Request for Comment; Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, 64446 [2020-22411]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 64446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22411]



[[Page 64446]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Request for Comment; Implementation Plan for the National 
Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United 
States Exclusive Economic Zone

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).

ACTION: Notice of public comment.

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SUMMARY: On behalf of the Ocean Policy Committee, Ocean Science and 
Technology Subcommittee, and the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) as Co-
Chairs of the Ocean Policy Committee, the National Ocean Mapping, 
Exploration, and Characterization Council (NOMEC Council) requests 
input from all interested parties on the development of an 
Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, 
Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone 
(U.S. EEZ) (``National Strategy''). Through this Request for 
Information (RFI), the NOMEC Council seeks input from the public on 
engaging stakeholders in developing the Implementation Plan for the 
National Strategy, and the processes that will ensure implementation is 
informed by and responsive to all sectors through sustained engagement 
and effective partnerships.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 30, 2020 November 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the National Strategy may be downloaded or viewed 
at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200611-FINAL-STRATEGY-NOMEC-Sec.-2.pdf. Responses should be submitted via 
email to [email protected]. Include ``Public Comment on 
Implementation Plan for the National Strategy'' in the subject line of 
the message. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive 
information submitted voluntarily by the sender is publicly accessible. 
NOAA will accept anonymous comments. Clearly indicate which section and 
page number, if applicable, submitted comments pertain to. All 
submissions must be in English. Please note that the U.S. Government 
will not pay for responsible preparation, or for the use of any 
information contained in the response.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need 
not reply to all questions listed. For all submissions, clearly 
indicate which questions are being answered. Email attachments will be 
accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF formats only. Each 
individual or institution is requested to submit only one response. 
OSTP may post responses to this RFI, without change, on a Federal 
website. NOAA, therefore, requests that no business proprietary 
information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable 
information be submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the 
U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use 
of any information contained in the response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, 
and Characterization (NOMEC) Council Co-Chairs; Dr. Alan Leonardi, 
NOAA, [email protected], 301-734-1016; RDML Shepard Smith, NOAA, 
[email protected], 202-510-5561; Dr. John Haines, USGS, 
[email protected], 703-648-6422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Presidential Memorandum, Ocean 
Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline 
and Nearshore of Alaska, 84 FR 64699 (Nov. 19, 2020), the National 
Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council (NOMEC 
Council), on behalf of the Director of the OSTP and the Chairman of the 
CEQ, in their capacity as Co-Chairs of the Ocean Policy Committee, and 
working through its Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee and in 
coordination with the Administrator of NOAA, seek public input and 
information for development of an Implementation Plan for the National 
Strategy. The NOMEC Council has commenced development of the 
Implementation Plan and is soliciting public input through this RFI to 
obtain information from a wide range of stakeholders, including 
academia, private industry, and other relevant organizations and 
institutions to provide input on stakeholder engagement in developing 
and executing the Implementation Plan. The public input provided in 
response to this RFI will inform the NOMEC Council as it continues to 
develop the Implementation Plan.

Questions To Inform Development of the Implementation Plan

    Through this RFI, the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and 
Characterization Council seeks responses to the following questions to 
inform development of an Implementation Plan for the National Strategy 
on Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization that is responsive 
to cross-sector requirements and engages all interested sectors in the 
implementation.
    1. What does successful implementation look like to your 
organization, sector, or interest group? How do you anticipate your 
organization or sector will participate in the NOMEC implementation?
    2. What specific implementation actions would be of value to your 
organization/sector?
    3. How should the Council appropriately engage your organization 
and/or sector in developing an implementation plan? How should we 
engage your organization to get ongoing feedback throughout 
implementation?
    4. What activities is your organization currently undertaking, has 
recently undertaken, or is planning that may support or benefit from 
NOMEC implementation? What processes and connections would be required 
to realize those opportunities?
    5. What publicly accessible databases and archives does your 
organization offer that may house data relevant to NOMEC?
    6. Who are the additional partners that are needed to effectively 
plan and execute a successful NOMEC program in the future, as well as 
those that can help disseminate information from this work to various 
audiences? How could Federal agencies more effectively engage these 
partners? If there are barriers to this cooperation, please describe. 
Please do not only limit your responses to organizations that are 
traditionally involved in this work, but also think how we can engage 
other groups that can make important contributions.

    Dated: September 24, 2020.
David Holst,
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-22411 Filed 10-9-20; 8:45 am]
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