[Coral-List] Request for Public Comment - NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)

[Cecilia Torres]

(Apologies for cross-posting.)**

To evaluate and improve the success of its efforts to understand and 
conserve coral reefs, NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program 
<http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/> (CRCP) is undertaking a comprehensive 
external review of the Program. The purpose of the review is to:

    * Evaluate the success of the CRCP in meeting the purposes of the
      Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (Section 202) and the National
      Coral Reef Action Strategy during the period 2002-2006
    * Provide recommendations that the CRCP may use to improve the Program

The review will take place in September 2007 and will be conducted by a 
seven-member Blue Ribbon Panel of experts in natural resource science 
and management.

*
Federal Register Notice *

As part of this review, the CRCP is looking for input from stakeholders 
and partners via a Federal Register Notice// 
<http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/Library/Publications/review_frn.pdf>. An 
independent contractor will summarize all comments received in response 
to this request and will provide them to the review panel.

The CRCP is most interested in obtaining feedback based on the public's 
interaction and experience with the Program. Background information 
concerning the CRCP and its activities is available on the CRCP's 
website (http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html) 
<http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/review.html>.

The CRCP is seeking input on the following questions. Please note that 
you do not need to address all questions, and the CRCP welcomes 
additional input on topics not covered in the questions listed. Because 
of volume of comments anticipated, the CRCP will not be able to 
individually respond to those providing comments.

    * Is the Program focusing efforts on the right suite of activities
      to advance coral reef conservation?
    * Are the Program's efforts in various geographic areas appropriate
      to address the issues in each region?
    * Are the Program's science and observation efforts (e.g., research,
      mapping, and monitoring) adequately addressing management needs,
      and informing and resulting in management actions?
    * Have the Program's education and outreach efforts been effective
      in reaching the proper audiences?
    * Is the Program providing effective leadership and building useful
      partnerships to advance coral reef conservation?
    * How can the CRCP improve its impact and performance in the future?

*Your comments must be submitted no later than July 19, 2007. You may 
submit comments electronically via email to **crcp.comments at noaa.gov* 
<mailto:crcp.comments at noaa.gov>*. You may also submit comments in 
writing to: *

*Coral Reef Conservation Program
c/o Roger Griffis
1305 East-West Highway
Sta. 10122, (N/ORM)
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.*

/(Optional)/ When you submit your comments, you are welcome to provide 
background information about yourself, such as your organization(s), 
area(s) of expertise, and experience with the CRCP. This information 
will be used by the independent consultant who will compile and 
summarize the comments.

For additional information contact:

Roger Griffis <mailto:roger.b.griffis at noaa.gov>
Program Coordinator
Coral Reef Conservation Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(301) 713-3155 x152