[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 756-757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00018]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Interagency Working Group on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Amendments Act

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, Webinars.

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SUMMARY: The National Ocean Service (NOS) of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes this notice to announce 
town hall-style webinars to promote discussion between federal 
representatives and stakeholders on topics related to harmful algal 
blooms (HABs) and hypoxia occurring in the Great Lakes region. These 
webinars are being conducted in accordance with the Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014 (HABHRCA), 
which directs federal agencies to advance the understanding of HAB and 
hypoxia events, and to respond to, detect, predict, control, and 
mitigate these events to the greatest extent possible.
    Through these webinars, the Interagency Working Group on HABHRCA 
(IWG-HABHRCA) seeks to engage a wide range of stakeholders in the Great 
lakes region, including scientists, resource managers, agricultural 
producers, commercial and recreational fishermen, other industry 
interests, international and non-profit organizations, and the 
interested public.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting web 
addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Gould ([email protected], 
240-533-0290) or Stacey DeGrasse ([email protected], 240-402-
1470)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA is publishing this notice to announce 
webinars designed to promote conversation between federal 
representatives and stakeholders on a number of topics related to HABs 
and hypoxia, which impact human and animal health, local and regional 
economies, and long-term national security. The IWG-HABHRCA will 
consult with stakeholders on topics that include:
     Regional, Great Lakes-specific priorities for ecological, 
economic, and social research on the causes and impacts of HABs and 
hypoxia; need for improved monitoring and early warning; new approaches 
to improving scientific understanding, prediction and modeling, and 
socioeconomic analyses of these events; and mitigating causes and 
impacts of HABs and hypoxia;
     Communication and information dissemination methods that 
state, tribal, local, and international governments and organizations 
may undertake to educate and inform the public concerning HABs and 
hypoxia in the Great Lakes; and
     Perceived needs for handling Great Lakes HAB and hypoxia 
events, as well as an action strategy for managing future situations.

The IWG-HABHRCA was established to coordinate and convene relevant 
federal agencies to discuss HAB and hypoxia events in the United 
States, and to develop reports and assessments regarding these issues. 
The webinars are designed to provide stakeholders with opportunities to 
discuss their concerns and needs regarding HABs and hypoxia in the 
Great Lakes, which will help Federal agencies develop and refine action 
strategies for addressing these issues. While the webinars are 
targeted, all are welcome to join.
    Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments and questions in

[[Page 757]]

advance of and following each webinar, pertaining to the aforementioned 
topics or on other areas of concern or interest related to Great Lakes 
HABs and hypoxia. Electronic comments and questions may be submitted 
via email ([email protected]). Written comments may be submitted to 
Caitlin Gould at NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 
SSMC-4, #8237, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Meeting dates:
     HAB and Hypoxia Experts, and Interested Parties--January 
12, 2016, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. EST
     Interested Parties--January 13, 2016, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 
p.m. EST
     Interested Parties (as needed)--January 20, 2016, 12:30 
p.m.-1:30 p.m. EST
    The webinars will be available at the following addresses:
     HAB and Hypoxia Experts, and Interested Parties (January 
12, 2016)--
    [cir] Go to https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=maf531d3ea4423d977d250e1a380cefeb
    [cir] Password: Habsnhypoxia
    [cir] To view in other time zones or languages, please click the 
link: https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=m1b2d6b7e615eb38b9c819ea61dd1234e_
    [cir] To join the teleconference only:
    [ssquf] Provide your number when you join the meeting to receive a 
call back.
    [ssquf] Alternatively, you can call one of the following numbers:
     Local: 1-301-796-7777
     Toll free: 1-855-828-1770
    [ssquf] Follow the instructions that you hear on the phone. Your 
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace meeting ID: 747 264 241
     Interested Parties (January 13, 2016)--
    [cir] Go to https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=m02cebb22a4ea27dc11127bdd7c3dd0bd_
    [cir] Password: Habsnhypoxia
    [cir] To view in other time zones or languages, please click the 
link: https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=md9740352f0c09cbb307b22be4dca5739_
    [cir] To join the teleconference only:
    [ssquf] Provide your number when you join the meeting to receive a 
call back.
    [ssquf] Alternatively, you can call one of the following numbers:
     Local: 1-301-796-7777
     Toll free: 1-855-828-1770
    [ssquf] Follow the instructions that you hear on the phone. Your 
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace meeting ID: 740 105 257
     Interested Parties (as needed; January 20, 2016)--
    [cir] Go to https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=m5a64b5f3a4c641c8f28973920401af14_
    [cir] Password: Habsnhypoxia
    [cir] To view in other time zones or languages, please click the 
link: https://fda.webex.com/fda/j.php?MTID=m238e1a978d950349a0af565190eb8267_
    [cir] To join the teleconference only:
    [ssquf] Provide your number when you join the meeting to receive a 
call back.
    [ssquf] Alternatively, you can call one of the following numbers:
     Local: 1-301-796-7777
     Toll free: 1-855-828-1770
    [ssquf] Follow the instructions that you hear on the phone. Your 
Cisco Unified MeetingPlace meeting ID: 744 840 269

Other Information: Persons wishing to attend the meeting online via the 
webinar must register in advance no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on 
the evening before each webinar, by sending an email to 
[email protected]. The number of webinar connections available for 
the meetings is limited to 500 participants and will therefore be 
available on a first-come, first-served basis. The agenda for the 
webinars will include time for questions and answers or comments about 
the agencies' efforts in implementing HABHRCA.

Other Information

    Paperwork Reduction Act: Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be 
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Glenn Boledovich,
Chief, Policy and Constituent Affairs Division, Management and Budget 
Office, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-00018 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
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