82 FR 61038 - Agency Notice of Record of Decision for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 246 (December 26, 2017)

Page Range		61038-61039
FR Document		2017-27723

On November 15, 2017, the National Science Foundation (NSF) signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This important step concludes the agency's decision-making process with respect to the general path forward for facility operations in a budget-constrained environment, and provides the basis for a future decision regarding a new collaborator.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61038-61039]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27723]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Notice of Record of Decision for the Arecibo Observatory 
in Puerto Rico

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision.

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

SUMMARY: On November 15, 2017, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto 
Rico. This important step concludes the agency's decision-making 
process with respect to the general path forward for facility 
operations in a budget-constrained environment, and provides the basis 
for a future decision regarding a new collaborator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth A. Pentecost, Project 
Administrator, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical 
Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Room W 9152, Alexandria, VA 22314. 
Telephone: 703-292-4907, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  NSF issued its ROD following authorization 
from the National Science Board on November 9, 2017. The ROD was 
preceded by an extensive environmental impact analysis and broad input 
from the public and the scientific community, including the National 
Academies 6th Decadal Survey released in 2010, the NSF Division of 
Astronomical Sciences Portfolio Review Committee Reportreleased in 
2012, and the NSF Geospace Sciences Portfolio Review Committee Report 
released in 2016.
    The ROD formalizes the selection of NSF's Preferred Alternative: 
collaboration with interested parties to maintain science-focused 
operations at the Observatory with reduced agency funding. The 
selection of this Alternative will allow important research to continue 
while accommodating the agency's budgetary constraints and its core 
mission to

[[Page 61039]]

support cutting-edge science and education.
    NSF remains deeply concerned about the impacts from recent 
hurricanes on Arecibo Observatory staff, the facility, and all citizens 
of Puerto Rico. The ROD arrives at a challenging time, but is necessary 
for the agency to secure a future for the Observatory, as it will allow 
negotiations to begin with potential collaborators who may take over 
management and operations as NSF funding is reduced.
    Prior to issuance of the ROD, a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) was prepared in compliance with the Federal National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. (NEPA), dated July 
27, 2017, and availability of it was noticed in the Federal Register on 
August 4, 2017. As detailed in the FEIS, five Action Alternatives and a 
No-Action Alternative, were considered for the proposed change in 
operations of Arecibo Observatory. These Alternatives include:

     Alternative 1: Collaboration with Interested Parties for 
Continued Science-focused Operations (Agency-preferred Alternative)
     Alternative 2: Collaboration with Interested Parties for 
Transition to Education-focused Operations
     Alternative 3: Mothballing of Facilities
     Alternative 4: Partial Demolition and Site Restoration
     Alternative 5: Complete Demolition and Site Restoration
     No-Action Alternative: Continued NSF Investment for 
Science-focused Operations
    The Preferred Alternative, which is also the environmentally 
preferable action alternative, was selected in the ROD. The ROD also 
reflected NSF's consideration of the outcomes of its compliance 
obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
and the Endangered Species Act.
    The ROD is now available in both English and Spanish on the 
internet at: https://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/env_impact_reviews/env_rev_arecibo.jsp in Adobe[supreg] portable document format (PDF). 
Limited hard copies of the ROD are also available, on a first request 
basis, by contacting the NSF contact, Elizabeth A. Pentecost, Project 
Administrator, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical 
Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Room W 9152, Alexandria, VA 22314, 
Telephone: 703-292-4907, Email: [email protected].

    Dated: December 20, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-27723 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

61038 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

countries are Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Archives and Records Administration additional accommodations (e.g., a
Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia. The (NARA). transcript), email foia-advisory-committee@
Board reselected these countries based nara.gov or call 202–741–5770. Members of
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
on their continued or improved policy the media who wish to register, those who
Committee Meeting. are unable to register online, and those who
performance since their prior selection. require special accommodations, should
Lesotho, which had originally been SUMMARY: We are announcing the
contact Amy Bennett at the phone number,
selected for compact assistance for FY following committee meeting of the
mailing address, or email address listed
2014, received vote deferrals for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) above.
reselection in FY 2016 and FY 2017. Advisory Committee.
Due to positive actions taken by the DATES: The meeting will be held on Patrice Little Murray,
Government of Lesotho this year, the January 16, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to Committee Management Officer.
Board has once again selected the 1:00 p.m. EDT. You must register for the [FR Doc. 2017–27681 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
country for compact assistance for FY meeting by 5:00 p.m. EDT on January BILLING CODE 7515–01–P
2018. 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: National Archives and
Countries Selected To Receive Records Administration, 700
Threshold Program Assistance Pennsylvania Avenue NW, William G. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The Board selected The Gambia to McGowan Theater, Washington, DC Agency Notice of Record of Decision
receive threshold program assistance. 20408. for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto
The Gambia: The Gambia offers MCC FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rico
the opportunity to support the Amy Bennett, Designated Federal
government as it continues its Officer for this committee, by mail at AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
democratic transition following the National Archives and Records ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision.
inauguration of its new president in Administration, Office of Government
early 2017 and successful legislative Information Services, 8601 Adelphi SUMMARY: On November 15, 2017, the
elections in April 2017. While it has Road—OGIS, College Park, MD 20740– National Science Foundation (NSF)
historically struggled to pass the MCC 6001, by telephone at 202–741–5770, or signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for
scorecard due to its performance on the by email at foia-advisory-committee@ the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
democratic rights hard hurdle, the nara.gov. This important step concludes the
recent transition and reforms being agency’s decision-making process with
pursued suggest the country will see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We respect to the general path forward for
strong improvements on these announce this advisory committee facility operations in a budget-
indicators in the coming years. The meeting in accordance with the Federal constrained environment, and provides
Gambia meets 12 of 20 indicators Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) the basis for a future decision regarding
overall on the scorecard and and the second United States Open a new collaborator.
demonstrates good performance on the Government National Action Plan FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
control of corruption indicator. (NAP) released on December 5, 2013. Elizabeth A. Pentecost, Project
Agenda and meeting materials: You
Ongoing Review of Partner Countries’ Administrator, National Science
may find all meeting materials at
Policy Performance Foundation, Division of Astronomical
https://ogis.archives.gov/foia-advisory-
Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue,
The Board emphasized the need for committee/2016-2018-term/
Room W 9152, Alexandria, VA 22314.
all partner countries to maintain or Meetings.htm. This will be the seventh
Telephone: 703–292–4907, Email:
improve their policy performance. If it meeting of the second committee term.
epenteco@nsf.gov.
is determined during compact The purpose of this meeting will be to
review the work of the committee’s SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NSF
implementation that a country has issued its ROD following authorization
demonstrated a significant policy three subcommittees. Information on
them is at https://ogis.archives.gov/foia- from the National Science Board on
reversal, MCC can hold it accountable November 9, 2017. The ROD was
by applying MCC’s Suspension and advisory-committee/2016-2018-term/
Subcommittees.htm. preceded by an extensive environmental
Termination Policy.4 impact analysis and broad input from
Procedures: The meeting is open to
[FR Doc. 2017–27876 Filed 12–21–17; 4:15 pm] the public and the scientific
the public. Due to security
BILLING CODE 9211–03–P requirements, you must register in community, including the National
advance if you wish to attend the Academies 6th Decadal Survey released
meeting. You will also go through in 2010, the NSF Division of
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS security screening when you enter the Astronomical Sciences Portfolio Review
ADMINISTRATION building. Registration for the meeting Committee Reportreleased in 2012, and
will go live via Eventbrite on December the NSF Geospace Sciences Portfolio
Office of Government Information 19, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. To register Review Committee Report released in
Services for the meeting, please do so at this 2016.
Eventbrite link: https:// The ROD formalizes the selection of
[NARA–2018–011] NSF’s Preferred Alternative:
www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-of-
information-act-foia-advisory- collaboration with interested parties to
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
committee-meeting-january-16-2018- maintain science-focused operations at
Advisory Committee
registration-37728051618. the Observatory with reduced agency
AGENCY: Office of Government funding. The selection of this
This program will be live-streamed on the
Information Services (OGIS), National U.S. National Archives’ YouTube channel at Alternative will allow important
https://www.youtube.com/user/ research to continue while
4 Available at https://www.mcc.gov/resources/ usnationalarchives/playlists. The webcast accommodating the agency’s budgetary
doc/policy-on-suspension-and-termination. will include a captioning option. To request constraints and its core mission to

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices 61039

support cutting-edge science and Dated: December 20, 2017. Week of January 15, 2018—Tentative
education. Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Thursday, January 18, 2018
NSF remains deeply concerned about Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
the impacts from recent hurricanes on Foundation. 9:00 a.m. Strategic Programmatic
Arecibo Observatory staff, the facility, [FR Doc. 2017–27723 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am] Overview of the Decommissioning
and all citizens of Puerto Rico. The ROD BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
and Low-Level Waste and Spent Fuel
arrives at a challenging time, but is Storage and Transportation Business
necessary for the agency to secure a Lines (Public Meeting) (Contact:
future for the Observatory, as it will NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Damaris Marcano: 301–415–7328)
allow negotiations to begin with This meeting will be webcast live at
potential collaborators who may take Notice of Permits Issued Under the the Web address—http://www.nrc.gov/.
over management and operations as Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978
Week of January 22, 2018—Tentative
NSF funding is reduced. AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
Prior to issuance of the ROD, a Final Tuesday, January 23, 2018
ACTION: Notice of permit issued.
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 9:00 a.m. Hearing on Construction
was prepared in compliance with the SUMMARY: The National Science Permit for Northwest Medical
Federal National Environmental Policy Foundation (NSF) is required to publish Isotopes Production Facility: Section
Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. (NEPA), notice of permits issued under the 189a of the Atomic Energy Act
dated July 27, 2017, and availability of Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. Proceeding (Public Meeting) (Contact:
it was noticed in the Federal Register This is the required notice. Michael Balazik: 301–415–2856)
on August 4, 2017. As detailed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This meeting will be webcast live at
FEIS, five Action Alternatives and a No- Nature McGinn, ACA Permit Officer, the Web address—http://www.nrc.gov/.
Action Alternative, were considered for Office of Polar Programs, National
the proposed change in operations of Thursday, January 25, 2018
Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower
Arecibo Observatory. These Alternatives Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703– 10:00 a.m. Strategic Programmatic
include: 292–8030; email: ACApermits@nsf.gov. Overview of the New Reactors
• Alternative 1: Collaboration with SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Business Line (Public Meeting)
Interested Parties for Continued November 16, 2017, the National (Contact: Donna Williams: 301–415–
Science-focused Operations (Agency- Science Foundation published a notice 1322)
preferred Alternative) in the Federal Register of a permit This meeting will be webcast live at
• Alternative 2: Collaboration with application received. The permit was the Web address—http://www.nrc.gov/.
Interested Parties for Transition to issued on December 18, 2017 to: Week of January 29, 2018—Tentative
Education-focused Operations 1. Kasey Stewart, Permit No. 2018–
026. There are no meetings scheduled for
• Alternative 3: Mothballing of the week of January 29, 2018.
Facilities Nadene G. Kennedy,
* * * * *
• Alternative 4: Partial Demolition Polar Coordination Specialist, Office of Polar The schedule for Commission
and Site Restoration Programs.
meetings is subject to change on short
• Alternative 5: Complete Demolition [FR Doc. 2017–27721 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am] notice. For more information or to verify
and Site Restoration BILLING CODE 7555–01–P the status of meetings, contact Denise
• No-Action Alternative: Continued McGovern at 301–415–0681 or via email
NSF Investment for Science-focused at Denise.McGovern@nrc.gov.
Operations * * * * *
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
The Preferred Alternative, which is The NRC Commission Meeting
COMMISSION
also the environmentally preferable Schedule can be found on the internet
action alternative, was selected in the at: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/
[NRC–2017–0001] public-meetings/schedule.html.
ROD. The ROD also reflected NSF’s
consideration of the outcomes of its Sunshine Act Meeting Notice * * * * *
compliance obligations under Section The NRC provides reasonable
106 of the National Historic DATE: Weeks of December 25, 2017, accommodation to individuals with
Preservation Act and the Endangered January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2018. disabilities where appropriate. If you
Species Act. PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference need a reasonable accommodation to
The ROD is now available in both Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, participate in these public meetings, or
English and Spanish on the internet at: Maryland. need this meeting notice or the
https://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/env_ transcript or other information from the
STATUS: Public and Closed.
impact_reviews/env_rev_arecibo.jsp in public meetings in another format (e.g.,
Adobe® portable document format Week of December 25, 2017 braille, large print), please notify
(PDF). Limited hard copies of the ROD There are no meetings scheduled for Kimberly Meyer, NRC Disability
are also available, on a first request the week of December 25, 2017. Program Manager, at 301–287–0739, by
basis, by contacting the NSF contact, videophone at 240–428–3217, or by
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

Elizabeth A. Pentecost, Project Week of January 1, 2018—Tentative email at Kimberly.Meyer-Chambers@
Administrator, National Science There are no meetings scheduled for nrc.gov. Determinations on requests for
Foundation, Division of Astronomical the week of January 1, 2018. reasonable accommodation will be
Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, made on a case-by-case basis.
Room W 9152, Alexandria, VA 22314, Week of January 8, 2018—Tentative * * * * *
Telephone: 703–292–4907, Email: There are no meetings scheduled for Members of the public may request to
epenteco@nsf.gov. the week of January 8, 2018. receive this information electronically.

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Document Created: 2017-12-23 03:07:44
Document Modified: 2017-12-23 03:07:44

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 Record of Decision.
Contact		Elizabeth A. Pentecost, Project Administrator, National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Room W 9152, Alexandria, VA 22314. Telephone: 703-292-4907, Email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 61038