[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43062-43064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15349]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Initiate Section 106 Consultation for a Potential National Science 
Foundation Investment in the Construction and Operation of an Extremely 
Large Telescope Located in the Northern Hemisphere and Notice of Public 
Scoping Meetings and Comment Period

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, the National Science Foundation (NSF) intends to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate 
environmental effects of an NSF investment in the construction and 
operation of an Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) located in the Northern 
Hemisphere, which is a potential future funding action. (Refer to 
supplementary information below for more detail about NSF's decision-
making process.)

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and 
the Section 106 consultation process pursuant to Code of Federal 
Regulations title 36, section 800.2(d). Comments on issues may be 
submitted during the scoping meetings scheduled for August 9 through 
12, 2022, on the Island of Hawaii (refer to details below) or in 
writing electronically or via postal mail until September 17, 2022. To 
be eligible for inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments must be 
received prior to the close of the scoping period. Comments on NSF's 
Draft CEP may also be submitted prior to, and during, the scoping 
meetings or in writing through September 17, 2022. The public will be 
notified of the dates, times, and locations of the Section 106 meetings 
at a later date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to this Proposed Action by 
either of the following methods. Note that comments will be accepted 
via the website starting at approximately 9 a.m. EDT on July 19, 2022:
     Website: https://beta.nsf.gov/tmt.
     Mail to: Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: ELT, National 
Science Foundation, Room W9152, 2415 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 
22314.

Scoping Meetings

    NSF will host four in-person public scoping meetings from 6:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations and dates:
     Hilo: August 9, 2022, at the Grand Naniloa Doubletree by 
Hilton Hotel, Crown Room, 93 Banyan Dr., Hilo, HI 96720.
     Naalehu: August 10, 2022, at the Naalehu Community Center, 
95-5635 Hawaii Belt Rd., Naalehu, HI 96772.
     Kona: August 11, 2022, at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, 
Kaleiopapa Convention Center, 78-128 Ehukai St., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
     Kamuela (Waimea): August 12, 2022, at the Kahilu Town 
Hall, 67-1182 Lindsey Rd., Kamuela, HI 96743.
    Comments will be accepted during the meetings in writing and 
verbally. Please contact NSF at least one week in advance of each 
meeting if you would like to request special accommodations (e.g., sign 
language interpretation). Comments can also be provided in the Hawaiian 
language, which will subsequently be translated to the English language 
to facilitate NSF's consideration of those comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
EIS process or the Section 106 consultation process, please contact: 
Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, National Science Foundation, Division of 
Astronomical Sciences, Room W9152, 2415 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 
22314; telephone: (703) 292-4907; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By this notice, NSF is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues to be analyzed in the EIS. NSF welcomes public comments 
on potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the 
environmental review. NSF also intends to initiate consultation under 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (Section 
106) to evaluate anticipated effects on historic properties resulting 
from a potential NSF investment in the construction and operation of a 
Northern Hemisphere ELT located on the summit of Maunakea, Hawaii 
Island, Hawaii, which is the only location in the United States for 
which alternatives will be analyzed. NSF enters into this process with 
an understanding that the issue of constructing an ELT on Maunakea is a 
sensitive one, with both strong proponents and strong opponents of the 
proposed project; NSF was informed of the reasons for these varying 
positions through numerous informal meetings, spanning a 16-month 
period, with individuals and groups

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with a connection to Maunakea. NSF also received numerous written 
comments. As a result of those meetings and written comments, NSF heard 
that it should be proactive in its engagement with the Native Hawaiian 
community during any environmental review by providing additional 
opportunities for meaningful and effective public participation. To 
that end, NSF also invites the public to comment on NSF's plans to 
engage the public in its EIS and Section 106 compliance processes 
through review of and comment on NSF's Draft Community Engagement Plan 
(Draft CEP), located at https://beta.nsf.gov/tmt (starting at 
approximately 9 a.m. EDT on July 19, 2022).
    The Draft CEP is also available at the following local libraries:

Oahu

     James & Abigail Campbell Library, University of Hawaii at 
West Oahu, 91-1001 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei, HI 96707.
     Hawaii Kai Public Library, 249 Lunalilo Home Rd., 
Honolulu, HI 96825.

Hawaii

     Edwin H. Mookini Library, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 
200 W Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091.
     Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library, 67-1209 
Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743.
     Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720.
     Pahala Public and School Library, 96-3150 Pikake St., 
Pahala, HI 96777.
     Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Rd., Kailua-
Kona, HI 96740.

Kauai

     Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy St., Lihue, HI 96766.
     Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Dr., 
Princeville, HI 96722.

Maui

     Kihei Public Library, 35 Waimahaihai St., Kihei, HI 96753.

Background

    The U.S. astronomy community via the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recently completed its 2020 
Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (Astro2020) culminating with 
the October 2021 release of the final report titled, Pathways to 
Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s.1 
Astro2020 is the seventh decadal survey of the field and provides 
valuable advice to federal agency sponsors regarding astronomy and 
astrophysics research priorities for the upcoming decade (2020-2030). 
In its report, the Astro2020 committee concluded that ``U.S. ELT is a 
critical priority for investment for ground-based astronomy in the 
coming decade.'' Because NSF is the steward of ground-based astronomy 
in the United States, the committee recommended that the ``National 
Science Foundation (NSF) should achieve a federal investment in at 
least one and ideally both of the two extremely large telescope 
projects--the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Thirty Meter 
Telescope.''
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    \1\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/26141/pathways-to-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the-2020s.
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    The first step toward implementing Astro2020's highest-priority 
recommendation would be for NSF to initiate a US-ELT Program comprising 
a Northern Hemisphere ELT, a Southern Hemisphere ELT, or both. The 
purpose of a US-ELT Program would be to provide access for the U.S. 
scientific community to the cutting-edge capabilities of this new class 
of telescopes. The angular resolution and light-gathering power of 
these ELTs with large equivalent apertures (e.g., 25-40 meters) would 
enable astronomers to search for signatures of life on Earth-like 
planets; probe the fundamental physics of gravitational waves, dark 
matter, and dark energy; and study in detail the assembly of galaxies 
in the early Universe.
    The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 
Division of Astronomical Sciences, based upon advice from the academic 
community, has identified the need to acquire the unique capabilities 
of an ELT located in the Northern Hemisphere to be included in a US-ELT 
Program. NSF takes recommendations from the astronomy community like 
those from Astro2020 seriously; therefore, the Proposed Action under 
consideration is an NSF investment in the construction and operation of 
an ELT in the Northern Hemisphere. The only proposed Northern 
Hemisphere ELT identified in the Astro2020 report is the Thirty Meter 
Telescope (TMT), which has a preferred site on the summit of Maunakea, 
Hawaii Island, Hawaii, and an alternative site on Roque de los 
Muchachos, La Palma, in the Canary Islands.

Purpose of Public Scoping Process

    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including identification of viable alternatives, and to guide the 
process for developing the EIS. Federal, state, and local agencies, 
along with members of the public who may be interested or affected by 
NSF's ultimate decision on this Proposed Action, are invited to 
participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request to 
participate as a cooperating agency.

Preliminary Proposed Alternatives

    Alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS will be refined through 
public input, with preliminary proposed alternatives that include the 
following:
     No NSF investment in the construction and operation of an 
ELT in the Northern Hemisphere (No Action Alternative).
     Investment in the construction and operation of TMT (as 
the ELT in the Northern Hemisphere) located on Maunakea, Hawaii Island, 
Hawaii (Action Alternative 1).
     Investment in the construction and operation of TMT (as 
the ELT in the Northern Hemisphere) located on Maunakea, Hawaii Island, 
Hawaii, with an NSF-facilitated plan to define and practice responsible 
astronomy in Hawaii in partnership with the Mauna Kea Stewardship and 
Oversight Authority, the Maunakea Observatories, and the affected 
Hawaiian community (Action Alternative 2).
     Investment in the construction and operation of TMT (as 
the ELT in the Northern Hemisphere) located on Roque de los Muchachos, 
La Palma, Canary Islands (Action Alternative 3).

Proposed Scope of Environmental Review

    The EIS will evaluate the potential environmental (including 
cultural) direct, indirect, and cumulative effects resulting from the 
implementation of the Proposed Action and Action Alternatives. At 
present, NSF has identified the following resource areas for analysis 
of potential impacts. Cultural resources will be analyzed for potential 
impacts on traditional cultural places; archaeological resources; and 
historic buildings and structures. Visual resources will include an 
analysis of sensitive viewsheds. The socioeconomics analysis will 
consider potential impacts on population and housing; the economy, 
employment, and income; education; tourism; and environmental justice. 
The land use evaluation will include an analysis of potential impacts 
on existing plans, policies, and controls, as well as coastal zone 
management. The health and safety evaluation will analyze potential 
impacts on natural resources; occupational health and public safety; 
and protection of children. Biological resources will be evaluated for 
potential impacts on native vegetation; sensitive

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vegetation species; invasive vegetation species; native wildlife; 
sensitive wildlife species; invasive wildlife species; and the United 
Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 
Biosphere Reserve near La Palma, Canary Islands (Alternative 3). 
Geological resources will be analyzed for potential impacts on geology, 
soils, and topography, including slope stability. Water resources will 
be evaluated for potential impacts on surface water, groundwater, and 
stormwater. The public services and utilities evaluation will include 
an analysis of potential impacts on power, communications, potable 
water, wastewater, and solid waste. Traffic and transportation will be 
analyzed for potential impacts on traffic and roadway conditions. 
Additional resources analyzed for potential impacts will include 
hazardous materials and waste, climate change, air quality, and noise. 
The level of review in the EIS will be proportionate with the 
anticipated level of effects on each resource from the Proposed Action 
and Action Alternatives. The EIS will analyze measures that would 
avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential environmental effects. Based on 
a preliminary evaluation of these resources, NSF expects the EIS to 
identify adverse effects on cultural/archaeological resources, 
biological resources, visual resources, and geological resources. 
Adverse effects to additional resources, as well as potential 
beneficial effects (e.g., on socioeconomics), will likely be identified 
based on public input and the result of any new studies or analyses.
    NSF may conduct additional studies to inform the environmental 
review process, including a cultural resources study, archaeology 
survey, and ethnographic research; updated visual modeling; economic 
modeling; an environmental justice assessment (Hawaiian homeland 
locations); updated species/habitat surveys; a geology survey; a 
surface water/groundwater study; migratory bird study; and a 
contamination assessment.
    In addition to NEPA, federal permits and other federal 
authorizations will be required. These processes, as well as 
consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA and Section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act, as appropriate, will occur concurrently with 
the NEPA process. Other authorizations may be required pursuant to the 
Coastal Zone Management Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Clean 
Water Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, and the Clean Air Act. Because 
of the international location of Alternative 3, NSF would apply the 
provisions of Executive Order 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of 
Major Federal Actions in analyzing that Alternative.

NSF Environmental Review Timeline

    The following is a list of milestones and anticipated timeframes 
for the EIS and Section 106 processes:
     Scoping period will occur from July 19, 2022 through 
September 17, 2022.
     A draft plan for any needed resource studies/analyses will 
be posted to the NSF web page (https://beta.nsf.gov/tmt) for additional 
public comment in Fall/Winter 2022.
     NSF will finalize the CEP based on public input (target 
late 2022) and implement the measures identified therein throughout the 
remainder of the process.
     NSF will host a workshop to help inform Alternative 2 and 
the Section 106 process in Winter 2022/2023.
     Section 106 consulting parties will meet to consult on the 
Area of Potential Effects and identify historic properties during 
Winter 2022/2023.
     NSF will conduct any necessary studies and analyses and 
prepare the Draft EIS between Winter 2022 and Summer 2023.
     The Draft EIS and accompanying public comment period, 
including public meetings, are anticipated in Summer 2023; NSF will 
continue to meet with consulting parties, pursuant to Section 106, to 
identify and resolve adverse effects to historic properties between 
Summer 2023 and Spring/Summer 2024.
     Final EIS is anticipated in Spring/Summer 2024.
     Record of Decision is anticipated in Fall 2024.
    NSF will not make a funding decision until after it considers the 
following:
     Public input.
     Environmental review of the telescope.
     Project's technical readiness.
     Project proponent's management capabilities.
     Availability of federal funding.
     Telescope's alignment with other NSF priorities.
    (Please note that a decision by NSF not to go forward with an 
investment in the construction and operations of TMT could be made at 
any time, including before the EIS process has concluded.)
    Proposal Information: Information will be posted throughout the EIS 
process at https://beta.nsf.gov/tmt.

    Dated: July 14, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-15349 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P