[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23289-23290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09089]



[[Page 23289]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[Account Code GX13000101000]


Public Review of Draft National Shoreline Data Content Standard

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments on draft National Shoreline Data 
Content Standard.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is conducting a 
public review of the draft National Shoreline Data Content Standard.
    The FGDC has developed a draft National Shoreline Data Content 
Standard that provides a framework for shoreline data development, 
sharing of data, and shoreline data transformation and fusion. The FGDC 
Coastal and Marine Spatial Data Subcommittee, chaired by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sponsored development of 
the draft standard. The FGDC Coordination Group, comprised of 
representatives of Federal agencies, has approved releasing this draft 
standard for public review and comment.
    The draft National Shoreline Data Content Standard defines 
attributes or elements that are common for shoreline data development 
and provides suggested domains for the elements. The functional scope 
includes definition of data models, schemas, entities, relationships, 
definitions, and crosswalks to related standards. The draft National 
Shoreline Data Content Standard is intended to enhance the shoreline 
framework by providing technical guidance on shoreline semantics, data 
structures and their relationships to builders and users of shoreline 
data. The geographical scope of the draft standard comprises all 
shorelines of navigable waters within the United States and its 
territories.
    The primary intended users of the National Shoreline Data Content 
Standard are the mapping, shoreline engineering, coastal zone 
management, flood insurance, and natural resource management 
communities. The FGDC invites all stakeholders to comment on this draft 
standard to ensure that it meets their needs.
    The draft National Shoreline Data Content Standard may be 
downloaded from https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/shoreline-data-content/revisedDraftNationalShorelineDataContentStandard. Comments shall be 
submitted using the content template at http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/process/standards-directives/template.doc. Instructions for completing 
the comment template are found in FGDC Standards Directive 2d, 
Standards Working Group Review Guidelines: Review Comment Template, 
http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/process/standards-directives/directive-2d-standards-working-group-review-guidelines-review-comment-template.
    Comments that concern specific issues/changes/additions may result 
in revisions to the National Shoreline Data Content Standard. Reviewers 
may obtain information about how comments were addressed upon request. 
After formal endorsement of the standard by the FGDC, the National 
Shoreline Data Content Standard and a summary analysis of the changes 
will be made available to the public on the FGDC Web site, 
www.fgdc.gov.

DATES: Comments on the draft Coastal and Marine Ecological 
Classification Standard must be submitted by no later than July 31, 
2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Julie Binder Maitra, U.S. 
Geological Survey, Federal Geographic Data Committee, [email protected], 
703-648-4627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The location of our national shoreline is 
fundamental for legal boundaries, developing nautical charts, and 
engaging in marine planning and other academic research and commercial 
activities. Shoreline is a commonly referenced feature, but one that 
includes multiple definitions and is difficult to precisely map and 
keep up-to-date. Effective use of shoreline data requires a highly 
defined logical data structure that is interoperable, efficient and 
applicable to a broad base of government and private sector uses. 
Current practices have led to a highly variable shoreline data 
infrastructure. The National Shoreline Data Content Standard is 
intended to enhance the shoreline framework by providing technical 
guidance on shoreline semantics, data structures and their 
relationships to builders and users of shoreline data.
    Shoreline definition protocols currently limit agencies and 
organizations from effectively sharing and using shoreline coincident 
data. Agencies have expressed an interest for greater harmonization and 
uniformity to shoreline data content. Enhancing shoreline content and 
interoperability is technically feasible and timely in relation to 
hydrographic, hydrologic and other related standards development. The 
proposed standard will tie related protocols and existing content 
together in a new model using recognized reference material, 
definitions, semantics, and structures. Harmonizing shoreline content 
will lead to cost savings by reducing the time in design, data re-use, 
training, and implementation. In addition, harmonizing shoreline data 
content will assist in areas such as coastal research, historical 
shoreline change analysis, shoreline change prediction analysis, and 
the effects of relative sea level change. The National Shoreline Data 
Content Standard provides a framework for shoreline data development, 
sharing of data, and shoreline data transformation and fusion. The 
standard defines attributes or elements that are common for shoreline 
data development and provides suggested domains for the elements.
    The geographical scope of the National Shoreline Data Content 
Standard comprises all shorelines of navigable waters within the United 
States and its territories. Navigable waters provide a channel for 
commerce and transportation of people and goods and as such are under 
the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
    The functional scope of the standard includes the definition of 
data models, schemas, entities, relationships, definitions, and 
crosswalks to related standards. Data discovery, transmittal, display, 
and delivery are not currently part of this standard.
    The primary intended users of this standard are the mapping, 
shoreline engineering, coastal zone management, flood insurance, and 
natural resource management communities. The standard is intended to 
support the shoreline community in developing shoreline data to support 
data transformation, data fusion, and data sharing.
    The FGDC coordinates the development of the National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure (NSDI), which encompasses the policies, standards, and 
procedures for organizations to cooperatively produce and share 
geospatial data. Federal agencies that make up the FGDC develop the 
NSDI in cooperation with organizations from State, local and tribal 
governments, the academic community, and the private sector. The 
authority for the FGDC is OMB Circular No. A-16 Revised on Coordination 
of Geographic Information and Related Spatial Data Activities (Revised 
August 19, 2002). More information on the FGDC and the NSDI is 
available at http://www.fgdc.gov. Standards are a foundational 
component of the NSDI.


[[Page 23290]]


    Dated: April 8, 2013.
Ivan DeLoatch,
Executive Director, Federal Geographic Data Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-09089 Filed 4-17-13; 8:45 am]
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