[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29311-29312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08540]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Construction and Operation of the Air Force Maui Optical and 
Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research Facility on the 
Island of Maui, Hawa[iacute]i

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this notice 
of intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
assess the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts associated 
with the proposed construction and operation of the Air Force Maui 
Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research (AMOS 
STAR) facility on the island of Maui, Hawa[iacute]i (the Proposed 
Action). DAF is the Lead Agency and has invited the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) to participate 
as Cooperating Agencies in the NEPA process. The project proponent is 
the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron (15 SPSS), a blended asset unit 
with assigned personnel from the U.S. Space Force Space Operations 
Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

DATES: A public scoping period of 45 days will start on the date of 
publication of this NOI in the Federal Register. Through the scoping 
process, the DAF is inviting input regarding potential alternatives, 
information, and analysis relevant to the Proposed Action. The DAF will 
be conducting analysis and consultation to comply with Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and is soliciting 
comments and concerns regarding the effect of the project on historic 
properties. Comments will be accepted at any time during the 
environmental impact analysis process; however, to ensure the DAF has 
sufficient time to consider public scoping comments during preparation 
of the Draft EIS, please submit comments within the 45-day scoping 
period.
    The Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS is anticipated to 
be published in early 2025; and the NOA of the Final EIS is anticipated 
in early 2026. A decision could be made no earlier than 30 days after 
the Final EIS.
    The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested 
parties to attend one or more of three scoping meetings to be held at 
community centers in Kahului, Pukalani, and K[imacr]hei on Maui on the 
evenings of May 13, 14 and 15, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The 
meeting on May 13 will be held at Kahului Community Center, 275 Uhu 
St., Kahului, Maui, HI, 96732, the meeting on May 14 will be held at 
Mayor H. Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani St., Pukalani, Maui, HI 
96768, and the meeting on May 15 will be held at K[imacr]hei Community 
Center, 303 E. Lipoa St., K[imacr]hei, Maui, HI 96753. The meetings 
will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the 
proposed AMOS STAR facility and the scope of the EIS. Project team 
members will be available to answer questions, and exhibits will be on 
view starting at 6:00 p.m. A presentation about the proposed AMOS STAR 
facility will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity 
to provide oral comments from approximately 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Written comments are encouraged and can be submitted at any time during 
the 45-day scoping period.

ADDRESSES: The AMOS STAR EIS website at www.amosstareis.com can be used 
to submit comments on the scope of the EIS and comments regarding the 
effect of the project on historic properties. Alternatively, comments 
can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by U.S. Mail 
to AMOS STAR EIS c/o Tetra Tech, 1230 Columbia Street, Suite 1000, San 
Diego, CA 92101. For other AMOS STAR facility inquiries, or for 
assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call Ms. 
Emily Peacock, USSF Public Affairs, Space Base Delta 1 at (774) 545-
0152 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
provide dedicated satellite tracking and communication capability to 
allow the characterization, cataloging, and tracking of objects in 
space and to enable advanced research to expand the DAF's understanding 
of objects in the Pacific Theater. The DAF needs to expand the 
capabilities of AMOS STAR regarding space domain awareness. To expand 
this capability, additional telescopes need to be located at a site 
where there are favorable viewing conditions for observing objects in 
space in the Pacific Theater. Additionally, the 15 SPSS must be able to 
readily provide operational control and support to the additional 
telescopes.
    The EIS will analyze the potential impacts of constructing and 
operating the AMOS STAR facility on 0.87 acres of a developed site 
adjacent to the Haleakal[amacr] Observatory and the 15 SPSS Maui Space 
Surveillance Complex (MSSC). The proposed facility of telescopes and an 
optics lab would be connected to and largely operated by existing high-
speed fiber optic links and microwave transmissions from the AFRL and 
15 SPSS facilities from the MSSC AEOS control room, and would require 
installation of utilities, additional fiber optic links, paved access 
and parking facilities, surface water management measures, and other 
site improvements. Electricity would be supplied from the island-wide 
grid; during power grid interruptions, power would be supplied by the 
diesel generator located on the south side of MSSC approximately 200 
feet northeast of the AMOS STAR facility site.
    The Proposed Action (Alternative 1) would consist of six telescopes 
enclosed in ground-mounted domes, one rooftop-mounted domed telescope, 
and use of an existing building for communication equipment and an 
optics laboratory for the rooftop telescope. Two of the telescopes 
under the Proposed Action would have laser communication capabilities. 
The EIS will also evaluate Alternative 2, a reduced build out 
alternative as a reasonable action alternative. Alternative 2 is 
similar to the Proposed Action (Alternative 1); under Alternative 2, 
only the 6 ground-mounted telescopes would be installed, and the 
existing building on the site would only be used for communication 
equipment storage. Alternative 2 would result in less intrusion on the 
viewshed of the site from points downslope, and less intensive use of 
the overall facility. The EIS will also analyze the effects of the No 
Action Alternative as prescribed by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations.
    To implement the proposed action, the DAF would require an Outgrant 
Permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a Special Use 
Permit from the National Park Service (NPS) for roadway use. A federal 
Coastal Zone Management Act determination will be conducted and 
coordinated to determine consistency of the action with the 
Hawa[iacute]i Coastal Management Program. Additionally, a Conservation 
District Use Permit would be required from the Department of Land and 
Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands.
    Key resources of concern, for which adverse impacts could occur, 
include cultural and historical resources, visual resources, and 
biological resources. Those resource areas and others will be analyzed 
in the EIS to determine if impacts would be significant.

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    Scoping and Agency Coordination: Consultation will include, but not 
necessarily be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA, 
to include consultation with federally recognized Native Hawaiian 
organizations. The DAF and Cooperating Agencies will determine the 
scope of the analysis by soliciting comments from interested local, 
State, and federally elected officials and agencies, federally 
recognized Native Hawaiian organizations, as well as interested members 
of the public.

Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-08540 Filed 4-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P