Overview
Title
Hydrographic Services Review Panel Meeting for March 3-4, 2021
Agencies
ELI5 AI
NOAA is holding an online meeting on March 3-4, 2021, to talk about ocean maps and ways to help ships navigate safely. People can share their ideas before or during the meeting.
Summary AI
The NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) will hold a virtual public meeting on March 3-4, 2021. This meeting will discuss NOAA's navigation services, including topics like hydrographic surveys, nautical charting, and new cooperative agreements with universities. People interested in these topics can submit comments in advance or during the webinar. The meeting will accommodate special needs for people with disabilities, including sign language interpretation.
Abstract
This serves as notice of a virtual public meeting for the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) on March 3, 2021, 12:45-5:30 p.m. EST, and March 4, 2021, 1-5 p.m. EST via webinar. The HSRP agenda will be posted in advance on the website. Individuals or groups who want to comment on NOAA navigation services topics are encouraged to submit advance public comments and letters via email or via the question function in the webinar.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document is a notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) inviting the public to a virtual meeting of the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) on March 3-4, 2021. This meeting is accessible online, and attendees can comment on topics related to NOAA's navigation services, such as hydrographic surveys and nautical charting. The notice provides an opportunity for public participation and anticipates accommodating individuals with disabilities.
General Summary
NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel meeting is designed to discuss and review various aspects of its navigation services. These services include hydrographic surveys, nautical charting, and mapping innovations. The meeting will cover updates on cooperative agreements with educational institutions like the University of New Hampshire and the University of Southern Florida. The notice also invites public comments in advance, which will be shared during the meeting. Registration is required for participation, ensuring that the meeting remains organized and accessible to all interested parties.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One notable concern is the absence of detailed financial information about hosting or participating in the meeting. Transparency about any related expenses or funding allocations would enhance understanding and accountability. Additionally, the mention of specific universities may suggest preferential treatment, raising questions about how these partnerships were selected. The technical language throughout the document, such as acronyms and specialized terms, may confuse individuals without prior knowledge, potentially limiting public engagement. Finally, the document states that not all comments may be addressed due to time constraints, which could limit thorough discussion and response to public input.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the meeting represents an opportunity to engage with and influence NOAA's navigation services. These services play a critical role in ensuring safe maritime navigation and in supporting coastal resilience. However, the technical nature of the language and the potential limitation on addressing all public comments might restrict meaningful public participation.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For professionals in the maritime, coastal management, or environmental sciences sectors, the meeting is a platform to contribute insights and influence future NOAA projects. Entities like the University of New Hampshire and the University of Southern Florida might benefit from the attention to their partnership with NOAA, potentially fostering advancements in ocean mapping and technology. Conversely, stakeholders not affiliated with these universities might view the focus on specific institutions as restrictive or unfair.
Overall, the document establishes an open channel for public engagement in NOAA's navigation services, although improvements in transparency and accessibility could broaden its impact.
Issues
• The announcement does not provide detailed information on potential costs associated with hosting or participating in the virtual meeting, which could raise concerns about potential waste or unaccounted spending.
• The document promotes specific universities—University of New Hampshire and University of Southern Florida—through the mention of cooperative agreements, which might be seen as favoring particular organizations.
• The language contains several technical terms and acronyms (e.g., PORTS®, NSRS, CO-OPS) that may not be easily understood by the general public without additional explanation.
• The document could be perceived as having complex phrasing, such as 'navigation services portfolio for CO-OPS, NGS and OCS' and 'hydrographic surveying, nautical charting, tide and water level observations,' which might make it less accessible to lay readers.
• The document mentions the 'new NOAA five-year cooperative agreement with the University of Southern Florida to launch the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT),' but does not provide clear criteria or process how this university was selected, which could be a concern for fairness or transparency.
• The document indicates that all comments may not be addressed during the meeting due to time constraints, which could be seen as a limitation on public engagement or thorough consideration of public input.