[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13312-13313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03597]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory 
Committee Public Meeting

AGENCY: U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]), National 
Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a virtual meeting of the U.S. 
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee 
(Committee). The meeting is open to the public and an opportunity for 
oral and written comments will be provided.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 18, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 
p.m. (EST). Written public comments should be received by the 
Designated Federal Official by March 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually. To register for the 
meeting and/or submit public comments, use this link https://forms.gle/MwbP2NXJhaz7cbuV8 or email [email protected]. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for instructions and other information about public 
participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krisa Arzayus, Designated Federal 
Official, U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee, U.S. IOOS Program, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Phone 240-533-9455; Fax 301-713-
3281; email [email protected] or visit the U.S. IOOS Advisory 
Committee website at http://ioos.noaa.gov/community/u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established by the NOAA 
Administrator as directed by section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal 
and Ocean Observation System Act, part of the Omnibus Public Land 
Management Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11), and reauthorized under the 
Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-
271). The Committee advises the NOAA Administrator and the Interagency 
Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) on matters related to the 
responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 12302 and section 
12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 and other appropriate matters as the Under Secretary may refer to 
the Committee for review and advice.
    The Committee will provide advice on:
    (a) administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the 
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (the System);
    (b) expansion and periodic modernization and upgrade of technology 
components of the System;
    (c) identification of end-user communities, their needs for 
information provided by the System, and the System's effectiveness in 
disseminating information to end-user communities and to the general 
public; and
    (d) additional priorities, including--
    (1) a national surface current mapping network designed to improve 
fine scale sea surface mapping using high frequency radar technology 
and other emerging technologies to address national priorities, 
including Coast Guard search and rescue operation

[[Page 13313]]

planning and harmful algal bloom forecasting and detection that--
    (i) is comprised of existing high frequency radar and other sea 
surface current mapping infrastructure operated by national programs 
and regional coastal observing systems;
    (ii) incorporates new high frequency radar assets or other fine 
scale sea surface mapping technology assets, and other assets needed to 
fill gaps in coverage on United States coastlines; and
    (iii) follows a deployment plan that prioritizes closing gaps in 
high frequency radar infrastructure in the United States, starting with 
areas demonstrating significant sea surface current data needs, 
especially in areas where additional data will improve Coast Guard 
search and rescue models;
    (2) fleet acquisition for unmanned maritime systems for deployment 
and data integration to fulfill the purposes of this subtitle;
    (3) an integrative survey program for application of unmanned 
maritime systems to the real-time or near real-time collection and 
transmission of sea floor, water column, and sea surface data on 
biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and hydrography;
    (4) remote sensing and data assimilation to develop new analytical 
methodologies to assimilate data from the System into hydrodynamic 
models;
    (5) integrated, multi-State monitoring to assess sources, movement, 
and fate of sediments in coastal regions;
    (6) a multi-region marine sound monitoring system to be--
    (i) planned in consultation with the IOOC, NOAA, the Department of 
the Navy, and academic research institutions; and
    (ii) developed, installed, and operated in coordination with NOAA, 
the Department of the Navy, and academic research institutions; and
    (e) any other purpose identified by the Administrator or the 
Council.

Matters To Be Considered

    The meeting will focus on: (1) IOOC Strategic Plan, (2) final 
recommendations from the Phase 2 workplan, and (3) updates on the 
spring public meeting. The latest version of the agenda will be posted 
at http://ioos.noaa.gov/community/u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/. The 
times and the agenda topics described here are subject to change.

Public Comment Instructions

    The meeting will be open to public participation (check agenda on 
website to confirm time). The Committee expects that public statements 
presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously 
submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or 
group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of 
three (3) minutes. Written comments should be received by the 
Designated Federal Official by March 11, 2024, to provide sufficient 
time for Committee review. Written comments received after March 11, 
2024, will be distributed to the Committee, but may not be reviewed 
prior to the meeting date. To submit written comments, please fill out 
the brief form at https://forms.gle/MwbP2NXJhaz7cbuV8 or email your 
comments and the organization/company affiliation you represent to 
Laura Gewain, [email protected].

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Krisa Arzayus, Designated Federal 
Official by phone (240-533-9455) or email ([email protected]) or 
to Laura Gewain ([email protected]) by March 11, 2024.

Carl C. Gouldman,
Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Office, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-03597 Filed 2-21-24; 8:45 am]
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