to address less)
external stakeholders on what economic competitiveness and • What education (including formal
environmental research and education economic security. and informal), research, and training
is needed to further advance national To identify emerging research opportunities—for students,
security and economic competitiveness. questions in these areas, the committee postdoctoral researchers, and mid-career
NSF’s Advisory Committee for is reaching out to interested and scientists—are needed? Opportunities
Environmental Research and Education knowledgeable members of the might include interdisciplinary, team-
(AC ERE) will use the input to develop scientific community in all disciplines based, or other innovative, value-added
a report on these topics to inform NSF and interdisciplinary areas for their strategies for realizing higher levels of
and the community. views. The AC ERE is also interested in depth and breadth at the individual
DATES: Written comments must be the views of professionals who are level, and/or expansion of the current
submitted by August 20, 2018. directly involved in decision-making or environmental research community
ADDRESSES: Responses will be operational activities in these areas, and through inclusion of currently under-
submitted via online survey (https:// who therefore can provide a very represented groups. (500 words or less)
practical perspective on high-priority • Beyond economic competitiveness
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACERE-RFI-
research and education topics. and national security, what other high
2018). See the instructions in the
The AC ERE invites individuals and priority drivers of environmental
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
groups of individuals to provide input science and education need attention?
guidelines.
on one or both of the topics described (200 words or less)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Submissions must be received by 5:00
above via this link: https://
Contact Leah Nichols, Executive www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACERE-RFI- p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2018.
Secretary for the AC ERE, at lenichol@ 2018. Respondents may edit their responses
nsf.gov for further information. The online submission form requires while completing the survey, but will
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The the following information: not be able to save work in progress to
National Science Foundation’s Advisory 1. Author name(s) and affiliation(s); complete later. Respondents will see a
Committee for Environmental Research 2. Valid contact email address; confirmation screen upon successful
and Education (AC ERE) invites your 3. Title of the response; submission responses.
input on possible environmental 4. An abstract (200 words or less) The committee and associated staff
research and education directions to summarizing the response; and will read and analyze all responses
further advance national security and 5. Checkbox to consent to allow the received, and use them, in addition to
economic competitiveness. The purpose AC ERE to display the submitted its own background work, to develop a
of the AC ERE is to: information, consistent with the report on these topics to inform NSF
• Provide advice, recommendations Creative Commons Attribution- and the community. It intends to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

and oversight concerning support for NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 publish this report by the end of 2018.
the NSF’s environmental research and International License (https:// The AC ERE also anticipates making
education portfolio; creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/ submissions publicly accessible through
• Be a base of contact with the 4.0/legalcode). its website (https://www.nsf.gov/ere/
scientific community to inform NSF of You will also be asked to identify ereweb/advisory.jsp). Authors who do
the impact of its research support and whether your response focuses on not wish to have their full responses
NSF-wide policies on the scientific questions in environmental research posted online may restrict access to the
community; and education that are pertinent to (a) AC ERE and associated staff. However,

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices 28669

the author(s) name and affiliation, CP2018–250; MC2018–179 and CP2018– 2. Docket No(s).: MC2018–174 and
submission title, and abstract will be 251; MC2018–180 and CP2018–252. CP2018–246; Filing Title: USPS Request
included in the publicly accessible list to Add Priority Mail & First-Class
Table of Contents
of responses regardless. Package Service Contract 81 to
The AC ERE invites you to step I. Introduction Competitive Product List and Notice of
outside of the immediate demands of II. Docketed Proceeding(s) Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
your current research and to think I. Introduction Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
boldly about the opportunities for Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
advancing environmental research and The Commission gives notice that the 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
education into its next stage through a Postal Service filed request(s) for the Christopher C. Mohr; Comments Due:
lens focused on economic Commission to consider matters related June 22, 2018.
competitiveness and/or national to negotiated service agreement(s). The 3. Docket No(s).: MC2018–175 and
security. The Committee looks forward request(s) may propose the addition or CP2018–247; Filing Title: USPS Request
to your contributions. removal of a negotiated service to Add Priority Mail & First-Class
For questions concerning this effort agreement from the market dominant or Package Service Contract 82 to
and submission of input, please contact the competitive product list, or the Competitive Product List and Notice of
Leah Nichols, Executive Secretary for modification of an existing product Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
the AC ERE, at lenichol@nsf.gov. currently appearing on the market Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
Dated: June 15, 2018. dominant or the competitive product Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
list. 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Section II identifies the docket Christopher C. Mohr; Comments Due:
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science June 22, 2018.
Foundation. number(s) associated with each Postal
Service request, the title of each Postal 4. Docket No(s).: MC2018–176 and
[FR Doc. 2018–13213 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am] CP2018–248; Filing Title: USPS Request
Service request, the request’s acceptance
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
date, and the authority cited by the to Add Priority Mail Contract 446 to
Postal Service for each request. For each Competitive Product List and Notice of
request, the Commission appoints an Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION officer of the Commission to represent Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
[Docket Nos. CP2017–276; MC2018–174 and the interests of the general public in the Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
CP2018–246; MC2018–175 and CP2018–247; proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
MC2018–176 and CP2018–248; MC2018–177 (Public Representative). Section II also Kenneth R. Moeller; Comments Due:
and CP2018–249; MC2018–178 and CP2018– establishes comment deadline(s) June 22, 2018.
250; MC2018–179 and CP2018–251; 5. Docket No(s).: MC2018–177 and
pertaining to each request.
MC2018–180 and CP2018–252] CP2018–249; Filing Title: USPS Request
The public portions of the Postal to Add Priority Mail Contract 447 to
New Postal Products Service’s request(s) can be accessed via Competitive Product List and Notice of
the Commission’s website (http:// Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
ACTION: Notice. the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
can be accessed through compliance 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a
with the requirements of 39 CFR Kenneth R. Moeller; Comments Due:
recent Postal Service filing for the
3007.40. June 22, 2018.
Commission’s consideration concerning
negotiated service agreements. This The Commission invites comments on 6. Docket No(s).: MC2018–178 and
notice informs the public of the filing, whether the Postal Service’s request(s) CP2018–250; Filing Title: USPS Request
invites public comment, and takes other in the captioned docket(s) are consistent to Add Priority Mail Contract 448 to
administrative steps. with the policies of title 39. For Competitive Product List and Notice of
request(s) that the Postal Service states Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
DATES: Comments are due: June 22,
concern market dominant product(s), Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
2018 and June 25, 2018.
applicable statutory and regulatory Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
ADDRESSES: Submit comments requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
electronically via the Commission’s U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3010, and 39 Curtis E. Kidd; Comments Due: June 25,
Filing Online system at http:// CFR part 3020, subpart B. For request(s) 2018.
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit that the Postal Service states concern
7. Docket No(s).: MC2018–179 and
comments electronically should contact competitive product(s), applicable
CP2018–251; Filing Title: USPS Request
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER statutory and regulatory requirements
to Add Parcel Select Contract 31 to
INFORMATION CONTACT section by include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633, Competitive Product List and Notice of
telephone for advice on filing 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing
alternatives. 39 CFR part 3020, subpart B. Comment Acceptance Date: June 14, 2018; Filing
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: deadline(s) for each request appear in Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at section II. 3020.30 et seq.; Public Representative:
202–789–6820. Curtis E. Kidd; Comments Due: June 25,
II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The June 2018.
22, 2018 comment due date applies to 1. Docket No(s).: CP2017–286; Filing 8. Docket No(s).: MC2018–180 and
Docket Nos. CP2017–276; MC2018–174 Title: USPS Notice of Amendment to CP2018–252; Filing Title: USPS Request
and CP2018–246; MC2018–175 and Priority Mail Contract 349, Filed Under to Add Priority Mail Express, Priority
CP2018–247; MC2018–176 and CP2018– Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: June 14, Mail & First-Class Package Service
248; MC2018–177 and CP2018–249. 2018; Filing Authority: 39 CFR 3015.5; Contract 39 to Competitive Product List
The June 25, 2018 comment due date Public Representative: Gregory Stanton; and Notice of Filing Materials Under
applies to Docket Nos. MC2018–178 and Comments Due: June 22, 2018. Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: June 14,

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Document Created: 2018-06-20 00:19:41
Document Modified: 2018-06-20 00:19:41

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		Written comments must be submitted by August 20, 2018.
Contact		Contact Leah Nichols, Executive Secretary for the AC ERE, at [email protected] for further information.
FR Citation		83 FR 28668