(UD: 9/19/23) NOAA seeks public comments on info regular people need to make preparedness and resilience planning decisions

UPDATE 9/19/23, 1p

NOAA has announced the public comment period has been extended to October 21. And, they have added two listening sessions in October, Wednesday, October 4 and Wednesday, October 18.


Original post

NOAA is asking the public to provide feedback on the ways that the federal agency provides and engages individuals, organizations, and communities in the distribution of climate data, information, science, and tools. Collectively, this information is referred to as “climate services” for the purpose of the current request for information (RFI).

What?!!!!

NOAA wants to know what kind of information and technical support communities—particularly historically underserved, Tribal, and Indigenous communities—need to make decisions about climate preparedness, adaptation, and resilience planning.

NOAA is especially interested in “hearing from communities that it may not engage with regularly, including but not limited to”:

  • Community and city planners
  • Community organizers
  • Public health workers
  • Affordable housing advocates
  • Environmental nonprofits
  • Environmental justice groups
  • Small business owners
  • Food banks, urban and community gardens
  • Students and youth organizers
  • Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
  • Tribal and Indigenous government officials and community members
  • State and territorial governments
  • Local government (Source: Request for Information on Equitable Delivery of Climate Services, Federal Register)

Comments are due September 21, 2023.

There are several ways to comment:

  • Email: Submit written or recorded comments by email to climate.input@noaa.gov. “If submitting via email, include the title of this RFI, 'Request for Information on Equitable Delivery of Climate Services' in the subject line of the email. Attachments will be accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF, or recorded formats only, not to exceed a file size of 25 MB. If comments are submitted via recording, they must be in .mpg, mpeg, or .wav file formats. All comments submitted via email in recorded format will be transcribed.”
  • Electronic: Go to Regulations.gov, Your Voice in Federal Decision Making “and enter the title of this action, 'Request for Information on Equitable Delivery of Climate Services' in the Search box. Click the 'Comment' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Enter 'N/A' in required fields if you wish to remain anonymous.”
  • Mail: “Submit written comments to Ella Clarke, Room 58010/HCHB, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230. Include the title of this RFI, 'Request for Information on Equitable Delivery of Climate Services' in the written response.”
  • Public Listening Sessions: Equitable Climate Services Listening Session: Housing & Public Health, Thursday, September 14