[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16169-16170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05955]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Public Comment of the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce 
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of public comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization 
(NOMEC) Council and the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Exploration 
and Characterization (IWG-OEC) request public comment from all 
interested parties on the draft Strategic Priorities for Ocean 
Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive 
Economic Zone (``Priorities Report''). The Priorities Report was 
developed per the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and 
Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (``National 
Strategy'') and as detailed in the NOMEC Implementation Plan 
(``Implementation Plan''). To help ensure implementation of the 
National Strategy continues to be informed by all sectors, the NOMEC 
Council and IWG-OEC issue this notice to seek public comment on the 
specific thematic and geographic priorities for ocean exploration and 
characterization that were identified by Federal subject-matter 
experts.
    The NOMEC Council and IWG-OEC issue this notice on behalf of the 
Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy 
Committee, which is chaired by the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

DATES: Comments must be received by May 2, 2022.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the draft Priorities Report may be downloaded or 
viewed at: https://www.noaa.gov/nomec/IWG-OEC.
    A copy of the National Strategy may be downloaded or viewed at: 
https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-08/NOMEC%20Strategy.pdf.
    A copy of the Implementation Plan may be downloaded or viewed at: 
https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/210107-FINALNOMECImplementationPlan-Clean.pdf.
    Responses should be submitted via email to [email protected].
    Instructions: Response to this notice is voluntary. Include 
``Public Comment on Priorities Report for Exploration and 
Characterization'' in the subject line of the message. If applicable, 
clearly indicate the section and page number to which submitted 
comments pertain. All submissions must be in English. 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.
    Responses to this notice may be posted without change on a Federal 
website. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive 
information submitted voluntarily by the sender will become publicly 
accessible. NOAA, therefore, requests that no business proprietary 
information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable 
information be submitted in response to this notice. Anonymous comments 
will be accepted. 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: IWG-OEC Co-Chairs: Rachel Medley, 
NOAA, [email protected], 301-789-3075; Dr. Amanda Demopoulos, U.S. 
Geological Survey, [email protected], 352-264-3490; Mark Mueller, 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, [email protected], 703-787-1089.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NOMEC Council and IWG-OEC seek public 
comment for development of thematic and geographic ocean exploration 
and characterization priorities in accordance with the Implementation 
Plan of the National Strategy. In coordination with the Administrator 
of NOAA, this notice is issued on behalf of the Ocean Science and 
Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee, which is co-
chaired by the Director of the OSTP and the Chair of the CEQ. The 
Priorities Report is pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum on ``Ocean 
Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline 
and Nearshore of Alaska'' (84 FR 64699; Nov. 19, 2020).
    The IWG-OEC has developed a draft report on Strategic Priorities 
for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone. This notice solicits comment from 
stakeholders, including academia, private industry, and other relevant 
institutions regarding thematic and geographic priorities. The public 
comment provided in response to this

[[Page 16170]]

notice will inform finalization of the report.

David Holst,
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-05955 Filed 3-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-P