Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 172 / Thursday, September 7, 2023 / Notices 61529 

responses from the public, including 

key stakeholders from the private sector 

(i.e., industry, including start-ups and 

SMEs, academic community, and civil 

society organizations), standards 

developing organizations (SDOs), and 

international partners. The questions 

reflect the four Objectives in the USG 

NSSCET. However, the questions are 

not intended to limit the topics that may 

be addressed. Responses may include 

any topic believed to have implications 

for the implementation of the USG 

NSSCET. 

When responding, commenters may 

address the practices of their 

organization(s) or a group of 

organizations with which they are 

familiar. Commenters may also provide 

information about the type, size, and 

location of the organization(s). Provision 

of such information is optional and will 

not affect NIST’s consideration. 

General Questions 

1. Are there potential benefits, 

opportunities, or risks associated with 

increased U.S. participation in 

standards development activities for 

CET? 

2. What are the potential risks or 

implications of decreased U.S. 

participation in standards development 

activities for CET? 

3. What are the most important 

challenges faced by the private sector 

(i.e., industry, including start-ups and 

small- and medium-sized enterprises 

(SMEs), academic community, and civil 

society organizations) when 

participating in standards development 

activities for CET, and how can these 

challenges be addressed? 

USG NSSCET Objective 1: Investment 

4. How can the U.S. Government 

establish policies that promote 

standards development for CET as a 

critical component of U.S. innovation 

culture? 

5. How can the U.S. Government 

utilize Federal spending on research 

and development to drive technical 

contributions for CET standards 

development activities? 

6. How can the U.S. Government 

facilitate the adoption of standardsbased CET by industry stakeholders, 

including start-ups and small- and 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? 

7. How can the U.S. Government 

better support publicly funded and 

private research in standards 

development activities for CET? 

USG NSSCET Objective 2: Participation 

8. How can the U.S. Government 

increase the amount and consistency of 

private sector (i.e., industry, including 

start-ups and small- and medium-sized 

enterprises (SMEs), academic 

community, and civil society 

organizations) engagement in standards 

development activities for CET? 

9. How can the U.S. Government 

improve communications among the 

public and private sector (i.e., industry, 

including start-ups and small- and 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 

academic community, and civil society 

organizations) to address potential 

participation gaps in standards 

development activities for CET? 

10. How can the U.S. Government 

foster early collaboration with private 

sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups 

and small- and medium-sized 

enterprises (SMEs), academic 

community, and civil society 

organizations) stakeholders to identify 

standards for CET that would encourage 

market and regulatory acceptance as 

needed? At what stage is early 

collaboration most effective? 

11. What roles do the academic 

community and civil society 

organizations play in standards 

development activities for CET, and 

how can they increase their 

contributions to a private sector-led 

system? 

12. How can the U.S. Government 

better support state, local, and tribal 

governments in participating in 

standards development activities for 

CET? 

USG NSSCET Objective 3: Workforce 

13. How can the U.S. Government 

leverage existing or develop new digital 

tools and resources that facilitate access 

to standards development processes, 

and increase engagement by private 

sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups 

and small- and medium-sized 

enterprises (SMEs), academic 

community, and civil society 

organizations) CET stakeholders? 

14. How can the U.S. Government 

incentivize the modification of existing 

curricula and/or the creation of new 

curricula, to include faculty 

professional development, by 

educational institutions for pedagogy to 

support standards development 

activities for CET? 

15. What standards development 

activities for CET can U.S. government 

and private sector (i.e., industry, 

including start-ups and small- and 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 

academic community, and civil society 

organizations) stakeholders promote or 

develop to encourage increased 

participation by students and trainees? 

16. How can the U.S. Government 

support both private sector and public 

sector recognition for standards 

development expertise and how can this 

recognition be utilized to increase 

standards development activities for 

CET? 

USG NSSCET Objective 4: Integrity and 

Inclusivity 

17. How can the U.S. Government 

work with private sector (i.e., industry, 

including start-ups and small- and 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 

academic community, and civil society 

organizations) stakeholders to more 

effectively coordinate with international 

partners and reinforce private sector-led 

standards development activities for 

CET? 

18. How should the U.S. Government 

share information on standards 

development activities for CET with 

like-minded partners and allies? 

19. What standards information and 

tools can the U.S. government develop 

and promote to ensure U.S. exporters 

can compete in global markets for CET? 

20. How can the U.S. Government 

further advance the design and 

implementation of technical assistance 

programs for CET that enable broad and 

inclusive participation by developing 

countries in international SDOs? 

21. How can the U.S. Government 

work with international partners to 

ensure that standards for CET are 

developed in a way that supports U.S. 

interests, including a commitment to 

free and fair market competition in 

which the best technologies come to 

market? 

22. How can the U.S. Government 

make the United States a more desirable 

location to hold international standards 

meetings, events, and activities for CET? 

Alicia Chambers, 

NIST Executive Secretariat. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19245 Filed 9–6–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD161] 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Hearings; Correction 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of correction to public 

hearings and webinars. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold two virtual/webinar public 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
61530 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 172 / Thursday, September 7, 2023 / Notices 

hearings to solicit public comments on 

Joint Amendment with the Gulf and 

South Atlantic Council’s to Address 

Electronic Reporting for Commercial 

Vessels participating in the coastal 

logbook program. 

DATES: The public hearings will take 

place Monday, September 18, 2023 at 10 

a.m., EDT and Tuesday, September 19,

2023 at 6 p.m., EDT and will conclude

no later than 3 hours after the start time

of each webinar. For specific dates and

times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Written public comments must be

received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on

October 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please visit the Gulf Council 

website at www.gulfcouncil.org for 

meeting materials and webinar 

registration information. If you prefer to 

‘‘listen in’’, you may access the log-on 

information by visiting our website at 

www.gulfcouncil.org. 

Meeting addresses: The public 

hearings will be held virtual/webinars. 

For specific locations, see 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

Public comments: Comments may be 

submitted online through the Council’s 

public portal by visiting 

www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on 

‘‘CONTACT US’’. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Emily Muehlstein; Public Information 

Officer; emily.muehlstein@

gulfcouncil.org, Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council; telephone: (813) 

348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

original notice published in the Federal 

Register on July 31, 2023 (88 FR 49451). 

The hearings were scheduled for August 

29th and 30th. The hearing dates had to 

be changed due to a hurricane. 

The agenda for the following three 

webinar public hearings are as follows: 

Council and NOAA staff will begin with 

a presentation on the proposed 

management change addressed in the 

Amendment Addressing Electronic 

Reporting for Commercial Vessels. The 

Gulf and South Atlantic Councils are 

currently considering requiring federal 

commercial permit holders to submit 

commercial coastal logbooks 

electronically, rather than mailing paper 

logbooks. This amendment would 

impact commercial Reef Fish and 

Coastal Migratory Pelagic permit 

holders in the Gulf of Mexico and 

commercial Snapper/Grouper and 

Dolphin/Wahoo permit holders in the 

South Atlantic. 

Staff and a Council member will be 

available to answer any questions, and 

the public will have the opportunity to 

provide testimony on the amendment 

and other related testimony at the end 

of each public hearing webinar. 

Webinars: 

Tuesday, September 18, 2023; webinar 

to begin at 10 a.m., EDT. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2023; 

webinar to begin at 6 p.m., EDT. 

Visit www.gulfcouncil.org website and 

click on the ‘‘meetings’’ tab for 

registration information. After 

registering, you will receive a 

confirmation email containing 

information about joining the webinar. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: August 31, 2023. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19270 Filed 9–6–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD182] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Columbia East 

Lateral XPRESS Project 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental 

harassment authorization; request for 

comments on proposed authorization 

and possible renewal. 

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request 

from TC Energy Columbia Gulf 

Transmission, LLC for authorization to 

take marine mammals incidental to the 

East Lateral XPRESS Project in Barataria 

Bay, Louisiana. Pursuant to the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS 

is requesting comments on its proposal 

to issue an incidental harassment 

authorization (IHA) to incidentally take 

marine mammals during the specified 

activities. NMFS is also requesting 

comments on a possible one-time, oneyear renewal that could be issued under 

certain circumstances and if all 

requirements are met, as described in 

Request for Public Comments at the end 

of this notice. NMFS will consider 

public comments prior to making any 

final decision on the issuance of the 

requested MMPA authorization and 

agency responses will be summarized in 

the final notice of our decision. 

DATES: Comments and information must 

be received no later than October 10, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be 

addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, 

Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service and should be 

submitted via email to 

ITP.StevenTucker@noaa.gov. 

Instructions: NMFS is not responsible 

for comments sent by any other method, 

to any other address or individual, or 

received after the end of the comment 

period. Comments, including all 

attachments, must not exceed a 25- 

megabyte file size. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted online at 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizations-oil-andgas without change. All personal 

identifying information (e.g., name, 

address) voluntarily submitted by the 

commenter may be publicly accessible. 

Do not submit confidential business 

information or otherwise sensitive or 

protected information. 

Electronic copies of the application 

and supporting documents, as well as a 

list of the references cited in this 

document, may be obtained online at: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizations-oil-andgas. In case of problems accessing these 

documents, please call the contact listed 

below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steven Tucker, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of 

marine mammals, with certain 

exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and 

(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce

(as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon

request, the incidental, but not

intentional, taking of small numbers of

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who

engage in a specified activity (other than

commercial fishing) within a specified

geographical region if certain findings

are made and either regulations are

proposed or, if the taking is limited to

harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA

is provided to the public for review.

Authorization for incidental takings 

shall be granted if NMFS finds that the 

taking will have a negligible impact on 

the species or stock(s) and will not have 

an unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the species or stock(s) for 

taking for subsistence uses (where 

relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe 

the permissible methods of taking and 

other ‘‘means of effecting the least 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1