[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64464-64465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Analysis of and 
Participation in Ocean Exploration Video Products

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via internet 
at [email protected]). All comments received are part of the public 
record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher ``J'' Dunn, LTJG/NOAA. NOAA Office of Ocean 
Exploration and Research, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882; 
401-874-6478; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision of an existing information 
collection.
    NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) is the only 
federal organization dedicated to ocean exploration. By using unique 
capabilities in terms of personnel, technology, infrastructure, and 
exploration missions, OER is reducing unknowns in deep-ocean areas and 
providing high-value environmental intelligence needed by NOAA and the 
nation to address both current and emerging science and management 
needs. Our expertise, work products, and services generally fall into 
the areas of expedition planning and operations; marine archaeology; 
coastal and ocean mapping; science; technology; data management; and 
education.
    Since the inception of NOAA's exploration program in 2001, OER data 
management has been guided by the 2000 President's Panel Report 
recommendations which prioritized rapid and unrestricted data sharing 
as one of five critical exploration program components. More recently, 
Public law 111-11 [Section XII Ocean Exploration] reinforced and 
expanded OER data management objectives, continuing to stress the 
importance of sharing unique exploration data and information to 
improve public understanding of the oceans, and for research and 
management purposes.
    Telepresence satellite communication from the ship to shore brings 
the unknown ocean to the screens of both scientists and the general 
public in their homes, schools or offices in near real time. With 
technology constantly evolving it is important to address the needs of 
the shore-based scientists and public to maintain a high level of 
participation. We use voluntary surveys to identify the needs of users 
of data and best approaches to leverage expertise of shore-based 
participants for meaningful public engagement focused on ocean 
exploration.
    This information collection consists of four forms. (1) Sailing 
Contact Information (new). This form is sent to the few scientists that 
directly sail on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The ship's operational 
officer needs certain information such as: If a sailing individual has 
securely submitted their proper medical documents to NOAA's Office of 
Marine and Aviation Operations, if the person is up to date with 
required security documents such as a passport, if the ship is 
traveling to a foreign port, or any dietary restrictions so that the 
person will be served food that is safe. (2) Okeanos Explorer 
Participation Assessment. This voluntary form is sent to the scientists 
that sailed on any Okeanos Explorer cruise funded by NOAA's Office of 
Ocean Exploration and Research to record any feedback they wish to 
provide to the office about their experience. The office uses their 
feedback in assessments for improving the utility and experience of 
these scientific guests sailing on the Okeanos Explorer. (3) EX 
Collaboration Tools Feedback (new). This voluntary form is sent to 
members of the marine scientific community at the beginning of a fiscal 
year to ask if members would like to participate in any of the upcoming 
cruises and to what degree, such as simply asking to be included in 
emailed updates or if they want to be on a direct line to the ship for 
remotely operated vehicle dive operations. (4) Citizen Scientist. This 
voluntary form is available to general members of the public and is 
used for members to improve the annotation efforts when watching short 
video clips of 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is only collected via online form.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0748.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 166 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the

[[Page 64465]]

proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-25271 Filed 11-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P