NOAA Fisheries just opened a 45 day public comment period (September 21 through November 8) for user feedback to help improve the usability of our optional User Spreadsheet tool and User Manual associated with the 2018 revision of the Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-59). We issued an updated optional User Spreadsheet tool with additional capabilities for applicants and a new companion User Manual for the optional Spreadsheet tool that provides detailed instructions and examples with the 2018 revision of the Technical Guidance in June 2018. We are now seeking comment on how we can further refine the User Manual to aid in the application and implementation of the 2018 Revised Technical Guidance. Input from stakeholders provided during this public comment period will inform future versions of the User Manual and the associated optional User Spreadsheet tool. Please note we are only soliciting comments on the User Manual and associated optional User Spreadsheet tool. This public comment period is not to solicit comments on the 2018 Revised Technical Guidance. The 2018 Revision to the Technical Guidance (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-59), the updated optional User Spreadsheet tool, and the new companion User Manual are available in electronic form via the Internet at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mamm... . Public comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov: www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0100 Thank you for your interest in the Technical Guidance. For more information, please contact Amy Scholik-Schlomer (amy.scholik@noaa.gov or 301 427-8449). *Amy R. Scholik-Schlomer, Ph.D.* Fishery Biologist (Protected Resources Acoustic Coordinator) NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division 1315 East-West Hwy. SSMC3, Rm. 13605 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 427-8449 Email: *Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov <Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov>* https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-sound-ocean