82_FR_52093 82 FR 51878 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Green Bank Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia

82 FR 51878 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Green Bank Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 215 (November 8, 2017)

Page Range51878-51879
FR Document2017-24322

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made available for public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Green Bank Observatory. This DEIS has been prepared for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts resulting from proposed operational changes due to funding constraints for the Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. 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 with the NEPA process.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51878-51879]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24322]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Green Bank Observatory, 
Green Bank, West Virginia

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made available for 
public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for Green Bank Observatory. This DEIS has been prepared for the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts resulting from proposed operational changes due 
to funding constraints for the Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, 
West Virginia. 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 
with the NEPA process.

DATES: NSF will accept comments on the DEIS for 60 days following 
publication of this Notice of Availability; an additional 15 days are 
being provided beyond the standard 45-day review period to allow for 
the holidays). Comments may be submitted verbally during the public 
meeting scheduled for November 30, 2017 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION) or in writing until January 8th, 2018. Substantive 
comments will be addressed in a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS).

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following 
methods:
     Email to: [email protected], with subject line 
``Green Bank Observatory''.
     Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: Green Bank Observatory, 
National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W9152, 
Alexandria, VA 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
EIS process or Section 106 consultation, contact: Elizabeth Pentecost, 
National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, 2415 
Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W9152, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: (703) 
292-4907; email: [email protected].
    DEIS Information: The DEIS, as well as information about the public 
meeting, is posted at www.nsf.gov/AST. A copy of the DEIS will be 
available for review at the following libraries: Green Bank Public 
Library, 5683 Potomac Highlands Trail, Green Bank, WV 24944, Durbin 
Community Library, 4361 Staunton Parkersburg Turnpike, Durbin, WV 
26264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is located in 
Pocahontas County, West Virginia, adjacent to the Monongahela National 
Forest. NSF owns the GBO land, which consists of numerous parcels 
acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, when GBO was 
formed as the first (and then, only) site of the National Radio 
Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). The GBO facilities include the Robert C. 
Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the largest fully steerable radio telescope 
in the world; the 43-meter Telescope; the Green Bank Solar Radio Burst 
Spectrometer; the 20-meter Geodetic Telescope; the 40-foot Telescope; 
the Interferometer Range; and previously operational telescopes.
    The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 
Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST), through a series of academic 
community-based reviews, has identified the need to divest several 
facilities from its portfolio. This would allow NSF to retain the 
balance of capabilities needed to deliver the best performance on 
emerging and key science technology of the present decade and beyond. 
In 2012,

[[Page 51879]]

AST's portfolio review committee recommended divestment of the Green 
Bank Telescope (GBT) from the AST portfolio, stating the following: 
``The GBT is the world's most sensitive single-dish radio telescope at 
wavelengths shorter than 10 cm; however, its capabilities are not as 
critical to New World New Horizons [astronomy and astrophysics decadal 
survey] science goals as the higher-ranked facilities.'' In response to 
these 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 
Green Bank Observatory. NSF issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS 
on October 19, 2016, held scoping meetings on November 9, 2016, and 
held a 30-day public comment period that closed on November 25, 2016.
    Alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS, which may be refined 
through public input, include the following:
     Collaboration with interested parties for continued 
science- and education-focused operations with reduced NSF funding 
(Agency-preferred Alternative).
     Collaboration with interested parties for operation as a 
technology and education park.
     Mothballing of facilities (suspension of operations in a 
manner such that operations could resume efficiently at some future 
date).
     Demolition and site restoration.
     No-Action Alternative: Continued NSF investment for 
science-focused operations.
    No final decisions will be made regarding the proposed changes to 
operations at Green Bank Observatory prior to issuance of an FEIS, and, 
subsequently, a Record of Decision for the Proposed Action.
    Public Meeting: A public meeting to address the DEIS and to solicit 
public input under Section 106 of the NHPA will take place in Green 
Bank with notification of the time and location published in the local 
newspapers, as follows:
     Public meeting: November 30, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 
p.m.

Green Bank Science Center
155 Observatory Road
Green Bank, WV 24915
Telephone: (304) 456-2011

    The meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter.

    Dated: November 3, 2017.
 Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-24322 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P



                                               51878                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices

                                               Pollution Prevention and Control Act                        To submit                                                 holidays). Comments may be submitted
                                                                                                                                   Send them to:
                                               (‘‘Colorado Act’’), Colorado’s federally                    comments:                                                 verbally during the public meeting
                                               approved State Implementation Plan                                                                                    scheduled for November 30, 2017 (see
                                               (‘‘Colorado SIP’’), and Colorado Air                        By mail ...........     Assistant Attorney General,       details in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION)
                                               Quality Control Commission Regulation                                                 U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O.             or in writing until January 8th, 2018.
                                                                                                                                     Box 7611, Washington,
                                               Number 7 (‘‘Regulation No. 7’’) at tank                                                                               Substantive comments will be
                                                                                                                                     D.C. 20044–7611.
                                               batteries (referred to in the consent                                                                                 addressed in a Final Environmental
                                               decree as ‘‘Tank Systems’’) owned and                         During the public comment period,                       Impact Statement (FEIS).
                                               operated by PDC Energy, Inc. (‘‘PDC’’) in                   the consent decree may be examined                        ADDRESSES: You may submit written
                                               a portion of the Denver-Julesburg Basin                     and downloaded at this Justice                            comments by either of the following
                                               in Colorado (known as the ‘‘8-hour                          Department Web site: https://                             methods:
                                               Ozone Control Area’’) designated as                         www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.                        • Email to: envcomp-AST-
                                               non-attainment with the National                            We will provide a paper copy of the                       greenbank@nsf.gov, with subject line
                                               Ambient Air Quality Standards for                           consent decree upon written request                       ‘‘Green Bank Observatory’’.
                                               ground-level ozone. The violations                          and payment of reproduction costs.                           • Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE:
                                               relate to alleged failures to adequately                                                                              Green Bank Observatory, National
                                                                                                           Please mail your request and payment
                                               design, operate, and maintain vapor                                                                                   Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower
                                                                                                           to: Consent Decree Library, U.S. DOJ—
                                               control systems at the Tank Systems,                                                                                  Avenue, Suite W9152, Alexandria, VA
                                                                                                           ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC
                                               resulting in emissions of volatile organic                                                                            22314.
                                                                                                           20044–7611.
                                               compounds (‘‘VOC’’) and other                                 Please enclose a check or money order                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                               pollutants to the atmosphere.                               for $25.25 (25 cents per page                             further information regarding the EIS
                                                  The proposed consent decree covers                       reproduction cost) payable to the United                  process or Section 106 consultation,
                                               PDC’s Tank Systems in the 8-hour                            States Treasury.                                          contact: Elizabeth Pentecost, National
                                               Ozone Control Area equipped with                                                                                      Science Foundation, Division of
                                               vapor control systems pursuant to                           Jeffrey Sands,                                            Astronomical Sciences, 2415
                                               Regulation No. 7 to achieve required                        Assistant Section Chief, Environmental                    Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W9152,
                                               system-wide emission reductions (more                       Enforcement Section, Environment and                      Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: (703)
                                               than 600 Tank Systems). The proposed                        Natural Resources Division.
                                                                                                                                                                     292–4907; email: epenteco@nsf.gov.
                                               decree requires PDC to perform                              [FR Doc. 2017–24250 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am]                  DEIS Information: The DEIS, as well
                                               injunctive relief, including conducting                     BILLING CODE 4410–15–P                                    as information about the public meeting,
                                               engineering evaluations of the vapor                                                                                  is posted at www.nsf.gov/AST. A copy
                                               control systems at each of the Tank                                                                                   of the DEIS will be available for review
                                               Systems and completing any necessary                        NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION                               at the following libraries: Green Bank
                                               corrective actions to ensure that the                                                                                 Public Library, 5683 Potomac Highlands
                                               vapor control systems are adequately                        Notice of Availability and Notice of                      Trail, Green Bank, WV 24944, Durbin
                                               designed and sized. PDC must also                           Public Meeting for the Draft                              Community Library, 4361 Staunton
                                               complete two environmental mitigation                       Environmental Impact Statement                            Parkersburg Turnpike, Durbin, WV
                                               projects at a cost of $1.7 million and pay                  (DEIS) for the Green Bank                                 26264.
                                               a $2.5 million civil penalty, $1 million                    Observatory, Green Bank, West
                                                                                                                                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Green
                                               of which is anticipated to be used to                       Virginia
                                                                                                                                                                     Bank Observatory (GBO) is located in
                                               perform one or more State-Only                              AGENCY:  National Science Foundation.                     Pocahontas County, West Virginia,
                                               Supplemental Environmental Projects.                                                                                  adjacent to the Monongahela National
                                                                                                           ACTION: Notice of availability and notice
                                               Entering into and fully complying with                                                                                Forest. NSF owns the GBO land, which
                                                                                                           of public meeting.
                                               the proposed consent decree will release                                                                              consists of numerous parcels acquired
                                               PDC from past civil liability at the Tank                   SUMMARY:   The National Science                           by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
                                               Systems and associated vapor control                        Foundation (NSF) has made available                       the 1950s, when GBO was formed as the
                                               systems for violations of the Colorado                      for public review and comment the                         first (and then, only) site of the National
                                               SIP and Regulation No. 7 relating to                        Draft Environmental Impact Statement                      Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).
                                               VOC emissions from condensate storage                       (DEIS) for Green Bank Observatory. This                   The GBO facilities include the Robert C.
                                               tanks.                                                      DEIS has been prepared for the National                   Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the largest
                                                  The publication of this notice opens                     Science Foundation (NSF) to evaluate                      fully steerable radio telescope in the
                                               a period for public comment on the                          the potential environmental impacts                       world; the 43-meter Telescope; the
                                               consent decree. Comments should be                          resulting from proposed operational                       Green Bank Solar Radio Burst
                                               addressed to the Assistant Attorney                         changes due to funding constraints for                    Spectrometer; the 20-meter Geodetic
                                               General, Environment and Natural                            the Green Bank Observatory in Green                       Telescope; the 40-foot Telescope; the
                                               Resources Division, and should refer to                     Bank, West Virginia. The DEIS was                         Interferometer Range; and previously
                                               United States, et al. v. PDC Energy, Inc.,                  prepared in compliance with the                           operational telescopes.
                                               D.J. Ref. No. 90–5–2–1–11467. All                           National Environmental Policy Act of                         The NSF Directorate for Mathematical
                                               comments must be submitted no later                         1969. Consultation under Section 106 of                   and Physical Sciences, Division of
                                               than thirty (30) days after the                             the National Historic Preservation Act                    Astronomical Sciences (AST), through a
                                               publication date of this notice.                            (NHPA) is being conducted concurrent                      series of academic community-based
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               Comments may be submitted either by                         with the NEPA process.                                    reviews, has identified the need to
                                               email or by mail:                                           DATES: NSF will accept comments on                        divest several facilities from its
                                                                                                           the DEIS for 60 days following                            portfolio. This would allow NSF to
                                               To submit
                                               comments:              Send them to:                        publication of this Notice of                             retain the balance of capabilities needed
                                                                                                           Availability; an additional 15 days are                   to deliver the best performance on
                                               By email .........     pubcomment-ees.enrd@                 being provided beyond the standard 45-                    emerging and key science technology of
                                                                        usdoj.gov.                         day review period to allow for the                        the present decade and beyond. In 2012,


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014       17:26 Nov 07, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00078       Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM   08NON1


                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices                                            51879

                                               AST’s portfolio review committee                          Dated: November 3, 2017.                            document referenced (if it is available in
                                               recommended divestment of the Green                     Suzanne H. Plimpton,                                  ADAMS) is provided the first time that
                                               Bank Telescope (GBT) from the AST                       Reports Clearance Officer, National Science           it is mentioned. The RG 1.12 is available
                                               portfolio, stating the following: ‘‘The                 Foundation.                                           in ADAMS under Accession No.
                                               GBT is the world’s most sensitive                       [FR Doc. 2017–24322 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am]           ML17094A831.
                                               single-dish radio telescope at                          BILLING CODE 7555–01–P                                   • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                               wavelengths shorter than 10 cm;                                                                               purchase copies of public documents at
                                               however, its capabilities are not as                                                                          the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                               critical to New World New Horizons                      NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                    White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                               [astronomy and astrophysics decadal                     COMMISSION                                            Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                               survey] science goals as the higher-                                                                             Regulatory guides are not
                                               ranked facilities.’’ In response to these               [NRC–2016–0201]
                                                                                                                                                             copyrighted, and NRC approval is not
                                               recommendations, in 2016, NSF                                                                                 required to reproduce them.
                                                                                                       Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation
                                               completed a feasibility study to inform
                                                                                                       for Earthquakes                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               and define options for the Observatory’s
                                               future disposition that would involve                                                                         Sarah Tabatabai, Office of Nuclear
                                                                                                       AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory
                                               significantly decreasing or eliminating                                                                       Regulatory Research, telephone: 301–
                                                                                                       Commission.
                                               NSF funding of Green Bank                                                                                     415–2982, email: Sarah.Tabatabai@
                                                                                                       ACTION: Regulatory guide, issuance.
                                               Observatory. NSF issued a Notice of                                                                           nrc.gov; Vladimir Graizer, Office of New
                                               Intent to prepare an EIS on October 19,                 SUMMARY:   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                Reactors, telephone 301–415–0675,
                                               2016, held scoping meetings on                          Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 3                email: Vladimir.Graizer@nrc.gov, and
                                               November 9, 2016, and held a 30-day                     of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.12, ‘‘Nuclear              Edward O’Donnell, Office of Nuclear
                                               public comment period that closed on                    Power Plant Instrumentation for                       Regulatory Research, telephone: 301–
                                               November 25, 2016.                                      Earthquakes.’’ This revision to the guide             415–3317, email: Edward.ODonnell@
                                                                                                       addresses new reactor plant                           nrc.gov. All are staff members of the
                                                  Alternatives to be evaluated in the                                                                        U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
                                               EIS, which may be refined through                       configurations and the state of practice
                                                                                                       of seismic instrumentation since                      Washington, DC 20555–0001.
                                               public input, include the following:
                                                                                                       Revision 2 of RG 1.12 in 1997. The                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  • Collaboration with interested                      revision describes the seismic
                                               parties for continued science- and                                                                            I. Discussion
                                                                                                       instrumentation criteria, including
                                               education-focused operations with                       instrumentation type, locations,                         The NRC is issuing a revision to an
                                               reduced NSF funding (Agency-preferred                   characteristics, and maintenance, that                existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory
                                               Alternative).                                           the NRC staff considers acceptable for                Guide’’ series. This series was
                                                  • Collaboration with interested                      nuclear power plants.                                 developed to describe and make
                                               parties for operation as a technology and               DATES: Revision 3 to RG 1.12 is available             available to the public information
                                               education park.                                         on November 8, 2017.                                  regarding methods that are acceptable to
                                                  • Mothballing of facilities                          ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID                  the NRC staff for implementing specific
                                               (suspension of operations in a manner                   NRC–2016–0201 when contacting the                     parts of the agency’s regulations,
                                               such that operations could resume                       NRC about the availability of                         techniques that the NRC staff uses in
                                               efficiently at some future date).                       information regarding this document.                  evaluating specific issues or postulated
                                                  • Demolition and site restoration.                   You may obtain publicly-available                     events, and data that the NRC staff
                                                                                                       information related to this document                  needs in its review of applications for
                                                  • No-Action Alternative: Continued                                                                         permits and licenses.
                                               NSF investment for science-focused                      using any of the following methods:
                                               operations.                                                • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to                  Revision 3 of RG 1.12 was issued with
                                                                                                       http://www.regulations.gov and search                 a temporary identification of draft
                                                  No final decisions will be made                      for Docket ID NRC–2016–0201. Address                  Regulatory Guide, DG–1332. The NRC
                                               regarding the proposed changes to                       questions about NRC dockets to Carol                  revised the guide to incorporate
                                               operations at Green Bank Observatory                    Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;                   advances in seismic instrumentation
                                               prior to issuance of an FEIS, and,                      email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For                   and operating experience since the
                                               subsequently, a Record of Decision for                  technical questions, contact the                      issuance of Revision 2 of RG 1.12 in
                                               the Proposed Action.                                    individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER                 1997. The revision describes the seismic
                                                  Public Meeting: A public meeting to                  INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                   instrumentation criteria, including
                                               address the DEIS and to solicit public                  document.                                             instrumentation type, locations,
                                               input under Section 106 of the NHPA                        • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                       characteristics, and maintenance, that
                                               will take place in Green Bank with                      Access and Management System                          the NRC staff considers acceptable for
                                               notification of the time and location                   (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-                     nuclear power plants.
                                               published in the local newspapers, as                   available documents online in the
                                                                                                                                                             II. Additional Information
                                               follows:                                                ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                                  • Public meeting: November 30, 2017,                 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                          The NRC published a notice of the
                                               at 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.                               adams.html. To begin the search, select               availability of DG–1332 in the Federal
                                                                                                       ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                   Register on September 21, 2016 (81 FR
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               Green Bank Science Center                               select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                        64954), for a 60-day public comment
                                               155 Observatory Road                                    Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                    period. The public comment period
                                               Green Bank, WV 24915                                    please contact the NRC’s Public                       closed on November 21, 2016. Public
                                                                                                       Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                comments on DG–1332 and the staff
                                               Telephone: (304) 456–2011
                                                                                                       1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                   responses to the public comments are
                                                 The meeting will be transcribed by a                  email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The                    available under ADAMS under
                                               court reporter.                                         ADAMS accession number for each                       Accession No. ML17095A314.


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:26 Nov 07, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00079   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM   08NON1



Document Created: 2017-11-08 01:20:22
Document Modified: 2017-11-08 01:20:22
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability and notice of public meeting.
DatesNSF will accept comments on the DEIS for 60 days following publication of this Notice of Availability; an additional 15 days are being provided beyond the standard 45-day review period to allow for the holidays). Comments may be submitted verbally during the public meeting scheduled for November 30, 2017 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) or in writing until January 8th, 2018. Substantive
ContactFor further information regarding the EIS process or Section 106 consultation, contact: Elizabeth Pentecost, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W9152, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: (703) 292-4907; email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 51878 

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR