Notice2024-30026
Request for Information; Data for Marine Spatial Studies Related to Transmission Planning in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 18, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
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) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is working to build on existing spatial planning capacity in the United States (U.S.) Gulf of Mexico region. Through this Request for Information, NOAA is seeking public input to identify coastal and marine spatial data or other critical information to inform spatial analyses for transmission planning in state and Federal waters off Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. 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 U.S. Gulf of Mexico region, such as renewable energy development.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102866-102867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30026]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Request for Information; Data for Marine Spatial Studies Related
to Transmission Planning in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
AGENCY: National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) and the Department of Energy
(DOE) Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL), is working to build on existing spatial planning
capacity in the United States (U.S.) Gulf of Mexico region. Through
this Request for Information, NOAA is seeking public input to identify
coastal and marine spatial data or other critical information to inform
spatial analyses for transmission planning in state and Federal waters
off Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. 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 U.S. Gulf of Mexico region, such as
renewable energy development.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to provide input in response to
this Request for Information through January 24, 2025. Late-filed input
will be considered to the extent practicable.
Verbal input will be accepted during a public meeting to be held at
the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14-15,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to provide input using one of
the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit electronic written public
comments via the Federal e- Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NOAA-NOS-2024-0138 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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).
<bullet> Verbal submission: NOAA will accept verbal input at a data
development workshop. The meeting will be held at the InterContinental
Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) and Wednesday, January 15,
2025 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. There will be a registration window
from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. CST each day before the start of the meeting.
Advanced registration is required for the meeting by completing the
registration form at <a href="https://forms.gle/BmTDiD5zV3ZuXHuN8">https://forms.gle/BmTDiD5zV3ZuXHuN8</a> or by
providing an RSVP to Joshua Chastain at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a707569726f7b3479727b696e7b73745a74757b7b347d756c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96fcf9e5fee3f7b8f5fef7e5e2f7fff8d6f8f9f7f7b8f1f9e0">[email protected]</span></a>. The
registration deadline is Friday, January 3, 2025.
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 Joshua Chastain at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#274d48544f524609444f465453464e49674948464609404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="204a4f534855410e434841535441494e604e4f41410e474f56">[email protected]</span></a> or
(843) 267-5641 for alternative submission methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Morris, NOAA NCCOS, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#791318141c0a5714160b0b100a3917161818571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="355f545850461b585a47475c46755b5a54541b525a43">[email protected]</span></a> 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 U.S. Gulf of Mexico region 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 U.S. Gulf of Mexico 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
(BOEM) to support siting and environmental review for offshore wind
energy areas in U.S. Federal waters (<a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy</a>) to ensure protection of trust resources in any offshore
development activities.
II. Purpose of This Request for Information
The purpose of this Request for Information is to promote data
development to inform coastal and marine spatial studies related to
transmission planning in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama,
with an emphasis on data needs for offshore wind and transmission
planning. In addition to input received from the public through the
electronic and verbal 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, metocean, natural, cultural, and social
resources), 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
Related to Transmission Planning in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama
Through this Request for Information, NOAA seeks written public
input to inform coastal and marine spatial studies related to
transmission planning in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico region. NOAA is
particularly interested in
[[Page 102867]]
receiving input concerning the items listed below. Responses to this
Request for Information 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 coastal and marine
spatial studies.
Major concerns you have related to use of any specific datasets
that may be used in coastal and marine spatial studies.
2. Major concerns you have related to gaps in scientific knowledge
or data that could impact coastal and marine spatial planning efforts.
3. Specific data or information you recommend NOAA or other
partners collect, if it is not currently available or has not been
previously collected.
4. 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.
5. Ways in which NOAA can build upon existing capacity and
resources for regional ocean spatial planning.
Sean Corson,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-30026 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 18, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.