[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7733-7734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02627]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID-0648-XV176]
Efficient Permitting of Ocean Research, Mapping, and
Characterizing Activities
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
ACTION: Notice; Request for information.
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SUMMARY: On behalf of the Ocean Policy Committee, Ocean Resource
Management Subcommittee and the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) as Co-Chairs of
the Ocean Policy Committee, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) requests input from all interested parties on the
permitting process for ocean research, mapping, and characterization
activities. The public input provided in response to this Request for
Information (RFI) will inform the Ocean Policy Committee as it works
with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to increase the efficiency
of the permitting and authorization processes for ocean research,
mapping, and characterization activities across agencies.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
March 12, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Responses should be submitted via email to
[email protected]. Include ``RFI Response: Efficient
Permitting of Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing Activities'' in
the subject line of the message.
Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need
not reply to all questions listed. For all submissions, clearly
indicate which questions are being answered. Email attachments will be
accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF formats only. Each
individual or institution is requested to submit only one response.
OSTP may post responses to this RFI, without change, on a Federal
website. NOAA, therefore, requests that no business proprietary
information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable
information be submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the
U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use
of any information contained in the response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brock Eckel, OSTP, 202 456-4336.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Government, in coordination with
non-U.S. Government entities, conducts hundreds of ocean exploration,
mapping, and research activities every year across the United States
Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ). These activities improve our
understanding of our oceans, including by identifying potential new
sources of critical minerals, biopharmaceuticals, energy,
[[Page 7734]]
and other resources. These activities frequently require multiple
environmental reviews, consultations, permits, and other authorizations
under Federal laws and regulations that protect resources such as
maritime heritage sites and sensitive or protected marine natural
resources.
Presidential Memorandum, Ocean Mapping of the United States
Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska, 84
FR 64699 (Nov. 11, 2019), directs the Ocean Policy Committee, through
its Ocean Resource Management Subcommittee, to identify opportunities
and recommend actions to the Director of the OSTP and the Chairman of
the CEQ that will increase the efficiency of the permitting and
authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and
characterization activities across agencies. The Ocean Policy Committee
is soliciting public input through this RFI to obtain information from
a wide range of stakeholders, including academia, private industry, and
other relevant organizations and institutions, in order to inform the
Ocean Policy Committee as it prepares to identify these opportunities
and develop recommended actions.
Questions To Inform Development of the Recommendations
Through this RFI, the Ocean Policy Committee seeks responses to the
following questions to identify opportunities and inform development of
recommendations that will increase the efficiency of the permitting and
authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and
characterization activities that take place in the U.S. EEZ.
1. Please describe any challenges related to identifying and
obtaining the necessary information, permits, and authorizations
required to conduct ocean research, mapping, and characterization
activities in the U.S. EEZ, particularly with respect to applicable
regulations and agency policies.
2. Please describe opportunities to increase the efficiency of
permitting and authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and
characterization activities in the U.S. EEZ.
3. What innovative tools, platforms, and technologies could
increase the efficiency of permitting, reporting, and authorization
processes for ocean research, mapping, and characterization activities
in the U.S. EEZ? To the extent innovative capabilities already exist,
but are not being effectively used, what are the barriers to adopting
them?
4. After authorization is obtained, are there any reporting or
paperwork requirements that are unduly burdensome or lack utility? If
yes, please describe such requirements and provide suggestions for
addressing them.
5. Is there any additional information related to permitting and
authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and
characterization activities in the U.S. EEZ, not requested above, that
you believe the Ocean Policy Committee should consider?
Dated: February 3, 2020.
Timothy C. Gallaudet,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Deputy NOAA
Administrator, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2020-02627 Filed 2-10-20; 8:45 am]
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