FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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DOC - 2203 - NOAA Science Advisory Board - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	NOAA Science Advisory Board	Agency Name	Department of Commerce
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	2203
Original Establishment Date	8/15/1997	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://sab.noaa.gov/
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	22
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Director, NOAA Science Advisory Board
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	6/26/2025	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Casey
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/26/2027	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	Lynnette
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Stewart
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	240-653-8297
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	301-713-1459
Specific Establishment Authority*	This committee originally was established pursuant to a Secretary Decision Memorandum (8/15/97). Pursuant to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, PL 115-25, the committee is required to maintain two subcommittees.	Designated Federal Officer Email*	casey.stewart@noaa.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	4/18/2017
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) is the agency’s only Federal Advisory Committee that advises the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on scientific strategies critical to NOAA’s mission. The SAB ensures NOAA maintains a strong understanding of issues ranging from weather forecasting to fisheries stewardship and provides independent guidance on research, education, operations, and information services that support the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.
How is membership balanced?*	The SAB is composed of leading scientists, engineers, resource managers, and educators who collectively represent the breadth of NOAA’s responsibilities. Members are appointed by the NOAA Administrator to three-year terms, renewable once, with staggered appointments to ensure representation of expertise and perspectives across NOAA's areas of scientific and economic interests. Maintaining professional balance and broad representation across disciplines remains a priority in membership selection.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The SAB generally meets three times per year in person, with additional virtual meetings or teleconferences as needed. Topics are identified through NOAA leadership and Board members to ensure they address timely and critical issues in atmospheric, oceanic, and environmental research. Meetings also include working group updates and consideration of draft reports. In FY2025, the SAB held four meetings (one in-person and three virtual) focused on ongoing priorities, working group products, and a congressional request to review weather research priorities. When meetings are held outside the Washington, DC area, regional issues of importance are emphasized.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Advice cannot be obtained elsewhere because the SAB is NOAA’s only Federal Advisory Committee with statutory authority to provide independent, external scientific guidance directly to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The SAB brings together distinguished experts from academia, industry, and government, offering a breadth of knowledge and independence that ensures NOAA’s science programs are reviewed from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective not available through internal processes alone.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	None

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	Although NOAA has adjusted its science and technology priorities, including internal allocation of resources, the SAB recommendations do not typically address issues that require regulatory or legislative changes. The SAB does not provide advice on specific grant or contract allocations.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Under $100,000	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Historically, meeting coordination was supported through a contract costing $154,000 annually. In FY25 the SAB elected to conduct three of its meetings virtually and reserved a single in-person session for topics requiring face-to-face discussion. This shift reduced travel and logistical expenses and resulted in an estimated savings of more than $100,000 compared to prior years. This demonstrates NOAA’s commitment to responsible stewardship of funds while ensuring critical advisory work continues without interruption.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	1,041	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Since 1997, the SAB has provided 1,041 cumulative recommendations, including 40 received this year. NOAA prioritizes those from the past decade and focuses on recommendations most feasible and aligned with mission needs. While limited resources and cross-agency coordination make full implementation of every recommendation unrealistic, NOAA is strengthening its review and tracking processes and providing clearer feedback to the SAB on actions taken, ensuring recommendations are prioritized, addressed where possible, and transparently reported back.	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	50.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Recommendations made by the Science Advisory Board prior to July 2023 continue to be collated and assessed to determine how many have been implemented. Percentage completion estimates are based on recommendations received by the SAB starting in 2023. Recommendations by the SAB since July 2023 are being tracked by the SAB staff office to ensure that the Agency responds with an implementation plan if the recommendation is accepted. The reports present short- and long-term recommendations. NOAA’s response to SAB reports now includes an estimate on when agreed upon recommendations can and will be implemented, with comments on resources needed to enact the SAB’s guidance.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	50.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Full implementation of some SAB recommendations require multi-year funding and increased staffing to fully implement. SAB reports now include recommendations on options for inter-agency collaboration and partnerships with non-Federal stakeholders.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Federal register notices.
Agency Feedback Comment*	The agency works with the SAB Office to prepare formal responses to any and all recommendations made by the SAB. The agency has one year to provide a response back to the SAB after recommendations are provided to the agency. This response takes the form of a presentation at a public meeting of the SAB and a written report that is posted on the SAB website. A written response for the record is also provided at this time.	Narrative Description*	As the Science Advisory Board advises on all aspects with respect to science at NOAA, by its nature the SAB supports the agency's mission. To strengthen this connection, the SAB charter reflects the Agency's mission statement. The charter states that the first objective of the SAB is to: advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services, so as to better understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. As NOAA has adjusted its strategic plan to reflect a One NOAA perspective through better cross-Line Office communication, the SAB charter aligns the advisory board to follow this cross-disciplinary perspective.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$455,693.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$463,521.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$60,000.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$8,000.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$2,000.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$455,693.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$533,521.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/24/2025 10:08 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	2.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	2.00	Est Cost Remarks	Increased costs due to in person travel for Federal and non-Federal travel reimbursements to one SAB meeting, and 5 working group in person meetings. Estimated contract support costs are increased for FY26 and include travel costs for contract support staff to in-person meetings.
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Animals Fish and Wildlife Applied Science Applied Sciences Emergency Earthquake, Flood, and Fire Hazards and Administration Environment Environmental Issues Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences International International Organizations Medicine Health and Health Research Research Basic Research Research and Development Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Social Sciences Risk Communication Social Sciences

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