[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40220-40221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13127]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Analysis of and Participation in Ocean Exploration Video 
Products

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before August 21, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0748 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Abby Letts, LTJG/NOAA, NOAA Ocean Exploration, Joint Hydrographic 
Center, 24 Colovos Rd., Durham, NH 03824, (301) 325-3792; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision and extension to an existing 
information collection.
    NOAA Ocean Exploration (OE) is the only federal organization 
dedicated to ocean exploration. By using unique capabilities in terms 
of personnel, technology, infrastructure, and exploration missions, OE 
is reducing unknowns in deep-ocean areas and providing high-value 
environmental intelligence needed by NOAA and the nation to address 
both current and emerging science and management needs. Through live 
video and data streams, online coverage, training opportunities, and 
events, we allow scientists, resource managers, students, members of 
the general public, and others to actively experience ocean 
exploration, allowing broader scientific participation, and cultivating 
the next generation of ocean explorers, and engaging the public in 
exploration activities. To better understand our ocean, our office 
makes exploration data available to the public. This allows us, 
collectively, to more effectively maintain ocean health, sustainably 
manage our marine resources, accelerate our national economy, and build 
a better appreciation of the value and importance of the ocean in our 
everyday lives. It is only through leveraging resources internally and 
externally that we can truly achieve our mission.
    Since the inception of NOAA's exploration program in 2001, OE data 
management has been guided by the 2000 President's Panel Report 
recommendations which prioritized rapid and unrestricted data sharing 
as one of five critical exploration program components. More recently, 
Public Law 111-11 [Section XII Ocean Exploration] reinforced and 
expanded OER data management objectives, continuing to stress the 
importance of sharing unique exploration data and information to 
improve public understanding of the oceans, and for research and 
management purposes.
    Telepresence satellite communication from the ship to shore brings 
the unknown ocean to the screens of both scientists and the general 
public in their homes, schools or offices in near real time. With 
technology constantly evolving, it is important to address the needs of 
the shore based scientists and public to maintain a high level of 
participation. We use voluntary surveys to identify the needs of users 
of data, best approaches to leverage expertise of shore based 
participants for meaningful public engagement focused on ocean 
exploration.
    The five forms used to collect information are as follows: (1) 
Sailing Contact Information. This form is sent to the few scientists 
that directly sail on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The ship's 
operational officer needs certain information such as: if a sailing 
individual has securely submitted their proper medical documents to 
NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; if the person is up to 
date with required security documents, such as a passport, if the ship 
is traveling to a foreign port; any dietary restrictions so that the 
person will be served food that is safe. (2) Okeanos Explorer 
Participation Assessment. This voluntary form is sent to the scientists 
that sailed on any Okeanos Explorer cruise funded by NOAA's Office of 
Ocean Exploration and Research to record any feedback they wish to 
provide to the office about their experience. The office uses their 
feedback in assessments for improving the utility and experience of 
these scientific guests sailing on the Okeanos Explorer. (3) EX 
Collaboration Tools Feedback. This voluntary form is sent to members of 
the marine scientific community at the beginning of a fiscal year to 
ask if members would like to participate in any of the upcoming cruises 
and to what degree, such as simply asking to be included in emailed 
updates or if they want to be on a direct line to the ship for remotely 
operated vehicle dive operations. (4) Citizen Scientist. This voluntary 
form is available to general members of the public and is used for 
members to improve the annotation efforts when watching short video 
clips of 30 seconds to 5 minutes. (5) Science Lead Solicitation. This 
voluntary form will be used to solicit interest from the scientific 
community to serve as a Science Lead on one of NOAA Ocean Exploration's 
expeditions.
    The first forms described above will include minor revisions, and 
the fifth form is a new addition. The Sailing Contact Information form 
will be revised to include updated informational attachments (e.g., 
links to updated COVID guidance, medical clearance, and underwater 
cultural heritage protocols) and updated expedition names and dates for 
a given calendar year. The Okeanos Explorer Participation Assessment 
will be revised to replace some technical/scientific questions with 
questions that relate to communication, leadership, and workplace 
climate. The EX Collaboration Tools form will be revised to include 
updated informational attachments (e.g., underwater cultural heritage 
protocols) and updated expedition names and dates for a calendar year. 
The Citizen Scientist form will be updated for expedition names and 
dates for a calendar year.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is collected electronically.

[[Page 40221]]

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0748.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [revision and extension of an 
approved information collection].
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 668 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary or required to obtain services 
or benefits.
    Legal Authority: Public Law 111-11, Section XII Ocean Exploration.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-13127 Filed 6-20-23; 8:45 am]
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