National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

AGENCY:

U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION:

Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a virtual meeting of the U. S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) 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 June 27, 2022, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Written public comments should be received by the Designated Federal Official by June 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held virtually. To register for the meeting and/or submit public comments, use this link https://forms.gle/GyvZMzBmyqxPJ47q9 or email Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov. 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 krisa.arzayus@noaa.gov 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 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 and other appropriate matters as the Under Secretary refers 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 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 on, 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) a briefing on the IOOS Strategic Plan refresh and an opportunity for the committee to provide feedback and (2) updates on the committee work plan. 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 June 21, 2022, to provide sufficient time for Committee review. Written comments received after June 21, 2022, 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/GyvZMzBmyqxPJ47q9 or email your comments, your name as it appears on your driver's license, and the organization/company affiliation you represent to Laura Gewain, Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov.

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 ( Krisa.Arzayus@noaa.gov ) or to Laura Gewain ( Laura.Gewain@noaa.gov ) by June 13, 2022.