[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69168-69169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22544]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the 
Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (Veritas)

AGENCIES: National Science Foundation (Lead Agency) and the U.S. 
Department of Energy (Cooperating Agency With Jurisdiction).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability, and opportunity for 
public review and comment, of the environmental assessment (EA) that 
supports the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) proposal to authorize the continued expenditure of grant 
funds totaling $12.3 million by the Smithsonian Institution to 
construct a four-telescope array near Tucson, Arizona. The draft EA is 
available at http://veritas.sao.arizona.edu/.

DATES: Comments should be received by the Agencies' third-party 
contractor, SWCA Environmental Consultants, no later than December 9, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments, or requests for copies of the draft EA, should be 
sent to: Tom Furgason, Project Manager, SWCA Environmental Consultants, 
343 West Franklin Street, Tucson, AZ 85701.
    Requests for copies of the draft EA may also be made by calling 
(520) 325-9194. Comments may be mailed to the address above or sent via 
facsimile at (520) 325-2003.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NSF and DOE propose to authorize the 
continued expenditure of grant funds totaling $12.3 million by the 
Smithsonian Institution to construct a four-telescope array near 
Tucson, Arizona. The proposed telescopes and ancillary facilites are 
known as the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System 
(VERITAS). The purpose of the proposed project would be to provide the 
ground-based capability to study extremely energetic gamma rays 
potentially produced from a variety of astrophysical sources. VERITAS 
would permit researchers to study the

[[Page 69169]]

properties of the sources of these gamma rays.
    VERITAS would consist of an array of four identical telescopes, and 
ancillary facilites such as control building, communications links, and 
an access road with underground utilities. The preferred alternative 
site for VERITAS is a 10-hectare (25-acre) parcel in an area located 
west of the top of Kitt Peak in Horsehose Canyon. The proposed project 
area is within the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) area leased by 
NSF from the Tohono O'odham Nation. A 4-hectare (10-acre) site known as 
Montosa Canyon, located in the Coronado National Forest in southern 
Arizona, is also evaluated as an alternative site. Under the no action 
alternative, NSF and DOE would make no further funds available for the 
construction of the VERITAS project.

    Issued in Arlington, VA.
Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-22544 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M