The National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognizes there has been
some misunderstanding regarding the intent of its "Policy on Partnerships in the Provision of Environmental
Information," issued December 1, 2004. The present policy
does not adequately express NOAA's views of the critical role
played by the private sector in the environmental information
enterprise as a whole. NOAA is sensitive to the concerns and
prerogatives of the private sector, and has no intent to displace
it. We recognize that the public interest is served by the
ability of private sector entities to provide diverse services
to meet the varied needs of specific individuals, organizations
and economic entities. At the same time, NOAA has a responsibility
to help protect lives and property and enhance the national
economy.
The present standard of NOAA conduct is contained in Section
4 of the policy which states that NOAA will give "due consideration" to
the abilities of the private sector and academic communities
to provide diverse services and act in the public interest when
making decisions regarding NOAA information services. NOAA proposes
clarifying Section 4 to state that NOAA will "take advantage
of existing capabilities and services of commercial and academic
sectors to avoid duplication and competition in areas not
related to the NOAA mission."
The proposed clarification is intended to emphasize the statement
in the present policy that NOAA will not haphazardly institute
significant changes in existing information dissemination activities
without first carefully considering the views and capabilities
of the private sector. NOAA will endeavor to take advantage of
capabilities and services that already exist in the commercial
sector.
NOAA is committed to open consultation with all who are affected
by NOAA's services including the private sector. The American
Meteorological Society has established a new Commission to foster
constructive discussion within the enterprise as a whole. NOAA
will use this and other appropriate mechanisms to consult openly
on these matters as we move forward.
In sum, NOAA will interpret and apply the policy to recognize
the unique capabilities of the private sector in order to accomplish
our shared goal of fostering a robust and successful environmental
information enterprise.
Proposed clarification: Accordingly, NOAA proposes to change
Section 4 to read as follows:
4. The nation benefits from government information disseminated
both by Federal agencies and by diverse nonfederal parties,
including commercial and not-for-profit entities. NOAA recognizes
the government best serves the public interest by cooperating
with private sector and academic and research entities
to meet the varied needs of specific individuals, organizations,
and economic entities. NOAA will take advantage of existing
capabilities and services of commercial and academic sectors
to avoid duplication and competition in areas not related to
the NOAA mission. NOAA will give due consideration to these
abilities and consider the effects of its decisions on the
activities of these entities, in accordance with its responsibilities
as an agency of the U.S. Government, to serve the public interest
and advance the nation's environmental information enterprise
as a whole.
For ease of comparison the present Section 4 reads as follows:
4. NOAA recognizes the public interest is served by the ability
of private sector entities and the academic and research community
to provide diverse services to meet the varied needs of specific
individuals, organizations, and economic entities. The nation
benefits from government information disseminated both by Federal
agencies and by diverse nonfederal parties, including commercial
and not-for-profit entities. NOAA will give due consideration
to these abilities, and consider the effects of its decisions
on the activities of these entities, in accordance with its responsibilities
as an agency of the U.S. Government, to serve the public interest
and advance the nation's environmental information enterprise
as a whole.
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