[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36892-36893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13568]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Coastal Mapping Strategy 1.0: Coastal Lidar Elevation 
for a 3D Nation Draft for Review

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability, Request for Comments; Webinar.

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SUMMARY: The National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes this notice on behalf of 
the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology's Interagency Working 
Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM) to announce a 60-day 
public comment period on the draft National Coastal Mapping Strategy 
(NCMS), Version 1.0.
    Through this public comment period and corresponding webinar, the 
IWG-OCM seeks to solicit input on the draft NCMS.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for location of the 
electronic version of the draft NCMS and webinar date.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for how to submit 
comments via email or by mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sasha Pryborowski, 
([email protected], 301-713-2702 x 111) or, Ashley Chappell 
([email protected], 301-713-2702 x 110).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IWG-OCM, of which NOAA is a member 
agency, was formed in 2006 to provide federal interagency coordination 
on ocean and coastal mapping. In accordance with the 2009 Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping Integration Act (OCMIA), the IWG-OCM is enhancing its 
coordination of ocean and coastal mapping to more effectively and 
efficiently provide stakeholders and the public with comprehensive 
geospatial information.
    This first version of the NCMS is intended to address interagency 
data acquisition and coordination mandates in the OCMIA, and the 
National Ocean Policy. It is focused on coastal topographic-bathymetric 
lidar elevation data collection; subsequent versions will focus on 
other types of data collection (e.g., bathymetry, photogrammetry). 
Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method 
that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges 
(variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses--combined with 
other data recorded by the airborne system-- generate precise, three-
dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface 
characteristics, in particular elevation. More information on lidar can 
be found at http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lidar.html.
    Following is the executive summary from the draft NCMS Version1.0, 
which provides additional detail on the National Coastal Mapping 
Strategy:
    Informed choices in the coastal zone, whether for the safety of 
coastal residents, environmental protection, security or economic 
decisions, require accurate and up-to-date U.S. coastal elevation data. 
The acquisition of this mapping data--in particular high-accuracy, 
high-resolution topographic and bathymetric lidar--must be 
comprehensive, coordinated, cost-effective, and recurring. Such a 
strategic approach to land-water lidar mapping at the coasts would 
bring the United States much closer to becoming a 3D Nation--a nation 
that translates robust mapping coordination into a seamless, modern 
elevation foundation for stronger, more resilient communities and a 
more competitive U.S. economy.
    The IWG-OCM, tasked by Congress to develop a coastal mapping plan 
in the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act of 2009, has produced 
this first iteration of a NCMS to focus on that portion of the U.S. 
coastal zone that can be successfully mapped by a mix of lidar 
techniques for accurate elevation data. Recognizing the ongoing 
progress on lidar mapping coordination in the coastal zone, the IWG-OCM 
decided to capitalize on this existing momentum, and focus this first 
version of the NCMS on topographic and bathymetric lidar mapping of the 
U.S. coasts, Great Lakes, territories and possessions. Future 
iterations will include ocean mapping in the offshore and Outer 
Continental Shelf regions using technologies such as acoustic, aerial 
photography, hyperspectral and satellite imagery, to continue to build 
out the U.S. elevation dataset and meet other mapping needs (e.g., 
bathymetry, nautical charting, habitat assessment, tsunami models). 
This NCMS 1.0 assesses the next steps needed to achieve the vision of 
the United States as a 3D Nation with comprehensive lidar elevation 
coverage, including whether there is sufficient interest in mapping 
U.S. coastal areas routinely through the judicious, efficient and 
closely-aligned collection of lidar bathymetry and topography. The 
strategy also contains four actionable components on the path to 
develop Coastal Lidar Elevation for a 3D Nation.
     Component 1 describes the organization of IWG-OCM Coastal 
Mapping Summits linked to web-based reporting in order to enhance 
existing and ongoing coordination on coastal lidar acquisition.
     Component 2 details definitions for bathymetric lidar 
Quality Levels that will foster the collection of interoperable 
datasets by all IWG-OCM member agencies involved in lidar collection.
     The focus of Component 3 is to improve interagency 
coordination on data management tasks (validation, processing, 
stewardship, dissemination and archiving) in order to reduce costs, 
maximize efficiency, and avoid duplication of effort.
     Lastly, Component 4 lays out an approach for cooperation 
on targeted methods, research, and technique development. New tools and 
improved technologies developed through this structure will facilitate 
interagency collaboration in obtaining the maximum value from shared 
coastal mapping data.

Other Information

    The draft NCMS Version 1.0 can be found at: http://www.iocm.noaa.gov/iwg/.
    Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to submit comments and 
questions on the NCMS. Electronic comments and questions on the NCMS 
may be submitted via email to [email protected]. Written comments 
may also be submitted to NOAA Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping 
Program, SSMC-3, #6815, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    A webinar has also been scheduled to answer questions that 
stakeholders or the public may have on the NCMS and to gather input on 
how to improve the draft, such as by identifying missing elements or 
incorporating other perspectives. All interested parties are encouraged 
to participate. Comments and questions are welcomed both ahead of, and 
after, the webinar using the mechanisms identified above.

National Coastal Mapping Strategy Webinar--[June 23, 2016, 1:00-2:00 
p.m. EST]

 TELECONFERENCE INFORMATION
[cir] Dial-in Number: 1-888-459-8313

[[Page 36893]]

[cir] Passcode: 6564989#
 WEB CONFERENCE INFORMATION
[cir] Persons wishing to attend the meeting online via the web 
conference must register in advance no later than 5 p.m. EST on June 
20, 2016, by sending an email to [email protected].
[cir] Instructions to Join Web Conference on June 23, 2016:
    [ssquf] Join the meeting: http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?sigKey=mymeetings&i=748882585&p=&t=c
    [ssquf] Enter the required fields (no passcode required)
     Meeting Number: 748882585
     Meeting Passcode: none required
[ssquf] Indicate that you have read the Privacy Policy.
[ssquf] Click on Proceed.

    Note that the web conference is limited to 200 participants and 
will therefore be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The 
agenda for the webinar will include time for questions and answers, and 
comments. The agenda will be posted to http://www.iocm.noaa.gov/iwg/ at 
least 10 days before the webinar.

Other Information

    Paperwork Reduction Act: NOAA has determined that this action does 
not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: May 31, 2016.
W. Russell Callender,
Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-13568 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P