Interagency Working Group on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, 35747-35749 [2016-13110]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
Level B harassment were provided in
Table 3 of this document.
Based on the analysis contained
herein of the likely effects of the
specified activity on marine mammals
and their habitat, and taking into
consideration the implementation of the
mitigation and monitoring measures,
NMFS determined that small numbers
of marine mammals will be taken
relative to the populations of the
affected species or stocks. See Table 3
for the authorized take numbers of
marine mammals.
with the Council of Environmental
Quality (CEQ) regulations and NOAA
Administrative Order (NAO) 216–6.
NMFS prepared and signed a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI)
determining that preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
was not required. The FONSI was
signed on May 26, 2016 prior to the
issuance of the IHA for the City of San
Diego’s sand quality study activities
from June 2016 to June 2017. A copy of
the EA and FONSI is available upon
request (see ADDRESSES).
Impact on Availability of Affected
Species or Stock for Taking for
Subsistence Uses
Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA
requires NMFS to determine that the
authorization will not have an
unmitigable adverse effect on the
availability of marine mammal species
or stocks for subsistence use. There are
not relevant subsistence uses of marine
mammals implicated by this action.
Therefore, NMFS has determined that
the total taking of affected species or
stocks would not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of
such species or stocks for subsistence
purposes.
Authorization
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Endangered Species Act
NMFS (Permits and Conservation
Division) has determined that an ESA
section 7 consultation for the issuance
of an IHA under section 101(a)(5)(D) of
the MMPA for this activity is not
necessary for the Guadalupe fur seal.
This species is rare at Children’s Pool
Beach. Due to the fact that sightings
have occurred in the area, and due to
the declaration of a UME for this species
in the area, ESA consultation was
considered. However, it was determined
that the sand sampling activities would
have no potential to affect the
Guadalupe fur seal because these
activities would not occur if this species
were present at Children’s Pool Beach.
No other ESA-listed species are
expected to occur in the proposed
project area.
National Environmental Policy Act
To meet NMFS’s National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requirements for the
issuance of an IHA to the City of San
Diego, NMFS prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) titled
Draft Environmental Assessment of the
Issuance of an Incidental Harassment
Authorization to the City of San Diego
to Take Marine Mammals by
Harassment Incidental to Sand Quality
Study Activities at the Children’s Pool
Beach in La Jolla, California to comply
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NMFS has issued an IHA to the City
of San Diego for conducting sand
quality study activities at the Children’s
Pool Beach in La Jolla, CA, provided the
previously mentioned mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements
are incorporated.
Dated: May 27, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–13171 Filed 6–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Interagency Working Group on the
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Amendments
Act
National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
AGENCY:
Notices; publication of report
and plan summary.
ACTION:
The National Ocean Service
(NOS) of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
publishes this notice to announce the
publication of a detailed outline
summarizing the intent of the Great
Lakes Plan on Harmful Algal Blooms
(HABs) and Hypoxia.
Notice is also hereby given of the
publication of ‘‘HABs and Hypoxia
Comprehensive Research Plan and
Action Strategy: An Interagency
Report.’’
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Caitlin Gould (Caitlin.gould@noaa.gov,
240–533–0290) or Stacey DeGrasse
(Stacey.Degrasse@fda.hhs.gov, 240–
402–1470)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. Background
HABS and hypoxia can have
detrimental impacts to human and
animal health, local and regional
economies, and long-term national
security. In response, the Harmful Algal
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Amendments Act of 2014
(HABHRCA) establishes a national
program and Federal interagency task
force to advance the understanding of
HABs and hypoxia events, and to
respond to, detect, predict, control, and
mitigate these events to the greatest
extent practicable.
Section 8 of the HABHRCA requires
NOAA, as the lead federal agency of the
task force and Interagency Working
Group on HABHRCA (IWG–HABHRCA),
to develop and submit to Congress a
plan for reducing, mitigating, and
controlling HABs and hypoxia in the
Great Lakes, and publish a summary of
the plan in the Federal Register prior to
submission. The plan builds upon the
Great Lakes HABs and Hypoxia
Integrated Assessment contained in
‘‘HABs and Hypoxia Comprehensive
Research Plan and Action Strategy: An
Interagency Report’’, referenced herein,
and builds upon the work of the
International Joint Commission (e.g.,
reports entitled A Balanced Diet for
Lake Erie: Reducing Phosphorous
Loadings and Harmful Algal Blooms
and Human Health Effects from
Harmful Algal Blooms: a Synthesis) and
the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement (e.g. Annex Four). The Plan
also addresses key aspects of Federal
Activities to better understand and
address HABs and hypoxia in the Great
Lakes. Those efforts include establishing
HAB and hypoxia forecast products
through comprehensive monitoring
integrated with satellite coverage and
modeling of coastal, and freshwater
zones; and developing and deploying
lower cost, easy to use, and real-time
sensors for early detection of hypoxia
and HAB cells and toxins. The Plan
further reflects significant engagement
between IWG–HABHRCA agencies and
a wide variety of stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement provides the
IWG with information and perspective
that enhances Federal data collection
efforts.
II. Summary of the Great Lakes Plan on
Harmful Blooms and Hypoxia
The IWG–HABHRCA is producing the
Great Lakes Plan on Harmful Algal
Blooms and Hypoxia: An Interagency
Report (hereafter: The ‘‘Plan’’), which
will assess the current state of the
science on causes and impacts of
harmful algal blooms (HABs) and
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35748
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
hypoxia in the Great Lakes, highlight
progress to date and current challenges,
and propose next actions.
An overview of the current state of
science in the Plan will discuss
challenges and recommendations
related to HABs and hypoxia,
addressing improving scientific
understanding; prediction, modeling,
and monitoring; mitigating the causes
and impacts; social science; and
engagement, communications, and
outreach. Throughout, the report will
consider prevention, control, and
mitigation as related to HABs and
hypoxia in the region. It will also
discuss Federal progress and successes.
Scientific Understanding: Requirements
for Understanding, Verifying, and
Characterizing HABs and Hypoxia
The section on improving scientific
understanding will synthesize existing
knowledge regarding bloom toxicity and
the detection and mapping of HAB and
hypoxia extent. It also will review
causes of HABs and hypoxia, including
the role of phosphorus and nitrogen,
invasive species, herbicides, climate
change, and other environmental
drivers, as well as how these factors
influence the duration and intensity of
HAB and hypoxia events. It also will
review questions related to the timing of
events and causes of HAB toxicity.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Monitoring
Expanded and coordinated
monitoring and data aggregation efforts,
as well as advances in monitoring
technologies, can help answer pressing
questions at a variety of spatial and
temporal scales. The report will discuss
how scientific understanding and
nutrient mitigation strategies for HABs
and hypoxia can be improved with
additional environmental monitoring. It
also will discuss how partnerships
between agencies and non-Federal
groups play a role in enhancing the
efficiency of monitoring efforts.
Modeling
The prediction and modeling section
will discuss the methods and
technology that are being developed to
provide advanced warnings of HAB and
hypoxic events, forecast recovery efforts
related to nutrient abatement, and raise
awareness of HABs and hypoxia in
order to reduce risk to public health.
Methods and technology discussed in
the report will include data, calibration,
and validation needs related to HAB
and hypoxia models.
Impacts and Assessments
Mitigating the causes and impacts of
HABs and hypoxia will encompass best
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management practices (BMPs) for
addressing HABs and hypoxia, as well
as BMPs during HAB and hypoxic
events to minimize potential human
health and socioeconomic risk.
Mitigation challenges will include, but
are not limited to, implementing new
programs that reduce nutrient inputs,
along with monitoring and modeling to
determine BMP effectiveness.
Sections discussing challenges related
to socioeconomics, engagement,
communications, and outreach of these
issues in the region will include
information on health impacts for
humans, the aquatic ecosystem, pets,
and wildlife, as well as information on
cost-benefit analyses, valuation of
ecosystem services, and risk assessment.
It will also discuss how to better
communicate between Federal agencies
and with non-Federal stakeholders.
Space Administration (NASA), United
States Navy, National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS), National Science Foundation
(NSF), United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), National Park
Service (NPS), Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), United States Corps of
Engineers (USACE), and the Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
Timeline and Budget
Recommendations for actions in each
of the themes will be included in the
report. The specific timeline and
budgetary requirements for the
deployment of future assets are subject
to the availability of appropriations.
This report will consider HAB and
hypoxic events that occur throughout
the Great Lakes, such as those in Lake
Erie’s western basin and Sandusky Bay,
Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, and Lake
Michigan’s Green Bay. Stakeholder
engagement and consultation will play
a significant role in informing the
content of the report; the IWG is
soliciting input from academics,
agricultural interests, industry, state and
international agencies, and other
stakeholder groups. To ensure that the
Plan is technically sound and costeffective, interagency collaborations and
other partnerships will be identified as
possible opportunities for leveraging
resources, including areas of expertise,
workforce, funding, or equipment. The
Plan will refer to existing reports for
information, such as the International
Joint Commission’s A Balanced Diet for
Lake Erie: Reducing Phosphorous
Loadings and Harmful Algal Blooms,
and Annex Four of the Great Lakes
Water Quality Agreement. The Plan will
expand upon relevant topics as they
relate to current challenges and
recommendations for future efforts.
Other Information
Stakeholders are invited to submit
questions and provide input related to
concerns and successes pertaining to
HABs and hypoxia in the Great Lakes
region. The IWG–HABHRCA continues
to seek general and technical feedback
on topics including:
• Regional, Great Lakes-specific
priorities for:
Æ Ecological, economic, and social
research on the causes and impacts of
HABs and hypoxia;
Æ Approaches to improving
monitoring and early warnings,
scientific understanding, prediction and
modeling, and socioeconomics of these
events; and
Æ Mitigating the causes and impacts
of HABs and hypoxia.
• Communication and information
dissemination methods that state, tribal,
local, and international governments
and organizations may undertake to
educate and inform the public
concerning HABs and hypoxia in the
Great Lakes; and
• Perceived needs for handling Great
Lakes HAB and hypoxia events, as well
as an action strategy for managing future
situations.
Inquiries and comments may be
submitted via email (IWG–
HABHRCA@noaa.gov) or via U.S. mail
to Caitlin Gould at NOAA, National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science,
SSMC–4, #8237, 1305 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Technical feedback in the form of brief
annotated bibliographic entries would
be welcome. The Interagency Working
Group will gladly accept public input at
any time; however, only those that are
received on or before May 15, 2016, will
be considered when the Interagency
Working Group finalizes the plan.
Other Information
The IWG–HABHRCA is comprised of
representatives from NOAA, United
States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA), Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
United States Geological Survey
(USGS), National Aeronautics and
Other Information
Paperwork Reduction Act:
Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no person is required to respond to,
nor shall any person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with a
collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
displays a currently valid OMB Control
Number.
Dated: May 26, 2016.
Mary C. Erickson,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016–13110 Filed 6–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to the Procurement
List.
AGENCY:
This action adds services to
the Procurement List that will be
provided by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities.
DATES: Effective July 3, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite
715, Arlington, Virginia, 22202–4149.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703)
603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Additions
On October 30, 2015 (80 FR 66880)
and April 29, 2016 (81 FR 25652), the
Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
published notices of proposed additions
to the Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the services and impact of the additions
on the current or most recent
contractors, the Committee has
determined that the services listed
below are suitable for procurement by
the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C.
8501–8506 and 41 CFR 51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will provide the
services to the Government.
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21:20 Jun 02, 2016
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2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to provide the
services to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in
connection with the services proposed
for addition to the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following services
are added to the Procurement List:
Services:
Service Type: Laundry Service.
Mandatory for: Virginia Army National
Guard, Central Issue Facility, Defense
Supply Center Richmond, Warehouse 15,
Richmond, VA.
Mandatory Source(s) of Supply:
Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, Inc.,
Fredericksburg, VA.
Contracting Activity: Dept of the Army,
W7N5 USPFO ACTIVITY VA ARNG,
Blackstone, VA.
Service Type: Furniture Design,
Configuration and Installation Service.
Mandatory for: US Department of the
Interior, Stewart Lee Udall, Department of
the Interior Building, 1849 C St. & South
Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Ave.
NW., Washington, DC.
Mandatory Source(s) of Supply: Industries
for the Blind, Inc., West Allis, WI,
Contracting Activity: Office of Policy,
Management, and Budget, NBC Acquisition
Services Directorate, Herndon, VA.
Barry S. Lineback,
Director, Business Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016–13127 Filed 6–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Proposed Additions
and Deletions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed additions to and
deletions from the Procurement List.
AGENCY:
The Committee is proposing
to add products and services to the
Procurement List that will be furnished
by nonprofit agencies employing
persons who are blind or have other
severe disabilities, and deletes products
and services previously furnished by
such agencies.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before: July 3, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite
715, Arlington, Virginia, 22202–4149.
SUMMARY:
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35749
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703)
603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 8503 (a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
Additions
If the Committee approves the
proposed additions, the entities of the
Federal Government identified in this
notice will be required to procure the
products and services listed below from
nonprofit agencies employing persons
who are blind or have other severe
disabilities.
The following products and services
are proposed for addition to the
Procurement List for production by the
nonprofit agencies listed:
Products:
NSN(s)—Product Name(s)
MR 10732—Hershey’s Lava Cake Maker,
Shipper 20732
MR 10733—Reese’s Lava Cake Maker,
Shipper 20732
MR 10738—Holder, Pot Lid and Utensil,
Includes Shipper 20738
MR 10739—Herb Stripper, Includes
Shipper 20739
Mandatory Source(s) of Supply: WinstonSalem Industries for the Blind, Inc.,
Winston-Salem, NC.
Mandatory for: The requirements of military
commissaries and exchanges in
accordance with the Code of Federal
Regulations, Chapter 51, 51–6.4.
Contracting Activity: Defense Commissary
Agency.
Distribution: C-List.
Services:
Service Type: Custodial and Related Service.
Mandatory for: GSA PBS Region 1, Thomas
P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Office Building, 10
Causeway Street, Boston, MA.
Mandatory Source(s) of Supply: Work,
Incorporated, Dorchester, MA.
Contracting Activity: GSA PBS Region 1,
Boston, MA.
Service Type: Base Supply Center.
Mandatory for: US Army, Walter Reed Army
Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant
Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.
Mandatory Source(s) of Supply: Industries for
the Blind, Inc., West Allis, WI.
Contracting Activity: Dept of the Army,
W4PZ USA MED RSCH ACQUIS ACT,
Fort Detrick, MD.
Deletions
The following products and services are
proposed for deletion from the Procurement
List:
Products:
NSN(s)—Product Name(s)
MR 305—Melamine Dinner Plate
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35747-35749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13110]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Interagency Working Group on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Amendments Act
AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notices; publication of report and plan summary.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Ocean Service (NOS) of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes this notice to announce the
publication of a detailed outline summarizing the intent of the Great
Lakes Plan on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Hypoxia.
Notice is also hereby given of the publication of ``HABs and
Hypoxia Comprehensive Research Plan and Action Strategy: An Interagency
Report.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Gould (Caitlin.gould@noaa.gov,
240-533-0290) or Stacey DeGrasse (Stacey.Degrasse@fda.hhs.gov, 240-402-
1470)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
HABS and hypoxia can have detrimental impacts to human and animal
health, local and regional economies, and long-term national security.
In response, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control
Amendments Act of 2014 (HABHRCA) establishes a national program and
Federal interagency task force to advance the understanding of HABs and
hypoxia events, and to respond to, detect, predict, control, and
mitigate these events to the greatest extent practicable.
Section 8 of the HABHRCA requires NOAA, as the lead federal agency
of the task force and Interagency Working Group on HABHRCA (IWG-
HABHRCA), to develop and submit to Congress a plan for reducing,
mitigating, and controlling HABs and hypoxia in the Great Lakes, and
publish a summary of the plan in the Federal Register prior to
submission. The plan builds upon the Great Lakes HABs and Hypoxia
Integrated Assessment contained in ``HABs and Hypoxia Comprehensive
Research Plan and Action Strategy: An Interagency Report'', referenced
herein, and builds upon the work of the International Joint Commission
(e.g., reports entitled A Balanced Diet for Lake Erie: Reducing
Phosphorous Loadings and Harmful Algal Blooms and Human Health Effects
from Harmful Algal Blooms: a Synthesis) and the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement (e.g. Annex Four). The Plan also addresses key
aspects of Federal Activities to better understand and address HABs and
hypoxia in the Great Lakes. Those efforts include establishing HAB and
hypoxia forecast products through comprehensive monitoring integrated
with satellite coverage and modeling of coastal, and freshwater zones;
and developing and deploying lower cost, easy to use, and real-time
sensors for early detection of hypoxia and HAB cells and toxins. The
Plan further reflects significant engagement between IWG-HABHRCA
agencies and a wide variety of stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement
provides the IWG with information and perspective that enhances Federal
data collection efforts.
II. Summary of the Great Lakes Plan on Harmful Blooms and Hypoxia
The IWG-HABHRCA is producing the Great Lakes Plan on Harmful Algal
Blooms and Hypoxia: An Interagency Report (hereafter: The ``Plan''),
which will assess the current state of the science on causes and
impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and
[[Page 35748]]
hypoxia in the Great Lakes, highlight progress to date and current
challenges, and propose next actions.
An overview of the current state of science in the Plan will
discuss challenges and recommendations related to HABs and hypoxia,
addressing improving scientific understanding; prediction, modeling,
and monitoring; mitigating the causes and impacts; social science; and
engagement, communications, and outreach. Throughout, the report will
consider prevention, control, and mitigation as related to HABs and
hypoxia in the region. It will also discuss Federal progress and
successes.
Scientific Understanding: Requirements for Understanding, Verifying,
and Characterizing HABs and Hypoxia
The section on improving scientific understanding will synthesize
existing knowledge regarding bloom toxicity and the detection and
mapping of HAB and hypoxia extent. It also will review causes of HABs
and hypoxia, including the role of phosphorus and nitrogen, invasive
species, herbicides, climate change, and other environmental drivers,
as well as how these factors influence the duration and intensity of
HAB and hypoxia events. It also will review questions related to the
timing of events and causes of HAB toxicity.
Monitoring
Expanded and coordinated monitoring and data aggregation efforts,
as well as advances in monitoring technologies, can help answer
pressing questions at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The
report will discuss how scientific understanding and nutrient
mitigation strategies for HABs and hypoxia can be improved with
additional environmental monitoring. It also will discuss how
partnerships between agencies and non-Federal groups play a role in
enhancing the efficiency of monitoring efforts.
Modeling
The prediction and modeling section will discuss the methods and
technology that are being developed to provide advanced warnings of HAB
and hypoxic events, forecast recovery efforts related to nutrient
abatement, and raise awareness of HABs and hypoxia in order to reduce
risk to public health. Methods and technology discussed in the report
will include data, calibration, and validation needs related to HAB and
hypoxia models.
Impacts and Assessments
Mitigating the causes and impacts of HABs and hypoxia will
encompass best management practices (BMPs) for addressing HABs and
hypoxia, as well as BMPs during HAB and hypoxic events to minimize
potential human health and socioeconomic risk. Mitigation challenges
will include, but are not limited to, implementing new programs that
reduce nutrient inputs, along with monitoring and modeling to determine
BMP effectiveness.
Sections discussing challenges related to socioeconomics,
engagement, communications, and outreach of these issues in the region
will include information on health impacts for humans, the aquatic
ecosystem, pets, and wildlife, as well as information on cost-benefit
analyses, valuation of ecosystem services, and risk assessment. It will
also discuss how to better communicate between Federal agencies and
with non-Federal stakeholders.
Timeline and Budget
Recommendations for actions in each of the themes will be included
in the report. The specific timeline and budgetary requirements for the
deployment of future assets are subject to the availability of
appropriations.
This report will consider HAB and hypoxic events that occur
throughout the Great Lakes, such as those in Lake Erie's western basin
and Sandusky Bay, Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay, and Lake Michigan's Green
Bay. Stakeholder engagement and consultation will play a significant
role in informing the content of the report; the IWG is soliciting
input from academics, agricultural interests, industry, state and
international agencies, and other stakeholder groups. To ensure that
the Plan is technically sound and cost-effective, interagency
collaborations and other partnerships will be identified as possible
opportunities for leveraging resources, including areas of expertise,
workforce, funding, or equipment. The Plan will refer to existing
reports for information, such as the International Joint Commission's A
Balanced Diet for Lake Erie: Reducing Phosphorous Loadings and Harmful
Algal Blooms, and Annex Four of the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement. The Plan will expand upon relevant topics as they relate to
current challenges and recommendations for future efforts.
Other Information
The IWG-HABHRCA is comprised of representatives from NOAA, United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), United States Navy, National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Science Foundation
(NSF), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Park
Service (NPS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM).
Other Information
Stakeholders are invited to submit questions and provide input
related to concerns and successes pertaining to HABs and hypoxia in the
Great Lakes region. The IWG-HABHRCA continues to seek general and
technical feedback on topics including:
Regional, Great Lakes-specific priorities for:
[cir] Ecological, economic, and social research on the causes and
impacts of HABs and hypoxia;
[cir] Approaches to improving monitoring and early warnings,
scientific understanding, prediction and modeling, and socioeconomics
of these events; and
[cir] Mitigating the causes and impacts of HABs and hypoxia.
Communication and information dissemination methods that
state, tribal, local, and international governments and organizations
may undertake to educate and inform the public concerning HABs and
hypoxia in the Great Lakes; and
Perceived needs for handling Great Lakes HAB and hypoxia
events, as well as an action strategy for managing future situations.
Inquiries and comments may be submitted via email (IWG-HABHRCA@noaa.gov) or via U.S. mail to Caitlin Gould at NOAA, National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, SSMC-4, #8237, 1305 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Technical feedback in the form of
brief annotated bibliographic entries would be welcome. The Interagency
Working Group will gladly accept public input at any time; however,
only those that are received on or before May 15, 2016, will be
considered when the Interagency Working Group finalizes the plan.
Other Information
Paperwork Reduction Act: Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection
[[Page 35749]]
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Dated: May 26, 2016.
Mary C. Erickson,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-13110 Filed 6-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P
