83 FR 5648 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Sacramento Peak Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 27 (February 8, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 27 (February 8, 2018)
| Page Range | 5648-5648 | |
| FR Document | 2018-02488 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2018)] [Notices] [Page 5648] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-02488] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Sacramento Peak Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico 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 Sacramento Peak Observatory. This DEIS has been prepared for the NSF to evaluate the potential environmental effects of proposed operational changes due to funding constraints for the Sacramento Peak Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico. The DEIS was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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 45 days following publication of this Notice of Availability. Comments may be submitted verbally during the public meeting scheduled for February 28, 2018 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) or in writing. Substantive comments will be considered 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 ``Sacramento Peak Observatory.'' Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: Sacramento Peak 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: Michael Nivison Public Library, 90 Swallow Place, Cloudcroft, NM 88317, Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sacramento Peak Observatory is located in Sunspot, New Mexico, within the Lincoln National Forest in the Sacramento Mountains. Established by the U.S. Air Force via a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Forest Service in 1950, the facility was transferred to NSF in 1976. NSF and the U.S. Forest Service executed a land use agreement (signed in 1980) to formalize this transition and the continued use of the land for the observatory. The primary research facility in operation at the Sacramento Peak site is the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), currently managed by the National Solar Observatory (NSO). The DST is a high-spatial resolution optical/infrared solar telescope. In addition to its own operations, the Sacramento Peak Observatory supplies water for the nearby Apache Point Observatory (APO). The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Division of Astronomical Sciences, through a series of academic community-based reviews, has identified the need to divest several facilities from its portfolio in order to deliver the best performance on the emerging and key science technologies of the present decade and beyond. In 2012, NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST's) portfolio review committee, under the category of solar facilities stated that, ``AST and NSO should plan for the continued use of the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) as a world-class scientific observatory, supporting the solar physics community, to within two years of ATST [now the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, DKIST] first light.'' DKIST is being constructed in Hawai'i and is expected to begin operations in 2020. In 2016, in response to this recommendation, NSF completed a feasibility study to inform and define options for the site's future disposition that would involve significantly decreasing or eliminating NSF funding of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. NSF issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on July 5, 2016, held scoping meetings on July 21, 2016, and held a 30-day public comment period that closed on August 5, 2016. Alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS which may be refined through public input, with preliminary proposed alternatives that include the following:Continued science- and education-focused operations by interested parties with reduced NSF-funding. Transition to partial operations by interested parties with reduced NSF funding. 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 Sacramento Peak Observatory prior to issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement, and, subsequently, a Record of Decision for the Proposed Action. Public Meeting: A public meeting to address the DEIS will take place in Alamogordo, New Mexico with notification of the time and location published in the local newspapers, as follows: Public Meeting: February 28, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310, Telephone: (575) 437-2840. The meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter. 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.) Dated: February 2, 2018. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2018-02488 Filed 2-7-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
![5648 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 27 / Thursday, February 8, 2018 / Notices
ACCOMMODATIONS: A CART streamtext Email to: envcomp-AST-sacpeak@ Inouye Solar Telescope, DKIST] first
link has been arranged for this meeting. nsf.gov, with subject line ‘‘Sacramento light.’’ DKIST is being constructed in
The web link to access CART on Peak Observatory.’’ Hawai’i and is expected to begin
Thursday, March 8, 2018 is: http:// Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: operations in 2020. In 2016, in response
www.streamtext.net/player?event=NCD- Sacramento Peak Observatory, National to this recommendation, NSF completed
QUARTERLY. Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower a feasibility study to inform and define
Those who plan to attend the meeting Avenue, Suite W9152, Alexandria, VA options for the site’s future disposition
in-person and require accommodations 22314. that would involve significantly
should notify NCD as soon as possible FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For decreasing or eliminating NSF funding
to allow time to make arrangements. To further information regarding the EIS of the Sacramento Peak Observatory.
help reduce exposure to fragrances for process or Section 106 consultation, NSF issued a Notice of Intent to prepare
those with multiple chemical contact: Elizabeth Pentecost, National an EIS on July 5, 2016, held scoping
sensitivities, NCD requests that all those Science Foundation, Division of meetings on July 21, 2016, and held a
attending the meeting in person refrain Astronomical Sciences, 2415 30-day public comment period that
from wearing scented personal care Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W9152, closed on August 5, 2016.
products such as perfumes, hairsprays, Alexandria, VA 22314; Telephone: (703)
and deodorants. 292–4907; email: epenteco@nsf.gov. Alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS
DEIS Information: The DEIS, as well which may be refined through public
Dated: February 6, 2018.
as information about the public meeting, input, with preliminary proposed
Deb Cotter, alternatives that include the following:
is posted at: www.nsf.gov/AST. A copy
Executive Director.
of the DEIS will be available for review • Continued science- and education-
[FR Doc. 2018–02597 Filed 2–6–18; 11:15 am]
at the following libraries: Michael focused operations by interested parties
BILLING CODE 8421–03–P Nivison Public Library, 90 Swallow with reduced NSF-funding.
Place, Cloudcroft, NM 88317,
• Transition to partial operations by
Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon
interested parties with reduced NSF
Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION funding.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Availability and Notice of Sacramento Peak Observatory is located • Mothballing of facilities
Public Meeting for the Draft in Sunspot, New Mexico, within the (suspension of operations in a manner
Environmental Impact Statement Lincoln National Forest in the such that operations could resume
(DEIS) for the Sacramento Peak Sacramento Mountains. Established by efficiently at some future date).
Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico the U.S. Air Force via a memorandum • Demolition and site restoration.
of agreement with the U.S. Forest • No-Action Alternative: continued
AGENCY: National Science Foundation. Service in 1950, the facility was
NSF investment for science-focused
ACTION: Notice of availability and notice transferred to NSF in 1976. NSF and the
operations.
of public meeting. U.S. Forest Service executed a land use
agreement (signed in 1980) to formalize No final decisions will be made
SUMMARY: The National Science this transition and the continued use of regarding the proposed changes to
Foundation (NSF) has made available the land for the observatory. The operations at Sacramento Peak
for public review and comment the primary research facility in operation at Observatory prior to issuance of a Final
Draft Environmental Impact Statement the Sacramento Peak site is the Richard Environmental Impact Statement, and,
(DEIS) for Sacramento Peak B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), subsequently, a Record of Decision for
Observatory. This DEIS has been currently managed by the National Solar the Proposed Action.
prepared for the NSF to evaluate the Observatory (NSO). The DST is a high- Public Meeting: A public meeting to
potential environmental effects of spatial resolution optical/infrared solar address the DEIS will take place in
proposed operational changes due to telescope. In addition to its own
funding constraints for the Sacramento Alamogordo, New Mexico with
operations, the Sacramento Peak notification of the time and location
Peak Observatory in Sunspot, New Observatory supplies water for the
Mexico. The DEIS was prepared in published in the local newspapers, as
nearby Apache Point Observatory follows:
compliance with the National (APO).
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of • Public Meeting: February 28, 2018,
The NSF Directorate for Mathematical
1969. Consultation under Section 106 of and Physical Sciences, Division of at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., New Mexico
the National Historic Preservation Act Astronomical Sciences, through a series Museum of Space History, 3198 State
(NHPA) is being conducted concurrent of academic community-based reviews, Route 2001, Alamogordo, New Mexico
with the NEPA process. has identified the need to divest several 88310, Telephone: (575) 437–2840.
DATES: NSF will accept comments on facilities from its portfolio in order to The meeting will be transcribed by a
the DEIS for 45 days following deliver the best performance on the court reporter. Please contact NSF at
publication of this Notice of emerging and key science technologies least one week in advance of the
Availability. Comments may be of the present decade and beyond. In meeting if you would like to request
submitted verbally during the public 2012, NSF’s Division of Astronomical special accommodations (i.e., sign
meeting scheduled for February 28, Sciences (AST’s) portfolio review language interpretation, etc.)
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
2018 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY committee, under the category of solar
INFORMATION) or in writing. Substantive Dated: February 2, 2018.
facilities stated that, ‘‘AST and NSO
comments will be considered in a Final should plan for the continued use of the Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) as a world- Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
ADDRESSES: You may submit written class scientific observatory, supporting Foundation.
comments by either of the following the solar physics community, to within [FR Doc. 2018–02488 Filed 2–7–18; 8:45 am]
methods: two years of ATST [now the Daniel K. BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Feb 07, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08FEN1.SGM 08FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_5675/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-08 00:16:08
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 00:16:08
| 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 meeting. | |
| Dates | NSF will accept comments on the DEIS for 45 days following publication of this Notice of Availability. Comments may be submitted verbally during the public meeting scheduled for February 28, 2018 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) or in writing. Substantive comments will be considered in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). | |
| 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] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 5648 |
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