[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 31734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08891]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP)

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth a new schedule and proposed agenda of a 
meeting of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) that could not 
proceed on February 26, 2024 due to technical difficulties. At this new 
scheduled meeting, the members will discuss issues outlined in the 
section on Matters to be considered.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 21, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) and May 22, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 
12:30 p.m. EDT. These times and the agenda topics described below are 
subject to change.

ADDRESSES: The May 21-22, 2024 meeting will be at the NOAA Fisheries 
Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Ave. S St., Petersburg, FL 33701. 
At this meeting location, all public attendees need to bring a valid 
driver's license or valid Government ID to sign in at the Security desk 
when they arrive. The link for the webinar registration will be posted, 
when available, on the ORAP website: https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-research-advisory-panel/orap-public-meetings.
    For the latest agenda please refer to the ORAP website: https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-research-advisory-panel/orap-public-meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Viviane Silva, ORAP Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO), SSMC3, Room 11320, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, 
MD 20910; Phone Number: 240-624-0656; Email: [email protected]; or 
visit the ORAP website at https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-research-advisory-panel/orap-public-meetings.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) 
advises the Ocean Policy Committee (OPC) and provides independent 
recommendations to the Federal Government on matters of ocean policy.
    Congress directed the establishment of the ORAP in Section 1055(c) 
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), 10 U.S.C. 8933.
    ORAP's responsibilities are (1) to advise the OPC on policies and 
procedures to implement the National Oceanographic Partnership Program; 
(2) to advise the OPC on matters relating to national oceanographic 
science, engineering, facilities, or resource requirements; (3) to 
advise the OPC on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the 
ocean sciences and related fields; (4) to advise the OPC on national 
ocean research priorities; and (5) any additional responsibilities that 
the OPC considers appropriate.
    Status: The May 21-22, 2024 meeting will be open to public 
participation with a 30-minute public comment period at 3:15 p.m. EDT. 
The ORAP 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-five minutes. Written comments for 
the May 21-22, 2024 meeting should be received by May 10, 2024 by the 
ORAP DFO ([email protected]) to provide sufficient time for ORAP 
review. Written comments received by the ORAP DFO after this date will 
be distributed to the ORAP, but may not be reviewed prior to the 
meeting date.
    Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to 
people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be 
directed to the ORAP DFO no later than 12:00 p.m. EDT on May 10, 2024.
    Matters to Be Considered: During the ORAP meeting on Dec 13-14, 
2023, the Ocean Policy Committee (OPC) requested that the ORAP advise 
on areas of opportunity for partnership (such as through the National 
Oceanic Partnership Program) on the topic of emerging technology (which 
could include Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, eDNA, and 
similar technology) with ocean industry and other sectors over the next 
5-10 years. The OPC also requested that ORAP self-select another topic 
to address. The ORAP members agreed that the topic of accessible, 
inter-operable, interdisciplinary, and trusted ocean data to meet 
research and user needs is critical and deserves ORAP immediate 
attention. At this meeting on May 21-22, 2024, ORAP members will be 
discussing the two OPC tasks based on an initial review of each topic 
conducted by ORAP members.
    Meeting materials, including work products, will be made available 
on the ORAP website: https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-research-advisory-panel/orap-public-meetings.

    Dated: March 29, 2024.
David Holst,
Director Chief Financial Officer/CAO, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-08891 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P