[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54302-54303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17119]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD232]


Request for Information; Data for Marine Spatial Studies in 
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for 
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in partnership with the NOAA National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
(SEFSC) and Southeast Regional Office (SERO), hereafter NOAA, are 
working to build spatial science capacity in the U.S. Caribbean Region. 
Through this Request for Information, we are seeking public input to 
identify coastal and marine spatial data or other critical information 
to inform marine spatial analyses. Additionally, we are seeking 
feedback on data shortcomings and gaps that should be addressed prior 
to commencing marine spatial studies. The input we receive from 
meetings, as well as the responses to the items listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document, will be used to 
inform potential coastal and ocean development activities in Puerto 
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), such as development of 
renewable energy facilities, aquaculture, and other blue economy 
sectors.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to provide input in response to 
this Request for Information through September 30, 2023. Late-filed 
input will be considered to the extent practicable.
    Verbal input will be accepted during two public meetings to be held 
in St. Croix, USVI on August 28-29 and in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 
August 31-September 1.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to provide input using one of 
the following methods:
    Electronic Submission: Submit electronic written public comments 
via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov 
and enter NOAA-NMFS-2023-0097 in the Search box. Click on the 
``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments. All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Verbal submission: NOAA will accept verbal input at two meetings. 
The first meeting will be held at The Buccaneer Resort in St. Croix, 
USVI on Monday August 28, 2023 from 8:30am to 5:00pm (AST) and Tuesday, 
August 29, 2023 from 8:30am to 12:00pm (AST). There will be a 
registration window from 8:30am to 9:00am (AST) each day before the 
start of the meeting. The second meeting will be held at the Courtyard 
Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday, 
August 31, 2023 from 8:30am to 5:00pm (AST) and Friday, September 1, 
2023 from 8:30am to 12:00pm (AST). There will be a registration window 
from 8:30am to 9:00am (AST) each day before the start of the meeting. 
Simultaneous language interpretation in English and Spanish will be 
provided in the Puerto Rico meetings. Advanced registration is 
requested for the meetings by completing the registration form at 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1B1QOXhd7EJEDflyok-ATW4ZGLHRloJLSzcntmopDjhd86A/viewform?usp=sf link or by providing an 
RSVP to Erica Rule at [email protected]. The registration deadline is 
Monday, August 21, 2023.
    Reports of meeting results will also be published and made 
available to the public in the weeks following the meetings. If you are 
unable to provide electronic written comments or participate in the 
meetings, please contact Jennifer Wright at [email protected] or 
(252)418-1308 for alternative submission methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Morris ([email protected]), 
(252)666-7433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NOAA is an agency of the United States Federal government that 
works to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and 
resources. We work to make fisheries sustainable and productive, 
provide safe seafood to consumers, conserve threatened and endangered 
species and other protected resources, and maintain healthy ecosystems. 
NOAA has jurisdiction and

[[Page 54303]]

responsibility for its trust marine resources in the U.S. Caribbean as 
well as significant interest in supporting the resilience of coastal 
and marine-dependent communities in the Territories, and promoting 
equity and environmental justice. For these reasons, is it important 
for NOAA to invest in research that informs marine spatial studies in 
the Caribbean region, including socioeconomic research that ensures 
meaningful participation of Caribbean communities and supports 
equitable processes for planning and siting of new and existing marine 
industries and conservation areas.
    NOAA has recently been involved in planning for the expansion of 
offshore aquaculture in U.S. Federal waters through the development of 
Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-opportunity-areas). NOAA has also been engaged 
with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to support siting and 
environmental review for offshore wind energy areas in U.S. Federal 
waters (https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy) to ensure protection of 
trust resources in any offshore development activities.

Purpose of This Request for Information

    The purpose of this Request for Information is to promote data 
development to inform marine spatial studies in Puerto Rico and the 
USVI, with an emphasis on data needs for offshore wind energy and 
aquaculture development. In addition to input received from the public 
through the electronic and verbal submissions, NOAA aims to inform the 
public about its coastal and ocean planning processes and capabilities, 
discuss the current data available for each ocean sector (e.g., 
military, fisheries, industry, natural resources), and gather ideas for 
other data sources. NOAA hopes to come out of the meetings with a 
strengthened relationship with the public and a list of data gaps and 
needs to pursue going forward.

Specific Information Requested To Inform Marine Spatial Studies in 
Puerto Rico and USVI

    Through this Request for Information, NOAA seeks written public 
input to inform the marine spatial studies in Puerto Rico and USVI. 
NOAA is particularly interested in receiving input concerning the items 
listed below. Responses to this Request for Information are voluntary, 
and respondents need not reply to items listed. When providing input, 
please specify if you are providing general feedback on marine spatial 
studies and/or if you are responding to one of the specific item 
number(s) below:
    (1) Specific datasets related to ocean sectors, natural resources, 
and/or human activities you recommend NOAA use in marine spatial 
studies.
    (2) Major concerns you have related to use of any specific datasets 
that may be used in marine spatial studies.
    (3) Major concerns you have related to the impacts of new marine 
industries on ecological systems in Puerto Rico and/or the USVI.
    (4) Major concerns you have related to the impact of new marine 
industries on other ocean industries in Puerto Rico and/or the USVI.
    (5) Major concerns you have related to gaps in scientific knowledge 
or data that could impact marine spatial study efforts.
    (6) Specific data or information you recommend NOAA or other 
partners collect, if it is not currently available or has not been 
previously collected.
    (7) Ways in which NOAA can better engage and collaborate with the 
public and Territorial communities to promote economic, social, and 
ecological resilience as well as protect trust resources.

    Dated: August 4, 2023.
Samuel D Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-17119 Filed 8-9-23; 8:45 am]
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