[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 37516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12230]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Extension of Request for Public Comment on a Draft Standard Ocean 
Mapping Protocol

AGENCY: Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of deadline for public comments.

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SUMMARY: On February 24, 2023, the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, 
and Characterization (NOMEC) Council and the Interagency Working Group 
on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM) submitted a request for public 
comment on the IWG-OCM's draft Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol (SOMP) 
in the Federal Register. This notice extends the deadline for comment 
from June 2, 2023, to July 28, 2023. All information in the original 
Federal Register notice remains accurate but for the deadline extension 
to July 28, 2023.

DATES: Comments must be received via email by 5 p.m. ET on July 28, 
2023 at the email address listed in the ADDRESSES section below.

ADDRESSES: 
    A copy of the draft SOMP may be downloaded or viewed at: https://iocm.noaa.gov/standards/Standard_Ocean_Mapping_Protocol_draft_Feb2023.pdf.
    A copy of the National Strategy may be downloaded or viewed at: 
https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/documents/strategic-plans/20200611-FINAL-STRATEGY-NOMEC-Sec.-2.pdf.
    A copy of the National Strategy Implementation Plan may be 
downloaded or viewed at: https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/documents/strategic-plans/210107-FINALNOMECImplementationPlan-Clean.pdf.
    Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] by 5 
p.m. ET on July 28, 2023.
    Instructions: Response to this Federal Register notice is 
voluntary. Please include ``Public Comment on Draft SOMP'' in the 
subject line of the message. If applicable, clearly indicate the 
section and page number of the draft SOMP 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. 
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: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Paul Turner, NOAA Integrated Ocean and Coastal 
Mapping, at [email protected], (240) 429-0293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Objective 2.1 of the National 
Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United 
States Exclusive Economic Zone, this SOMP was drafted to encourage 
consistency in data acquisition, stewardship and data management for 
seafloor mapping. The draft SOMP is organized into the following seven 
chapters:
    Data Management, Bathymetry, Seabed and Lakebed Backscatter, Water 
Column Sonar, Side Scan Sonar, Sub-bottom, and Magnetometer. Public 
comments to improve the draft SOMP are welcome on one, a few, or all 
sections. Questions that might be considered while reviewing the draft 
SOMP include:
     Are the SOMP chapters comprehensive and explanatory?
     Is the SOMP understandable?
     As a protocol, will it be helpful to your organization, 
sector, or interest group?
     How do you anticipate your organization or sector will 
participate in SOMP implementation?
     What specific improvements to the SOMP would be of value 
to your organization/sector?
     What is missing in the SOMP that would facilitate use if 
added?
     Are there authoritative sources for the SOMP chapters that 
are missing or should be considered?
    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 883e.

RDML Benjamin K. Evans,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-12230 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
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