[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11348-11349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03963]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Coastal and 
Marine Ecological Classification Standard Solicitation for Revisions

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: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the 
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 Becky Allee, Office for Coastal Management, 1021 Balch 
Blvd., Suite 1003, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, (228) 688-1701, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for review of a new information collection.
    NOAA's Office of Coastal Management (OCM) is proposing a new 
information collection that will allow interested parties to submit 
requests for revisions to update the Coastal and Marine Ecological 
Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS was approved by the Federal 
Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) in August 2012 and provides a national 
standard for consistent descriptions of coastal and marine ecological 
features. The primary uses of CMECS are in mapping and

[[Page 11349]]

classifying the geological, physical, biological, and chemical 
components of the environment. Among other applications, the CMECS 
framework can be used to integrate data from disparate sources, 
facilitate comparisons among sites, and organize data for regional 
assessment. Since its publication in 2012, the CMECS has been used to 
characterize habitats ranging from coastal wetlands and estuaries to 
the deep ocean and at local to global scales. Benefits of CMECS 
include: Data collected by different sensors and methods can be 
integrated into a single database; all the physical, biological, and 
chemical-forcing functions that collectively determine a habitat type 
can be captured; and the system has the flexibility to accommodate new 
units as additional information becomes available.
    The CMECS was developed as a dynamic standard to allow periodic 
revisions to continue to meet the needs of the user community and as 
such, the CMECS can be updated to accommodate the requirements of 
evolving scientific practices, technology, and coastal and marine 
resource management. The review process allows the CMECS to retain its 
consistency, credibility, and rigor through periodic reviews and an 
orderly, authoritative, and transparent updating process as required by 
the Federal Geographic Data Committee. Anyone can propose changes, 
which can include minor edits, such as grammatical or typographical 
corrections, clarifications of definitions and meaning, or more 
substantial changes to the hierarchy within components. The CMECS 
Implementation Group, through the Office for Coastal Management, has 
determined it is necessary to initiate the dynamic standard process to 
revise the CMECS. We are soliciting recommendations for revisions to 
the CMECS through a form to be posted on the CMECS website. All 
recommendations collected will be reviewed and revisions will be made 
to the CMECS to reflect those recommendations found to be valuable for 
implementation of the CMECS and supportive of the user community needs.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will primarily be collected through a form on the CMECS 
website; however, we will also accept paper format for anyone unable to 
access the form through the internet. Some follow up interviews may 
occur to better understand recommendations as needed.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-NEW.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission; request for a new information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Coastal scientists and managers throughout the 
United States responsible for characterization of coastal and marine 
habitats or ecosystems more broadly. This may include academia; non-
governmental organizations; State, Local or Tribal government; Federal 
government; and for-profit environmental support businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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 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 Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-03963 Filed 2-26-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P