The meeting was held via Teleconference.

Committee members present: Mead Treadwell, Vice Chair (non-voting); Doug Mutter, Secretary; R.J. Kopchak, Treasurer; and Capt. Buzz Rome.

Other Advisory Board members present: Marilyn Leland and Dr. John Goering (non-voting).

OSRI Scientific & Technical Committee members present: Dr. Alan Mearns.

Staff and consultants present: G.L. Thomas, Nancy Bird, Thea Thomas, Rob Frazier and Elizabeth Black.

Mead Treadwell called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. and introduced everyone present.

Approval of Agenda

Agenda was reviewed; there are no additions made.

Review of Business Plan

Treadwell asked Thomas to review the Business Plan. Thomas explains that the plan describes the long and short term goals for OSRI. Thomas explained Figure 4, the proposed spending plan for the 10 year life span of OSRI. Fig 4. outlines Available spending and Projected spending. Committee members had some questions concerning the table and suggested footnotes needed to clarify it (e.g. explain administrative percentages). Thomas explained Figure 5 outlining the programs for FY97-98. The overall OSRI Program is divided into five categories: Administration, Board meetings, Technology grants, Ecology grants, and Education grants.

Circulation Model

Discussion followed regarding the Nowcast/forecast Circulation model. Thomas stated that this project could employ buoys and shipboard observations that would be used to develop a model such as the Princeton Ocean Model. There was a question regarding the small spill projects, and concern express that proposals for this program not be limited to boat harbors. A general review of FY 98 proposed programs continued.

Motion

Motion by Kopchak, seconded by Mutter to accept the Business Plan, subject to amendments by the Executive Committee and the Advisory Board at a later date. Motion passed.

Review of Broad Area Announcements (BAA)

In discussion of the BAA for circulation models, suggestions were made that matching funds are necessary, and it was noted that the total annual cost for projects in this category may be closer to $600,000.

Several questions followed concerning other BAAs. Mutter asked about requirement for preproposals. Thomas explained that for this first round of BAAs preproposals will not be required, although they may be required in the future. A revision was suggested in the wording related to organizations which might be approached for matching funding. Thomas was asked when the Grant Policy Manual (GPM) will be finished. Bird said that she and others met with Frazier to finalize the GPM Dec. 9. The GPM with corresponding application forms should be completed by next week. BAAs are not planned for release until the GPM is complete (with one exception, for the technical writer needed to compile a proceedings of the ice hazards workshop in early January).

Science Planning workshops

Mutter asked whether specific regions were going to be targeted for the Science Planning workshops. A discussion ensued on whether to target two or three bio-regions such as Cook Inlet, Kodiak and Prince William sound for initial planning workshops. Treadwell said he would like to broaden the BAA to include "technical" planning workshops and also did not want to limit the BAA to specific regions. Thomas also encouraged a broader geographic scope in the BAA, so that groups in other areas such as western Alaska could apply for support from OSRI. Kopchak and Rome tended to favor narrowing the geographic area in the BAA. Discussion ended with direction to staff to leave the language in the BAA regarding geographic regions open-ended, but to reference the three regions discussed by the Advisory Board in a press release (those three areas being Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound and Kodiak).

Education

Treadwell proposed that funding be increased for Community Education programs. There was general agreement to increase the upper limit to $75,000 (from $36,000) for individual projects. Treadwell also stated that the Education Program should include an acoustic workshop.

Kopchak noted that anyone who has specific comments on BAA language should direct their comments to staff. Mutter said several of the BAAs need general editing for grammar and clarification.

Motion

Motion by Mutter, seconded by Kopchak to approve the BAAs with the changes discussed above. Motion passed.

Annual Work Plan

Committee members were encouraged to submit comments on the revised Work Plan directly to staff.

Executive Committee meeting schedule

Treadwell recommended that the Executive Committee convene every 4 to 6 weeks. There was general agreement.

OSRI and NOAA-Hazmat

Thomas and Mearns discussed coordination of OSRI with NOAA-Hazmat. Mearns said personnel changes are occurring at NOAA-Hazmat and noted that Jerry Gault is being promoted to Director, and that Mearns is becoming a Senior Staff Scientist.

Scientific & Technical Committee's Role

Discussion followed concerning the Scientific and Technical Committee's (STC's) role. There was agreement that the STC will review all large grant proposals. Goering said that STC may also help identify peer reviewers. Goering thinks that OSRI should limit how much time that is asked of committee members. Goering suggested that STC may need to schedule a meeting soon.

Soliciting technical writers

Thomas asked committee members if they know of any technical writers that may qualify for the position being advertised (to prepare a proceedings from the Ice Hazards workshop scheduled in Anchorage in early January).

Advisory Board Meeting Dates

Bird discussed the Advisory Board meeting date in March and said it is tentatively set for March 15-17, 1998. This meeting will be held in Prudhoe Bay.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

These minutes were reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee on

February 16, 1998

Prepared by N. Bird
Posted March 9, 1998
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