The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is conducting a public review of the draft Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS provides a means of classifying ecological and habitat units using a common terminology. It provides a uniform protocol for identifying, characterizing and naming ecological units in support of monitoring, protection, and restoration of unique biotic assemblages, protected species, critical habitat, and important ecosystem components. The FGDC Coastal and Marine Spatial Data Subcommittee, chaired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), developed this draft standard. The FGDC Coordination Group, comprised of representatives of Federal agencies, approved releasing this draft standard for public review at its July 20, 2010 meeting. The FGDC invites all stakeholders in coastal and marine ecology and management to comment on this standard to ensure that the standard meets their needs.

The draft Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard may be downloaded at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/cmecs/CMECS_doc.pdf. Comments shall be submitted online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/22G2S67. Comments that concern specific issues/changes/additions may result in revisions to the draft Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard. Reviewers may obtain information about how comments were addressed upon request. After formal endorsement of the standard by the FGDC, the standard and a summary analysis of the changes will be made available to the public on the FGDC Web site.

Comments on the draft Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard must be submitted no later than Monday, December 13, 2010.

For more information about CMECS and the public review of CMECS, see the Federal Register notice.

Ms. Julie Binder Maitra, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Geographic Data Committee, jmaitra@fgdc.gov, 703-648- 4627.