[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 31578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10456]



[[Page 31578]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12071]


United States Ocean Acidification Action Plan Call for Public 
Comment

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) will be accepting public comments on the proposed 
scope for the upcoming United States Ocean Acidification Action Plan 
(OA-AP). Drafting a national OA-AP is a commitment made by all members 
of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA 
Alliance). The document will highlight our leadership in reducing 
carbon emissions, strengthening monitoring, research and coordination 
research efforts, and investing in adaptive measures.

DATES: The comment period will be open for 30 days from the publication 
of this notice. Guidance on how to submit comments and the proposed 
content for the OA-AP are below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the United 
States OA-AP, contact Meaghan Cuddy at [email protected] or at (202) 
340-3272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States joined the OA Alliance at 
the UN Ocean Conference in June 2022. The OA Alliance is a voluntary 
coalition that works to build international momentum for actions that 
address the causes of ocean acidification (OA), increase research and 
monitoring efforts, and advance the resilience of coastal communities. 
The Department of State and NOAA co-lead for U.S. national membership 
in the OA Alliance and have been working with the OA Alliance 
secretariat to develop a plan for drafting the U.S. OA-AP.
    Recently, the United States released its first-event Ocean Climate 
Action Plan (OCAP), which details ongoing and planned Federal ocean-
based climate mitigation and adaptation activities and recommends new 
or enhanced ocean science and policy actions to tackle climate change. 
The OA-AP is designed to be a complementary component of the OCAP, 
addressing one of the key impacts on the ocean from anthropogenic 
carbon emissions.
    In advance of drafting the OA-AP, the Department of State and NOAA 
are seeking public comment on the scope of the plan. The U.S. OA-AP 
will be drafted with input and feedback from the U.S. Federal 
Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification, which includes 14 
U.S. Federal agencies.
    The proposed scope of the document includes the following areas: 
(1) A brief overview of the cause of OA and its impacts; (2) A brief 
overview of the national-level framework of policies, programs, and 
actions implemented by federal agencies to reduce carbon emissions, 
coordinate research and monitoring efforts, and adapt to OA, along with 
remaining challenges; (3) a brief overview of subnational efforts to 
address OA, particularly by subnational U.S. members for the OA 
Alliance; (4) Proposed and/or planned future federal actions and goals 
to address ocean acidification and its root causes; and (5) New ideas 
for engagement at the international level to support global research, 
monitoring, adaptation, and carbon reduction efforts to address the 
impacts of OA, giving recognition to what can't be solved without 
international engagement.
    The OA-AP is intended to be a short, high-level document that 
highlights the overall general direction for U.S. response to OA. It 
will, by design, not include all potential U.S. actions, but serve as a 
general roadmap to the United States' strategy to address OA through 
comprehensive policy across the interagency and at multiple levels of 
management. We are requesting input on what new directions the US 
should consider, within reason, in how we are addressing ocean 
acidification both nationally and internationally. Public comments 
should address: (1) The general proposed scope of the OA-AP, and/or (2) 
Suggestions for ambitious national-level policy, technical, scientific, 
or management actions to be included in the OA-AP. It is recommended 
that comments are limited to 500 words. Please note that public 
suggestions for action are not guaranteed to be included in the final 
OA-AP. Comments can be submitted in writing to [email protected].
    The OA Alliance was launched at the 2016 Our Ocean Conference by 
the Pacific Coast Consortium, a consortium of governments including 
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California, with the 
consulting firms Cascadia Policy Solutions and Ross Strategic serving 
as facilitators. It now includes country members as well, including 
Chile, Norway, France, Canada, Sweden, and the United States. The 
United States, as a global leader in OA research, vulnerability 
assessments, modeling, technology development, scientific capacity 
building, and adaptation, joined the OA Alliance for the purpose of 
supporting international collaboration to understand and combat OA. 
Drafting and releasing the U.S. national action plan will provide a 
model for other OA Alliance members seeking to integrate OA research, 
monitoring, and adaptation efforts across their governments. Additional 
information about the OA Alliance can be found at https://www.oaalliance.org/.
    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2656.

Elizabeth Kim,
Director, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2023-10456 Filed 5-16-23; 8:45 am]
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