[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 2884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-917]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of the Availability of a Record of Decision Following a 
Final Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision following a 
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Comprehensive Environmental 
Evaluation (FEIS/FCEE) for activities proposed to be undertaken in 
Antarctica.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation gives notice of the 
availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Comprehensive 
Environmental Evaluation (FEIS/FCEE) for activities proposed to be 
undertaken in Antarctica.
    The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has decided to proceed with the 
construction and operation of a high-energy neutrino telescope to be 
located at the Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole, Antarctica. Given 
the United States Antarctic Program's (USAP) mission to support polar 
research, the proposed action will result in a telescope that has been 
specifically designed to detect a wide diversity of high-energy 
neutrinos of astrophysical origin. In reaching this decision, the 
Director of the Office of Polar Programs has considered the potential 
environmental impacts addressed in the Project IceCube EIS/CEE. The 
Director has also considered input from Antarctic Treaty nations and 
the public pertaining to the EIS/CEE for Project IceCube.
    Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 2403a, the National Science Foundation has 
prepared this Record of Decision following the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement/Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Project 
IceCube, Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole, Antarctica.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Record of Decision are available upon request 
from: Dr. Polly A. Penhale, National Science Foundation, Office of 
Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 755, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Telephone: (703) 292-8033.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Availability of the draft EIS/
CEE was published in the Federal Register. Via a Web site link, the 
draft Project IceCube EIS/CEE was made available for review to all 
interested parities including Antarctic Treaty nations, international 
and U.S. Federal agencies, research institutions, private 
organizations, and individuals. Comments were received and considered 
as described in Appendix E of the environmental document and include 
comments from the Australian Antarctic Division, German Federal 
Environmental Agency, Antarctica New Zealand, and Antarctic Treaty 
Consultative Meeting (ATCM)/Council on Environmental Protection (CEP). 
The National Science Foundation has made the Final EIS/CEE for the 
operation of a high-energy neutrino telescope (Project IceCube) at the 
South Pole available on the Internet at: http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/treaty/cees/icecube/icecube_final_cee.pdf.

Polly A. Penhale,
Environmental Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science 
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-917 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M