The National Assessment Synthesis Team held two short sessions in June and July and has most recently finished a 10-day summer study at the National Academy of Sciences facility in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The Team is preparing its two documents: the ~200 page Foundation Document and its companion, the ~75 page Overview Document. Both will enter review stages later in the year.

A Blue Ribbon Panel is overseeing the preparation of the report and the design of the review process. The Panel has now met twice to provide insight into the readability of the documents, their methodology, balance and treatment of uncertainties. In addition, the Blue Ribbon Panel is designing the multi-stage review process and helping to select reviewers.

Although the Woods Hole meeting was planned as the last working session of the Synthesis Team, an additional short meeting is planned tentatively for December to collectively evaluate responses to review comments and revise the documents.