<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="6"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><B>PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="6"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><B>Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal Arial; min-height: 20px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">The</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><B> public comment period</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> is now</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><B> OPEN</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> for</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><B><I> Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade</I></B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><B>,</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> a draft document that outlines the national ocean research priorities for the United States for the next ten years. All interested parties are encouraged to review the document and provide input during this 45 day public comment period (scheduled to close October 20, 2006).</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 17px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><A href="http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html">http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="text-align: auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal Arial; min-height: 20px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Called for in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan and developed by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, this draft document, along with a follow-on Implementation Strategy, will describe a vision for U.S. ocean science and technology, highlight key areas of interaction of our society and the ocean, and identify critical ocean research priorities for these areas.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal Arial; min-height: 20px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Public briefings on the national ocean research priorities are being held throughout the country over the next few months. Town hall meetings and panels will also be held at several conferences. A list of public briefings and meetings with venue details is located at:</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 17px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><A href="http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_orpp_outreach.html">http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_orpp_outreach.html</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="text-align: auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal Arial; min-height: 20px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Members from the research community, ocean educators, government representatives (federal, state, tribal, and local), industry groups, international representatives, non-governmental organizations, and any interested individuals are invited provide comments and attend the briefings.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal Arial; min-height: 20px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><B>For more information, contact:</B></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Shelby E. Walker, JSOST Project Manager</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">USGCRP/CCSP Office, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 250, Washington, DC 20006</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">T:202-419-3464; F:202-223-3064; e-mail:</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#0039FF" face="Arial" size="5"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><A href="mailto:swalker@usgcrp.gov">swalker@usgcrp.gov</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Times" size="2" style="font: 10.0px Times">They had only covered a distance of sixty-six leagues in those six days, for they anchored at sunset, fearing to strike upon reefs in that unknown sea or to be lost in the depths.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>The country they discovered being apparently very large, they landed, and were amicably received by the natives. When they demanded by signs and gestures what was the name of the country, the latter replied <I>Yucatan</I>, a word which means in their own language, “I do not understand you.”<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>The Spaniards imagined that this was the name of the country; and because of that unforeseen circumstance the country will always be called Yucatan.</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Times; min-height: 13.0px"><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Times; min-height: 13.0px"><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Times" size="2" style="font: 10.0px Times"><I><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>De Orbe Novo.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>The Eight Decades of Peter Martyr D’Anghera</I><SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>(translation from the Latin, 1555 edition). MacNutt, F. 1912<I>.</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><I></I><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>Tracy Villareal</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>Associate Professor</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>Marine Science Institute and Dept. of Marine Science</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>The University of Texas at Austin</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>750 Channel View Dr.</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>Port Aransas, Texas 78373</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Helvetica; min-height: 19.0px"><I></I><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>phone: 361-749-6732</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>fax: 361-749-6777</I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>email: <A href="mailto:tracy@utmsi.utexas.edu">tracy@utmsi.utexas.edu</A></I></FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="5" style="font: 16.0px Helvetica"><I>www.utmsi.utexas.edu/people/staff/villareal.htm</I></FONT></P> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>