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 ( DFO.orap@noaa.gov) 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.

89 FR 31734