[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20638-20639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06232]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Request for Information; Data for Marine Spatial Studies in 
Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina

AGENCY: National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) National Centers for 
Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), hereafter NOAA, in partnership with the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is working to build spatial 
planning capacity in the Southeast United States Region (Southeast 
U.S.). Through this notice, NOAA is seeking public input to identify 
coastal and marine spatial data or other critical information to inform 
marine spatial analyses in Virginia, North Carolina, and South 
Carolina. The input we receive from the data development workshop 
meeting, 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 the 
Southeast U.S., such as renewable energy development.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to provide input in response to 
this notice through April 30, 2024. Late-filed input will be considered 
to the extent practicable. Oral input will be accepted during a public 
meeting to be held in Beaufort, North Carolina on April 9-10, 2024.

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-NOS-2024-0090908 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 
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).
     Oral submission: NOAA will accept oral input at a data 
development workshop. The meeting will be held at the NOAA Beaufort 
Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time (ET) and Wednesday, April 10, 2024 
from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. There will be a registration window from 
8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET each day before the start of the meeting. 
Advanced registration is required for the meeting by completing the 
registration form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5Z5zv0jmM-g5AF-WOAxga6lt0Mc2fmK9aYAvnuwI79EktlQ/viewform?usp=sf_link or by providing an RSVP to Michelle Hobgood at 
[email protected]. The registration deadline is Friday, April 
5, 2024.
    Reports of meeting results will also be published and made 
available to the public in the weeks following the meeting. If you are 
unable to provide electronic written comments or participate in the 
meeting, please contact Michelle Hobgood at [email protected] 
or 980-622-7642 for alternative submission methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Morris, NOAA NCCOS, at 
[email protected] or 252-666-7433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    NOAA is an agency of the United States Federal Government that 
works to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and 
resources. NOAA works 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 responsibility for its trust marine resources 
in the Southeast U.S. as well as significant interest in supporting the 
resilience of coastal and marine-dependent communities and promoting 
equity and environmental justice. For these reasons, it is important 
for NOAA to invest in research that informs marine spatial studies in 
the Southeast U.S. region, including socioeconomic research that 
ensures meaningful participation of local communities and supports 
equitable processes for planning and siting of new and existing marine 
industries and conservation areas.
    NOAA has been engaged with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 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.

II. Purpose of This Request for Information

    The purpose of this notice is to promote data development to inform 
marine spatial studies in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, 
with an emphasis on data needs for offshore wind energy. In addition to 
input received from the public through the electronic and oral 
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., national security, fisheries, industry, 
natural resources, cultural resources),

[[Page 20639]]

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 
best available data and data gaps.

III. Specific Information Requested To Inform Marine Spatial Studies in 
Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina

    NOAA seeks written public input to inform marine spatial studies in 
the Southeast U.S. NOAA is particularly interested in receiving input 
concerning the items listed below. Responses to this notice 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 gaps in scientific knowledge 
or data that could impact marine spatial planning efforts.
    4. Specific data or information you recommend NOAA or other 
partners collect, if it is not currently available or has not been 
previously collected.
    5. Ways in which NOAA can better engage and collaborate with the 
public and local communities to promote economic, social, and 
ecological resilience as well as protect trust resources.

Sean Corson,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-06232 Filed 3-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P