43062 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / Notices 

Activity schools; and the U.S. territories 

as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). 

The award recognizes those teachers 

who develop and implement a highquality instructional program that is 

informed by content knowledge and 

enhances student learning. Since the 

program’s inception, more than 5,200 

teachers have been recognized for their 

contributions in the classroom and to 

their profession. Awardees serve as 

models for their colleagues, inspiration 

to their communities, and leaders in the 

improvement of STEM education. 

The State or Jurisdiction Coordinator 

(SC) manages the PAEMST program 

within his or her state or jurisdiction. 

SCs recruit eligible nominees, select and 

assign mentors to nominees, coordinate 

the selection committee, and plan local 

recognition events within their State or 

Jurisdiction. They also carry out the 

responsibilities as noted in the 

‘‘Operational Handbook for State and 

Jurisdiction STEM Coordinators.’’ 

The purpose of this survey is to seek 

feedback from the approximately 120 

SCs regarding PAEMST management 

within their state or jurisdiction. The 

NSF PAEMST support team will ask 

directed questions using the survey to 

gather information that may specifically 

address the methods and recruitment 

efforts that SCs use to support the 

attracting of prospective award 

nominees. Additional survey areas may 

also include: 

• Applicant Mentoring 

• Mentor Training 

• State or Jurisdiction selection 

Committee 

• State or Jurisdiction selection Process 

• Applicant and State or Jurisdiction 

Finalist Notification and Recognition 

• In-kind contributions 

The survey will evaluate the impact 

SCs have on attracting prospective 

award nominees to PAEMST. This will 

be conducted as a web-based survey. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 30–40 minutes 

for State/Jurisdiction Coordinators. 

Respondents: Individuals. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Form: 120 Coordinators. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 80 hours (120 

Coordinators at 40 minutes per survey = 

80 hours). 

Frequency of Response: One per 

application cycle. 

Dated: July 13, 2022. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15339 Filed 7–18–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

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. 

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: EIS.106.TMT@nsf.gov. 

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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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / Notices 43063 

1https://www.nap.edu/catalog/26141/pathwaysto-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the2020s. 

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 groundbased 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.’’ 

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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43064 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / Notices 

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 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[NRC–2022–0001] 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

TIME AND DATE: Weeks of July 11, 18, 25, 

August 1, 8, 15, 22, 2022. The schedule 

for Commission meetings is subject to 

change on short notice. The NRC 

Commission Meeting Schedule can be 

found on the internet at: https://

www.nrc.gov/public-involve/publicmeetings/schedule.html. 

PLACE: The NRC provides reasonable 

accommodation to individuals with 

disabilities where appropriate. If you 

need a reasonable accommodation to 

participate in these public meetings or 

need this meeting notice or the 

transcript or other information from the 

public meetings in another format (e.g., 

Braille, large print), please notify Anne 

Silk, NRC Disability Program Specialist, 

at 301–287–0745, by videophone at 

240–428–3217, or by email at 

Anne.Silk@nrc.gov. Determinations on 

requests for reasonable accommodation 

will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

STATUS: Public. 

Members of the public may request to 

receive the information in these notices 

electronically. If you would like to be 

added to the distribution, please contact 

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 

Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 

20555, at 301–415–1969, or by email at 

Wendy.Moore@nrc.gov or 

Betty.Thweatt@nrc.gov. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 

Week of July 11, 2022 

Friday, July 15, 2022 

1 p.m. Affirmation Session (Public 

Meeting) (Tentative) 

(a) Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., 

Entergy Nuclear Palisades, LLC, 

Holtec International, and Holtec 

Decommissioning International, 

LLC (Palisades Nuclear Plant and 

Big Rock Point) (Tentative) 

(b) EnergySolutions, LLC—Indirect 

License Transfer (Zion Nuclear 

Power Station, Units 1 and 2; Three 

Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2; 

La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor; 

Kewaunee Power Station; 

Radioactive Materials License; 

Export Licenses) (Tentative) 

Additional Information: By a vote of 

3–0 on July 14, 2022, the Commission 

determined pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 

552b(e)(1) and 10 CFR 9.107 that this 

item be affirmed with less than one 

week notice to the public. (Contact: 

Wesley Held: 301–287–3591) 

Additional Information: The public is 

invited to attend the Commission’s 


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