Invitation to Comment on Draft Prospectus for Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.5

Draft Prospectus for Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.5: Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States

Public Comment Period:
23 February 2006 through 24 March 2006 [note that the 17 March 2006 deadline cited in the Federal Register Notice is incorrect]

Dear Colleague -

You are invited to provide comments on the prospectus for a Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Product: 

• 4.5 Effects of Global Change on Energy Production and Use

This is one of the 21 synthesis and assessment products that will be prepared by the CCSP.

The Climate Change Science Program coordinates and directs U.S. research efforts in the areas of climate and global change. The Program completed and released a Strategic Plan in July 2003 to guide its activities. More information about the CCSP can be found in the Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. The Strategic Plan commits the program to prepare synthesis and assessment products to support informed discussion and decision making regarding climate variability and change. The first set of products is described in the strategic plan.

The program has also released guidelines for the synthesis and assessment products. These guidelines establish a broadly standardized methodology for product development that will facilitate involvement of the research community and the public in ensuring that the products are focused in a useful fashion and meet the highest standards of scientific excellence. The guidelines also encourage transparency by ensuring that public information about the status of the products will be provided through the Federal Register, on the CCSP website, and through other means.
The prospectuses have a special purpose within the guidelines’ standardized methodology, namely to describe the proposed focus and process that will be used to prepare each of the products. Expert and public comments are requested as part of the open approach that has been a hallmark of the CCSP process. I invite you to participate in this comment process. Your input will help to ensure that the plans for preparing the products are open and fair and will produce products that are relevant and sound.

The personnel who are guiding preparation of these products are listed in each prospectus along with their contact information. These individuals are leaders in their respective fields, and I wish to publicly acknowledge their efforts in this work.
Comments are due by 24 March 2006 [note that the 17 March 2006 deadline cited in the Federal Register Notice is incorrect] . All comments submitted by that time will be thoroughly evaluated and, if appropriate, incorporated in the final prospectus, which will be posted on the CCSP website when finalized. The comments submitted will be collated and posted on the CCSP website as well. The final prospectus will include the agreed timetables, which will highlight opportunities for further public engagement.
To ensure that your comments are routed correctly, please submit them to the email address described in the online instructions for formatting and submitting comments.

To begin the review of this product, follow the appropriate link to access the instructions and the prospectus. We appreciate your participation and constructive comments.

Sincerely,
James R. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and
Director, Climate Change Science Program

See also the Federal Register notice of 23 February 2006.