81 FR 75165 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 209 (October 28, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 209 (October 28, 2016)
| Page Range | 75165-75166 | |
| FR Document | 2016-26061 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 209 (Friday, October 28, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 75165-75166] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-26061] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico AGENCY: National Science Foundation. ACTION: Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made available for public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Arecibo Observatory. This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of proposed operational changes due to funding constraints for the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The DEIS was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) is being conducted concurrent to the NEPA process. DATES: NSF will accept comments on the DEIS for 45 days following publication of this Notice of Availability. Comments may be submitted verbally during public meetings scheduled for November 16-17 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more details) or in writing. Substantive comments will be addressed in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:Email to: [email protected] with subject line ``Arecibo Observatory'' Mail to: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: Arecibo Observatory, National Science Foundation, Suite 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230. EIS Information: The DEIS, as well as information about the public meetings, is posted at www.nsf.gov/AST. A Spanish translation of the Executive Summary of the DEIS will be posted to the Web site. A copy of the DEIS will be available for review at the following libraries in Puerto Rico: Biblioteca Electr[oacute]nica P[uacute]blica Municipal Nicol[aacute]s Nadal Barreto, 210 Calle Santiago Iglesias, Arecibo, PR, Phone: (787) 878-1178 Archivo General y Biblioteca Nacional de PR, 500 Avenida Juan Ponce De Le[oacute]n, San Juan, PR, Phone: (787) 725-1060 ext. 2001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the EIS [[Page 75166]] process or Section 106 consultation, please contact: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, Suite 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292-4907; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Arecibo Observatory is an NSF-owned scientific research and education facility located in Puerto Rico. In 2011, NSF awarded a Cooperative Agreement to SRI International (SRI), which together with Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and Universidad Metropolitana (UMET) formed the Arecibo Management Team to operate and maintain the Arecibo Observatory for the benefit of research communities. The initial 5-year period of performance of the Cooperative Agreement has recently been extended 18 months, to 31 March 2018. Arecibo Observatory enables research in three scientific disciplines: Space and atmospheric sciences, radio astronomy, and solar system radar studies; the last of these is largely funded through a research award to USRA from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. An education and public outreach program complements the Arecibo Observatory scientific program. A key component of the Arecibo Observatory research facility is a 305-meter diameter, fixed, spherical reflector. Arecibo Observatory infrastructure includes instrumentation for radio and radar astronomy, ionospheric physics, office and laboratory buildings, a heavily utilized visitor and education facility, and lodging facilities for visiting scientists. Through a series of academic community-based reviews, NSF has identified the need to divest of several facilities from its portfolio in order to retain the balance of capabilities needed to deliver the best performance on the key science of the present decade and beyond. In 2012, NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences' (AST's) portfolio review committee recommended that ``continued AST involvement in Arecibo . . . be re-evaluated later in the decade in light of the science opportunities and budget forecasts at that time. In 2016, NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences' (AGS') portfolio review committee recommended significantly decreasing funding for the Space and Atmospheric Sciences portion of the Arecibo mission. In response to these evolving recommendations, in 2016, NSF completed a feasibility study to inform and define options for the observatory's future disposition that would involve significantly decreasing or eliminating NSF funding of Arecibo. Concurrently, NSF sought viable concepts of operations from the scientific community via a Dear Colleague Letter NSF 16-005 (see www.nsf.gov/AST), with responses due in January 2016. NSF issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on May 23, 2016, held scoping meetings on June 7, 2016 and held a 30-day public comment period that closed on June 23, 2016. In October 2016, NSF issued Dear Colleague Letter NSF 16-144 (see www.nsf.gov/AST) to notify the Observatory stakeholder community that NSF intends to issue a follow-up solicitation, requesting the submission of formal proposals involving the continued operation of Arecibo Observatory. The intent of this solicitation will be to input additional information into the decision process for the ultimate disposition of Arecibo Observatory. Proposed Alternatives to be analyzed in the DEIS include: Continued NSF investment for science-focused operations (No-Action Alternative). Collaboration with interested parties for continued science-focused operations (Agency Preferred Alternative). Collaboration with interested parties for transition to education-focused operations. Mothballing of facilities (suspension of operations in a manner such that operations could resume efficiently at some future date). Partial deconstruction and site restoration. Full deconstruction and site restoration. No final decisions will be made regarding the proposed changes to operations at Arecibo Observatory prior to issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and, subsequently, a Record of Decision for the Proposed Action. Public Meetings: Public meetings to address the DEIS will take place in Puerto Rico with notification of the times and locations published in the local newspapers, as follows: (1) Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors (Arecibo Chapter), Ave. Manuel T. Guillan Urdaz, Conector 129 Carr. 10, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Phone: (787) 758-2250, November 16, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (2) Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San Juan, 105 Avenida De Diego, San Juan, PR, Phone: (787) 721-6500, November 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The meetings will be transcribed by a court reporter. Spanish language translation will be provided. Please contact NSF at least one week in advance of the meeting if you would like to request special accommodations (i.e., sign language interpretation, etc.). A separate consultation meeting, pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA, will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San Juan, 105 Avenida De Diego, San Juan, PR on November 17, 2016, beginning one hour after the public meeting on the DEIS. All persons and entities that are consulting parties or are interested in becoming consulting parties are invited to attend. Spanish language translation will also be provided for this meeting. Dated: October 24, 2016. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2016-26061 Filed 10-27-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 209 / Friday, October 28, 2016 / Notices 75165
(OMB) provide interested Federal rates of pay, rules, or working NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
agencies and the public an early conditions, and (5) to provide for the
opportunity to comment on information prompt and orderly settlement of all Notice of Availability and Notice of
collection requests. OMB may amend or disputes growing out of grievances or Public Meetings for the Draft
waive the requirement for public out of the interpretation or application Environmental Impact Statement
consultation to the extent that public of agreements concerning rates of pay, (DEIS) for the Arecibo Observatory,
participation in the approval process rules, or working conditions. In Arecibo, Puerto Rico
would defeat the purpose of the fulfilling its role to administer the Act, AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
information collection, violate State or the National Mediation Board offers the
Federal law, or substantially interfere ACTION: Notice of Availability and
parties to disputes mediation and Notice of Public Meetings.
with any agency’s ability to perform its arbitration services. On a voluntary
statutory obligations. The Assistant basis, training programs in Alternative SUMMARY: The National Science
Chief of Staff, Administration publishes Foundation (NSF) has made available
Dispute Resolution (ADR) and
that notice containing proposed for public review and comment the
facilitation services are also available.
information collection requests prior to Draft Environmental Impact Statement
submission of these requests to OMB. These ADR programs are designed to
enhance the bargaining and grievance (DEIS) for Arecibo Observatory. This
Each proposed information collection Draft Environmental Impact Statement
contains the following: (1) Type of handling skill level of the disputants
and to assist the parties in the resolution (DEIS) has been prepared for the
review requested, e.g. new, revision National Science Foundation (NSF) to
extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) of disputes. The impact of these ADR
programs is that mediation and evaluate the potential environmental
Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) effects of proposed operational changes
Description of the need for, and arbitration can be avoided entirely or
the scope and number of issues brought due to funding constraints for the
proposed use of, the information; (5) Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto
Respondents and frequency of to mediation or arbitration is
Rico. The DEIS was prepared in
collection; and (6) Reporting and/or significantly reduced. This collection is
compliance with the National
Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites necessary to confirm the voluntary Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
public comment. participation of the parties in the ADR Consultation under Section 106 of the
Currently, the National Mediation process. The information provided by National Historic Preservation Act
Board is soliciting comments the parties is used by the NMB to (NHPA) is being conducted concurrent
concerning the proposed extension of schedule the parties for ADR training to the NEPA process.
the Application for Alternative Dispute and facilitation. Based on a recent DATES: NSF will accept comments on
Resolution (ADR) Services and is survey of those who participated in the
interested in public comment the DEIS for 45 days following
NMB’s ADR Programs, 94.6% said they publication of this Notice of
addressing the following issues: (1) Is were satisfied with the ADR Programs
this collection necessary to the proper Availability. Comments may be
and said they recommend the program submitted verbally during public
functions of the agency; (2) will this for all negotiators. Collecting the brief
information be processed and used in a meetings scheduled for November 16–
information on the Application for ADR 17 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
timely manner; (3) is the estimate of
Services form allows the parties to more details) or in writing. Substantive
burden accurate; (4) how might the
voluntarily engage the services of the comments will be addressed in a Final
agency enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be NMB in the orderly settlement of all Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
collected; and (5) how might the agency disputes and fulfill the purposes of the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
minimize the burden of this collection Act. by either of the following methods:
on the respondents, including through Requests for copies of the proposed • Email to: envcomp-AST@nsf.gov
the use of information technology. information collection request may be with subject line ‘‘Arecibo Observatory’’
accessed from www.nmb.gov or should • Mail to: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost,
Dated: October 25, 2016.
be addressed to Denise Murdock, NMB, RE: Arecibo Observatory, National
Samantha Jones,
1301 K Street NW., Suite 250 E, Science Foundation, Suite 1045, 4201
Assistant Chief of Staff, Administration, Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.
National Mediation Board. Washington, DC 20005 or addressed to
the email address murdock@nmb.gov or EIS Information: The DEIS, as well as
A. Application for ADR Services faxed to 202–692–5081. Please specify information about the public meetings,
is posted at www.nsf.gov/AST. A
Type of Review: Extension. the complete title of the information
Spanish translation of the Executive
Title: Application for ADR Services. collection when making your request.
Frequency: On occasion. Summary of the DEIS will be posted to
Comments regarding burden and/or the Web site.
Affected Public: Union Officials and the collection activity requirements
Officials of Railroads and Airlines. A copy of the DEIS will be available
should be directed to Samantha Jones at for review at the following libraries in
Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour
202–692–5010 or via Internet address Puerto Rico:
Burden: Responses: Estimate about 45
annually. jones@nmb.gov. Individuals who use a Biblioteca Electrónica Pública
Burden Hours: 9. telecommunications device for the deaf Municipal Nicolás Nadal Barreto, 210
Abstract: The Railway Labor Act, 45 (TDD/TDY) may call the Federal Calle Santiago Iglesias, Arecibo, PR,
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
U.S.C., 151a. General Purposes, Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– Phone: (787) 878–1178
provides that the purposes of the Act are 800–877–8339. Archivo General y Biblioteca Nacional
(1) to avoid any interruption to [FR Doc. 2016–26115 Filed 10–27–16; 8:45 am] de PR, 500 Avenida Juan Ponce De
commerce or to the operation of any BILLING CODE 7550–01–P
León, San Juan, PR, Phone: (787) 725–
carrier engaged therein. * * * (4) to 1060 ext. 2001
provide for the prompt and orderly FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
settlement of all disputes concerning further information regarding the EIS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 27, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00140 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM 28OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_75374/page/1.svg)
![75166 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 209 / Friday, October 28, 2016 / Notices
process or Section 106 consultation, or eliminating NSF funding of Arecibo. The meetings will be transcribed by a
please contact: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, Concurrently, NSF sought viable court reporter. Spanish language
National Science Foundation, Division concepts of operations from the translation will be provided. Please
of Astronomical Sciences, Suite 1045, scientific community via a Dear contact NSF at least one week in
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA Colleague Letter NSF 16–005 (see advance of the meeting if you would
22230; telephone: (703) 292–4907; www.nsf.gov/AST), with responses due like to request special accommodations
email: epenteco@nsf.gov. in January 2016. NSF issued a Notice of (i.e., sign language interpretation, etc.).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Intent to prepare an EIS on May 23, A separate consultation meeting,
Arecibo Observatory is an NSF-owned 2016, held scoping meetings on June 7, pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA,
scientific research and education facility 2016 and held a 30-day public comment will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
located in Puerto Rico. In 2011, NSF period that closed on June 23, 2016. In at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San
awarded a Cooperative Agreement to October 2016, NSF issued Dear Juan, 105 Avenida De Diego, San Juan,
SRI International (SRI), which together Colleague Letter NSF 16–144 (see PR on November 17, 2016, beginning
with Universities Space Research www.nsf.gov/AST) to notify the one hour after the public meeting on the
Association (USRA) and Universidad Observatory stakeholder community DEIS. All persons and entities that are
Metropolitana (UMET) formed the that NSF intends to issue a follow-up consulting parties or are interested in
Arecibo Management Team to operate solicitation, requesting the submission becoming consulting parties are invited
and maintain the Arecibo Observatory of formal proposals involving the to attend. Spanish language translation
for the benefit of research communities. continued operation of Arecibo will also be provided for this meeting.
The initial 5-year period of performance Observatory. The intent of this Dated: October 24, 2016.
of the Cooperative Agreement has solicitation will be to input additional
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
recently been extended 18 months, to 31 information into the decision process
for the ultimate disposition of Arecibo Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
March 2018. Arecibo Observatory Foundation.
enables research in three scientific Observatory.
[FR Doc. 2016–26061 Filed 10–27–16; 8:45 am]
disciplines: Space and atmospheric Proposed Alternatives to be analyzed
in the DEIS include: BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
sciences, radio astronomy, and solar
system radar studies; the last of these is • Continued NSF investment for
largely funded through a research award science-focused operations (No-Action
to USRA from the National Aeronautics Alternative).
• Collaboration with interested NUCLEAR REGULATORY
and Space Administration. An COMMISSION
education and public outreach program parties for continued science-focused
complements the Arecibo Observatory operations (Agency Preferred
scientific program. A key component of Alternative). [NRC–2016–0001]
the Arecibo Observatory research • Collaboration with interested
parties for transition to education- Sunshine Act Meeting Notice
facility is a 305-meter diameter, fixed,
spherical reflector. Arecibo Observatory focused operations. Date: October 31, November 7, 14, 21,
infrastructure includes instrumentation • Mothballing of facilities 28, December 5, 2016.
for radio and radar astronomy, (suspension of operations in a manner Place: Commissioners’ Conference
ionospheric physics, office and such that operations could resume Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
laboratory buildings, a heavily utilized efficiently at some future date). Maryland.
visitor and education facility, and • Partial deconstruction and site
Status: Public and Closed.
lodging facilities for visiting scientists. restoration.
Through a series of academic • Full deconstruction and site Week of October 31, 2016
community-based reviews, NSF has restoration.
Friday, November 4, 2016
identified the need to divest of several No final decisions will be made
facilities from its portfolio in order to regarding the proposed changes to 10:00 a.m. Briefing on Security Issues
retain the balance of capabilities needed operations at Arecibo Observatory prior (Closed Ex. 1)
to deliver the best performance on the to issuance of a Final Environmental
Week of November 7, 2016—Tentative
key science of the present decade and Impact Statement and, subsequently, a
beyond. In 2012, NSF’s Division of Record of Decision for the Proposed There are no meetings scheduled for
Astronomical Sciences’ (AST’s) Action. the week of November 7, 2016.
portfolio review committee Public Meetings: Public meetings to
Week of November 14, 2016—Tentative
recommended that ‘‘continued AST address the DEIS will take place in
involvement in Arecibo . . . be re- Puerto Rico with notification of the There are no meetings scheduled for
evaluated later in the decade in light of times and locations published in the the week of November 14, 2016.
the science opportunities and budget local newspapers, as follows:
Week of November 21, 2016—Tentative
forecasts at that time. In 2016, NSF’s (1) Colegio de Ingenieros y
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Agrimensores de Puerto Rico/Puerto There are no meetings scheduled for
Sciences’ (AGS’) portfolio review Rico Professional College of Engineers the week of November 21, 2016.
committee recommended significantly and Land Surveyors (Arecibo Chapter),
Week of November 28, 2016—Tentative
decreasing funding for the Space and Ave. Manuel T. Guillan Urdaz, Conector
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Atmospheric Sciences portion of the 129 Carr. 10, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Arecibo mission. In response to these Phone: (787) 758–2250, November 16,
9:00 a.m. Briefing on Uranium Recovery
evolving recommendations, in 2016, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(Public Meeting) (Contact: Samantha
NSF completed a feasibility study to (2) Doubletree by Hilton Hotel San
Crane: 301–415–6380)
inform and define options for the Juan, 105 Avenida De Diego, San Juan,
observatory’s future disposition that PR, Phone: (787) 721–6500, November This meeting will be webcast live at
would involve significantly decreasing 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the Web address—http://www.nrc.gov/.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 27, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00141 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM 28OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_75374/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:40:11
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:40:11
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings. | |
| Dates | NSF will accept comments on the DEIS for 45 days following publication of this Notice of Availability. Comments may be submitted verbally during public meetings scheduled for November 16-17 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more details) or in writing. Substantive | |
| Contact | For further information regarding the EIS process or Section 106 consultation, please contact: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, Suite 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292-4907; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 75165 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR