Notice2024-30952
Establishment of the Methane Plume Remote Sensing Measurements Consortium
Primary source
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Published
December 30, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce Department
Abstract
NIST is establishing the Methane Plume Remote Sensing Measurements Consortium ("Consortium") to support the rapidly growing field of remote sensing for the detection and quantification of methane emissions, primarily from point sources. This Consortium aims to unite Federal and State agencies, academia, business, and industry to enhance robust transparency, accuracy, reliability, and interoperability of methane plume detection and quantification data products. In this evolving field of measurement and analysis, consistency across products and results, an understanding of the drivers of error, and a well- constructed validation strategy, are important to increase trust in the data products. To achieve this, the Consortium is focused on identifying the strengths and limitations of current methodologies and analysis approaches. The Consortium seeks to foster transparency through improved documentation, consensus building around best practices and the development of documentary consensus standards. In addition, the Consortium seeks to support the coordination and standardization of validation approaches for these measurements and the utilization of controlled releases. By fostering collaboration among business, Federal agencies, local governmental stakeholders, and researchers, the Consortium aims to drive advancements in methane plume detection and quantification and the analysis supported by them. Participants will be required to sign a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106436-106437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30952]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Establishment of the Methane Plume Remote Sensing Measurements
Consortium
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
ACTION: Notice of Research Consortium.
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SUMMARY: NIST is establishing the Methane Plume Remote Sensing
Measurements Consortium (``Consortium'') to support the rapidly growing
field of remote sensing for the detection and quantification of methane
emissions, primarily from point sources. This Consortium aims to unite
Federal and State agencies, academia, business, and industry to enhance
robust transparency, accuracy, reliability, and interoperability of
methane plume detection and quantification data products. In this
evolving field of measurement and analysis, consistency across products
and results, an understanding of the drivers of error, and a well-
constructed validation strategy, are important to increase trust in the
data products. To achieve this, the Consortium is focused on
identifying the strengths and limitations of current methodologies and
analysis approaches. The Consortium seeks to foster transparency
through improved documentation, consensus building around best
practices and the development of documentary consensus standards. In
addition, the Consortium seeks to support the coordination and
standardization of validation approaches for these measurements and the
utilization of controlled releases. By fostering collaboration among
business, Federal agencies, local governmental stakeholders, and
researchers, the Consortium aims to drive advancements in methane plume
detection and quantification and the analysis supported by them.
Participants will be required to sign a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA).
DATES: The Consortium's activities will commence on January 15, 2024
(``Commencement Date''). NIST will accept letters of interest to
participate in this Consortium on an ongoing basis.
ADDRESSES: Completed letters of interest or requests for additional
information about the Consortium can be directed via mail to the
Consortium Manager, Dr. Annmarie Eldering, Greenhouse Gas Measurements
Program of NIST's Special Programs Office, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop
2100, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, or via electronic mail
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9afbf4f4f7fbe8f3ffb4fff6feffe8f3f4fddaf4f3e9eeb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3a2adadaea2b1aaa6eda6afa7a6b1aaada483adaab0b7eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at (301) 975-5558.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Saikat Ghosh, Partnership Officer,
National Institute of Standards and Technology's Technology
Partnerships Office, by mail to 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 2200,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, by electronic mail to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8eddefe7e5effae5fbe3effca0c9e6e1fde6cee0e7fdfaa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2a794b43414b5e415f474b58046d424559426a4443595e044d455c">[email protected]</span></a> or by telephone at (301) 975-3084.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST is establishing the Methane Plume
Remote Sensing Measurements Consortium (``Consortium'') to support the
rapidly growing field of remote sensing for the detection and
quantification of methane emissions, primarily from point sources. This
Consortium aims to unite Federal and State agencies, academia,
business, and industry to enhance robust transparency, accuracy,
reliability, and interoperability of methane plume detection and
quantification data products. In this rapidly growing and
[[Page 106437]]
evolving field of measurement and analysis, consistency across products
and results, an understanding of the drivers of error, and a well-
constructed validation strategy are important to increase trust in the
data products. To achieve this, the Consortium is focused on
identifying strengths and limitations current methodologies and
analysis approaches. The Consortium seeks to foster transparency
through improved documentation, consensus building around best
practices and the development of documentary consensus standards. In
addition, the Consortium seeks to support the coordination and
standardization of validation approaches for these measurements and the
utilization of controlled releases. By fostering collaboration among
business, Federal agencies, local governmental stakeholders, and
researchers, the Consortium aims to drive advancements in methane plume
detection and quantification and the analysis supported by them.
Consortium Goals
The Consortium brings together NIST, state and local governments,
academia, businesses, and other stakeholders to collaborate on
analysis, documentation, and consensus building that will improve
transparency, trust, and usability of remote sensing methane plume
detections and quantification. The Consortium will also develop a
tiered validation framework and assist in efficient deployment of
controlled release experiments. Collaborative work across the wide
range of measurement and analysis teams will be the most efficient
approach to achieve our goals.
This initiative aims to achieve the following goals, with work in
two task groups:
Task Group 1
<bullet> Develop consensus terminology and a taxonomy of
terminology. Publish a NIST report or other document with these
definitions.
<bullet> Develop a set of written consensus standards that capture
the best practices, recommendations for data product formats, and
methodology documentation. This will be achieved through collaborative
evaluation of intercomparison exercises and common datasets analyzed by
multiple teams.
<bullet> Implement and analyze alternative validation strategies,
incorporating information from simulations, cross-team analysis,
controlled releases, and well characterized industrial emission
sources.
<bullet> All of these activities will support the goals of
developing standards for detection and quantification of methane plumes
with remote sensing data to ensure consistency, reliability, and trust
in the data used by all stakeholders.
Task Group 2
<bullet> Develop definitions for a tiered validation framework,
allowing for approaches such as algorithm validation (with data from
other measurement systems), algorithm assessment with simulated data,
performance assessment with well-characterized industrial emissions,
and controlled release experiments
<bullet> Consensus validation strategies will be developed and
documented, incorporating information from simulations, cross-team
analysis, controlled releases, and well characterized industrial
emission sources.
<bullet> Document consensus standards for analysis and reporting of
results of controlled release experiments
<bullet> Develop platforms for improved communication and
utilization of controlled release experiments, maximizing participation
by measurement teams and opportunities for cross comparison of results
<bullet> Create a repository of controlled release measurement
datasets for easy access by new participants and for community
analysis.
Sharing of proprietary information developed by the Consortium will
be subject to that detailed in the CRADA. Participants will not be
required to contribute any funds or pay any fee. Contributions of data
and/or methodologies is highly encouraged.
Participation Process
Eligibility will be determined by NIST based on information
provided by prospective participants in response to this notice.
Submitted responses from prospective participants will be evaluated by
NIST to determine eligibility to participate in this Consortium.
Prospective participants should provide a letter of interest with the
following information to NIST's Consortium Manager:
(1) A description of their interest and experience in methane plume
detection and quantification from remote sensing measurements and/or
experience conducting and analyzing data from controlled release
experiment for methane plume validation and/or related expertise
necessary to contribute to Consortium activities.
(2) List of interested party's anticipated participants.
Letters of interest must not include business proprietary
information. NIST will not treat any information provided in response
to this notice as proprietary information. Following review, each
organization will be notified of its eligibility. In order to
participate in this Consortium, each eligible organization must sign a
CRADA for this Consortium. All participants in this Consortium will be
bound by the same terms and conditions. NIST does not guarantee
participation in the Consortium to any organization submitting a letter
of interest.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710a.
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2024-30952 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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