Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for Proposed Changes to Green Bank Observatory Operations, Green Bank, West Virginia and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Comment Period, 72124-72125 [2016-25213]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Notices
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[FR Doc. 2016–25224 Filed 10–18–16; 8:45 am]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and
Initiate Section 106 Consultation for
Proposed Changes to Green Bank
Observatory Operations, Green Bank,
West Virginia and Notice of Public
Scoping Meetings and Comment
Period
National Science Foundation.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and
Initiate Section 106 Consultation for
proposed changes to Green Bank
Observatory operations, Green Bank,
West Virginia and notice of public
scoping meetings and comment period.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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 potential environmental
effects of proposed changes to
operations at Green Bank Observatory,
in Green Bank, West Virginia (Proposed
Action). (See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for more details.) By this
notice, NSF announces the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues to be
analyzed in the EIS. At this juncture,
NSF welcomes public comments on the
preliminary proposed alternatives and
resource areas identified for analysis.
NSF also intends to initiate consultation
under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act to evaluate
potential effects, if any, on historic
properties as a result of the Proposed
Action.
SUMMARY:
This Notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS and the
initiation of public involvement under
section 106 per 36 CFR 800.2(d).
Comments on the scope of the
preliminary proposed alternatives and
resource areas to be studied may be
submitted verbally during the scoping
meetings scheduled for November 9,
2016 (see details in SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION) or in writing until
November 19, 2016. To be eligible for
inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments
must be received prior to the close of
the scoping period. NSF will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by either of the following
methods:
• Email to: envcomp-ASTgreenbank@nsf.gov, with subject line
‘‘Green Bank Observatory.’’
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Notices
• Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE:
Green Bank Observatory, National
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 1045, Arlington, VA 22230.
EIS INFORMATION: Information will be
posted, throughout the EIS process, at
www.nsf.gov/AST.
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, 4201 Wilson
Blvd., Suite 1045, Arlington, VA 22230;
telephone: (703) 292–4907; email:
epenteco@nsf.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Green
Bank Observatory (GBO) is located in
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
adjacent to the Monongahela National
Forest. NSF owns the GBO land, which
consists of numerous parcels acquired
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
the 1950s, when GBO was formed as the
first (and then, only) site of the National
Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).
The Allegheny Trail passes through
portions of the NRAO property along
the Little Mountain ridgeline. GBO is
the anchor and administrative site of the
13,000-square-mile National Radio
Quiet Zone (NRQZ). GBO is located on
approximately 2,200 acres in the NRQZ,
where all radio transmissions are
limited. Having telescopes within the
NRQZ allows for detection of faint
scientific signals that would otherwise
be drowned-out by man-made signals.
The GBO facilities include the Robert C.
Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the largest
fully steerable radio telescope in the
world; the 43-meter Telescope; the
Green Bank Solar Radio Burst
Spectrometer; the 20-meter Geodetic
Telescope; the 40-foot Telescope; the
Interferometer Range; and previously
operational telescopes.
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. This would
allow NSF to retain the balance of
capabilities needed to deliver the best
performance on emerging and key
science technology of the present
decade and beyond. In 2012, NSF’s
Division of Astronomical Sciences’
(AST’s) portfolio review committee
recommended divestment of the Green
Bank Telescope (GBT) from the AST
portfolio, stating the following: ‘‘The
GBT is the world’s most sensitive
single-dish radio telescope at
wavelengths shorter than 10 cm;
however, its capabilities are not as
critical to New World New Horizons
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:39 Oct 18, 2016
Jkt 241001
[astronomy and astrophysics decadal
survey] science goals as the higherranked facilities.’’ In response to these
recommendations, in 2016, NSF
completed a feasibility study to inform
and define options for the Observatory’s
future disposition that would involve
significantly decreasing or eliminating
NSF funding of Green Bank
Observatory. Alternatives to be
evaluated in the EIS will be refined
through public input, with preliminary
proposed alternatives that include the
following:
• Continued NSF investment for
science-focused operations (NoAction Alternative)
• Collaboration with interested parties
for science- and education-focused
operations with reduced NSF-funded
scope
• Collaboration with interested parties
for operation as a technology and
education park
• Mothballing of facilities (suspension
of operations in a manner such that
operations could resume efficiently at
some future date)
• Deconstruction and site restoration
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
identifying viable alternatives. At
present, NSF has identified the
following preliminary resource areas to
analyze potential impacts: Air quality,
biological resources, cultural resources,
geological resources, solid waste
generation, health and safety,
socioeconomics, traffic, and
groundwater resources. NSF will
consult under section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
in coordination with this EIS process, as
appropriate. Federal, state, and local
agencies, along with other stakeholders
that may be interested or affected by
NSF’s decision on this Proposed Action
are invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request to
participate as a cooperating agency.
Scoping Meetings: NSF will host two
public scoping meetings.
• Afternoon meeting: November 9,
2016, at 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Green
Bank Science Center, 155 Observatory
Road, Green Bank, WV 24915,
Telephone: (304) 456–2011.
• Evening meeting: November 9,
2016, at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Green
Bank Science Center, 155 Observatory
Road, Green Bank, WV 24915,
Telephone: (304) 456–2011.
Oral comments provided at the
scoping meetings will be transcribed by
a court reporter. Please contact NSF at
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4703
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72125
least one week in advance of the
meeting if you would like to request
special accommodations (i.e., sign
language interpretation, etc.).
Dated: October 13, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016–25213 Filed 10–18–16; 8:45 am]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. R2017–1; Order No. 3565]
Market Dominant Price Adjustment
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Commission is noticing a
recently-filed Postal Service notice of
inflation-based rate adjustments
affecting market dominant domestic and
international products and services,
along with numerous proposed
classification changes. The adjustments
and other changes are scheduled to take
effect January 22, 2017. This notice
informs the public of the filing, invites
public comment, and takes other
administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: November 1,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
electronically via the Commission’s
Filing Online system at https://
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit
comments electronically should contact
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section by
telephone for advice on filing
alternatives.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202–789–6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction and Overview
II. Initial Administrative Actions
III. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction and Overview
On October 12, 2016, the Postal
Service filed a notice of inflation-based
rate adjustments affecting market
dominant domestic and international
products and services, along with
numerous proposed classification
changes.1 The intended effective date is
January 22, 2017. Notice at 1.
Contents of filing. The Postal Service’s
filing consists of the Notice which the
1 United States Postal Service Notice of Market
Dominant Price Adjustment, October 12, 2016
(Notice).
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72124-72125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25213]
=======================================================================
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
Initiate Section 106 Consultation for Proposed Changes to Green Bank
Observatory Operations, Green Bank, West Virginia and Notice of Public
Scoping Meetings and Comment Period
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for proposed changes to Green
Bank Observatory operations, Green Bank, West Virginia and notice of
public scoping meetings and comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 potential
environmental effects of proposed changes to operations at Green Bank
Observatory, in Green Bank, West Virginia (Proposed Action). (See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more details.) By this notice, NSF
announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues to be analyzed in the EIS. At this
juncture, NSF welcomes public comments on the preliminary proposed
alternatives and resource areas identified for analysis. NSF also
intends to initiate consultation under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act to evaluate potential effects, if any, on
historic properties as a result of the Proposed Action.
DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and
the initiation of public involvement under section 106 per 36 CFR
800.2(d). Comments on the scope of the preliminary proposed
alternatives and resource areas to be studied may be submitted verbally
during the scoping meetings scheduled for November 9, 2016 (see details
in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) or in writing until November 19, 2016. To
be eligible for inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments must be
received prior to the close of the scoping period. NSF will provide
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of
the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following
methods:
Email to: envcomp-AST-greenbank@nsf.gov, with subject line
``Green Bank Observatory.''
[[Page 72125]]
Mail to: Elizabeth Pentecost, RE: Green Bank Observatory,
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1045, Arlington,
VA 22230.
EIS INFORMATION: Information will be posted, throughout the EIS
process, at www.nsf.gov/AST.
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, 4201
Wilson Blvd., Suite 1045, Arlington, VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292-
4907; email: epenteco@nsf.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is located in
Pocahontas County, West Virginia adjacent to the Monongahela National
Forest. NSF owns the GBO land, which consists of numerous parcels
acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, when GBO was
formed as the first (and then, only) site of the National Radio
Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). The Allegheny Trail passes through
portions of the NRAO property along the Little Mountain ridgeline. GBO
is the anchor and administrative site of the 13,000-square-mile
National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ). GBO is located on approximately 2,200
acres in the NRQZ, where all radio transmissions are limited. Having
telescopes within the NRQZ allows for detection of faint scientific
signals that would otherwise be drowned-out by man-made signals. The
GBO facilities include the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the
largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world; the 43-meter
Telescope; the Green Bank Solar Radio Burst Spectrometer; the 20-meter
Geodetic Telescope; the 40-foot Telescope; the Interferometer Range;
and previously operational telescopes.
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. This would allow NSF to retain the
balance of capabilities needed to deliver the best performance on
emerging and key science technology of the present decade and beyond.
In 2012, NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences' (AST's) portfolio
review committee recommended divestment of the Green Bank Telescope
(GBT) from the AST portfolio, stating the following: ``The GBT is the
world's most sensitive single-dish radio telescope at wavelengths
shorter than 10 cm; however, its capabilities are not as critical to
New World New Horizons [astronomy and astrophysics decadal survey]
science goals as the higher-ranked facilities.'' In response to these
recommendations, in 2016, NSF completed a feasibility study to inform
and define options for the Observatory's future disposition that would
involve significantly decreasing or eliminating NSF funding of Green
Bank Observatory. Alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS will be
refined through public input, with preliminary proposed alternatives
that include the following:
Continued NSF investment for science-focused operations (No-
Action Alternative)
Collaboration with interested parties for science- and
education-focused operations with reduced NSF-funded scope
Collaboration with interested parties for operation as a
technology and education park
Mothballing of facilities (suspension of operations in a
manner such that operations could resume efficiently at some future
date)
Deconstruction and site restoration
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including identifying viable alternatives. At present, NSF has
identified the following preliminary resource areas to analyze
potential impacts: Air quality, biological resources, cultural
resources, geological resources, solid waste generation, health and
safety, socioeconomics, traffic, and groundwater resources. NSF will
consult under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act in coordination with this EIS
process, as appropriate. Federal, state, and local agencies, along with
other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by NSF's decision
on this Proposed Action are invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request to participate as a cooperating
agency.
Scoping Meetings: NSF will host two public scoping meetings.
Afternoon meeting: November 9, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m., Green Bank Science Center, 155 Observatory Road, Green Bank, WV
24915, Telephone: (304) 456-2011.
Evening meeting: November 9, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m., Green Bank Science Center, 155 Observatory Road, Green Bank, WV
24915, Telephone: (304) 456-2011.
Oral comments provided at the scoping meetings 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: October 13, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-25213 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P