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, Hawaíi, 29311-29312 [2024-08540]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 78 / Monday, April 22, 2024 / Notices 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, Hawaı´i Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: 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, Hawaı´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 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 06:41 Apr 20, 2024 Jkt 262001 scoping meetings to be held at community centers in Kahului, Pukalani, and Kı¯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 Kı¯hei Community Center, 303 E. Lipoa St., Kı¯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 amosstareis@ tetratech.com 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 emily.peacock@spaceforce.mil. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 29311 Haleakala¯ 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 rooftopmounted 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 groundmounted 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 Hawaı´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. E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1 29312 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 78 / Monday, April 22, 2024 / Notices 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. for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350–1700. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. Tommy W. Lee, Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2024–08540 Filed 4–19–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3911–44–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DoD–2024–OS–0038] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: 60-Day information collection notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by June 21, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 06:41 Apr 20, 2024 Jkt 262001 To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 8899 E 56th St., Indianapolis, IN 46249, ATTN: Ms. Kellen Stout, (317) 212–1801. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Personal Check Cashing Agreement; DD Form 2761; OMB Control Number 0730–0005. Needs and Uzses: The information collection requirement is necessary to meet the Department of Defense’s (DoD) requirement for cashing personal checks overseas and afloat by DoD disbursing activities, as provided in 31 U.S.C. 3342. The DoD Financial Management Regulation, volume 5, provides guidance to DoD disbursing officers in the performance of this information collection. This allows the DoD disbursing officer or authorized agent the authority to offset the pay without prior notification in cases where this form has been signed subject to conditions specified within the approved procedures. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Annual Burden Hours: 1187. Number of Respondents: 4748. Responses per Respondent: 1. Annual Responses: 4748. Average Burden per Response: 15 minutes. Frequency: On occasion. The Personal Check Cashing Agreement form is designed exclusively to help the DoD disbursing offices expedite the collection process of dishonored checks. The front of the form will be completed and signed by the authorized individual requesting check cashing privileges. By signing the form, the individual is freely and voluntarily consenting to the immediate collection from their current pay, without prior notice, for the face value PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of any check cashed, plus any charges assessed against the government by a financial institution, in the event the check is dishonored. In the event the check is dishonored, the disbursing office will complete and certify the reverse side of the form and forward the form to the applicable payroll office for collection from the individual’s current pay. Dated: April 16, 2024. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2024–08475 Filed 4–19–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DoD–2024–HA–0037] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD(HA)), Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: 60-Day information collection notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by June 21, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350–1700. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1

Agencies

[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]



[[Page 29311]]

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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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 29312]]

    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


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