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)

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, 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.

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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