[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59377-59378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28966]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (97-160]


National Environmental Policy Act; Earth Observing System Program

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of 
NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and procedures (14 CFR 
Part 1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA has made a finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI) with respect to the proposed Earth Observing System 
(EOS) Program, which would involve a series of Earth orbiting 
spacecraft to be launched over the time period of 1998 through 2014 
from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California.

DATES: Comments on the FONSI must be provided in writing to NASA on or 
before December 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Richard T. Beck, 
Deputy Director (Resources), Mission to Planet Earth Office, Code 170, 
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20711. The Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) prepared for the Earth Observing System 
Program which supports this FONSI may be reviewed at the following 
locations:
    (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20546.
    (b) VAFB, Technical Library, Building 7015, 806 13th Street, 
Vandenberg AFB, CA 39437.
    (c) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 
Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
    (d) Spaceport USA, Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, 
Florida, 32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2497 so 
that arrangements can be made.
    The PEA may also be examined at the following NASA locations by 
contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act Office:
    (e) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650-604-
4190).
    (f) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-
258-3448).

[[Page 59378]]

    (g) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-
286-0730).
    (h) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (281-483-8612).
    (i) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (757-864-
2497).
    (j) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, OH 
44135 (216-433-2222).
    (k) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (205-
544-0031).
    (l) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).
    A limited number of copies of the PEA are available by contacting 
Mr. Richard T. Beck at the address or telephone number indicated 
herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Richard T. Beck, 301-286-6613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the PEA prepared for the 
EOS Program and has determined that it represents an accurate and 
adequate analysis of the scope and level of associated environmental 
impacts. The PEA is incorporated by reference in this FONSI.
    NASA is proposing to develop, build and launch a series of 
investigative spacecraft designed to provide global science data from a 
low-altitude, Sun-synchronous orbit over the time period of 1998 
through 2014 from VAFB, California. EOS investigations would study the 
atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, land surface, and solid Earth systems. 
Spacecraft final assembly, propellant loading and checkout of payload 
systems would be performed in Payload Processing Facilities at VAFB. 
The spacecraft would then be transported to a Space Launch Complex at 
VAFB where it would be integrated with the launch vehicle. Due to 
varying payload weights and orbital requirements, Earth Observing 
System (EOS) spacecraft would require different launch vehicles. The 
launch vehicle selected as an environmental ``bounding case'' is the 
Delta II 7925.
    The EROS Flight and Science projects focus on defining the state of 
the Earth system, understanding its basic processes, and developing and 
applying predictive models of these processes. All EROS instrument 
payloads are designed to measure physical Earth system phenomena from 
which specific data products can be derived. This effort would consist 
of both focused, disciplinary research centered around a specific data 
set and interdisciplinary research geared toward a broader exploration 
of systemic functions. Collecting data from the vantage point of space 
would provide information about Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans, ice 
and biota that is obtainable in no other way. In concert with the 
global research community, the EOS Program would spearhead the 
development of scientific knowledge required to support the complex 
national and international environmental policy decisions that lie 
ahead.
    Alternative to the proposed action that were considered included 
those that: (1) utilize an alternate launch vehicle, (2) utilize an 
alternate launch site, or (3) cancel the Earth Observing System Program 
(the ``no action'' alternative). Failure to undertake the EOS Program 
would impede scientific progress toward understanding the natural 
environment and its response to human activity and would cause more 
U.S. dependence on foreign acquisition of these data. The resultant 
loss of continuity in Earth observation data acquisition could lead to 
not meeting national priorities with respect to management of the 
environmental global commons and may result in ineffective policy 
decisions with respect to managing the global commons. Of the launch 
vehicles evaluated, U.S. launch vehicles proposed for launch of EOS 
spacecraft (specifically the Atlas IIAS, Delta II 7925, Medium-Lite 
Expendable Launch Vehicles and the Pegasus) are best suited for the EOS 
Program for the following reasons: (1) the alternative launch vehicles 
examined are approximately equal in their potential impact to the 
environment, and these impacts are not substantial; (2) U.S. launch 
vehicles proposed closely match EOS performance requirements and allow 
for variations in payload size and weight; and (3) selected launch 
vehicles cost the same or less than the examined alternatives and are 
similar in terms of reliability. Of the launch sites evaluated, VAFB is 
best suited for the EOS Program for the following reasons: (1) the 
majority of EOS spacecraft would be launched to polar orbits, which 
require an orbital inclination greater than the maximum allowable 
inclination for Cape Canaveral Air Station launches; and (2) available 
information in the detail necessary to make a judgment as to 
environmental impact and differences in philosophy with regard to 
overflight of land for acceptable launch trajectory and debris risk is 
unavailable for foreign launch sites.
    Expected impacts to the human environment associated with the 
program are bounded by and arise almost entirely from the normal launch 
of the Delta II 7925. Air emissions from the exhaust produced by the 
solid propellant graphite epoxy motors and liquid first stage primarily 
include carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, aluminum oxide in soluble 
and insoluble forms, carbon dioxide, and deluge water mixed with 
propellant by-products. Air impacts would be short-term and not 
substantial. Short-term water quality and noise impacts, as well as 
short-term effects on plants, and animals, would occur only in the 
vicinity of the launch complex. There would be no impact on threatened 
or endangered species of critical habitat, cultural resources, wetlands 
or floodplains. The EOS Program would follow the NASA guidelines 
regarding orbital debris and minimizing the risk of uncontrolled 
reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. Accident scenarios have also been 
addressed. None of the EOS Program missions will have radioactive 
materials aboard the spacecraft, except for the possibility of minute 
quantities on certain missions for instrumentation purposes. 
Consequently, no adverse impacts from radioactive substances are 
anticipated. No other individual or cumulative impacts of environmental 
concern have been identified.
    The level and scope of environmental impacts associated with the 
launch of EOS spacecraft are well within the envelope of impact that 
have been addressed in previous FONSI's concerning other launch 
vehicles and spacecraft. EOS spacecraft would not increase launch rates 
nor utilize launch systems beyond the scope of approved programs at 
VAFB. No EOS-specific processing or launch activities have been 
identified that would require new permits and/or mitigation measures 
beyond those currently in place or in coordination at VAFB. No 
significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental 
concerns associated with the launch vehicle have been identified which 
would affect the earlier findings. As specific spacecraft and missions 
are fully defined, they will be reviewed in light of the PEA. If any 
fall outside of the scope of the PEA, further NEPA review will be 
conducted, as necessary.
    On the basis of the EOS, PEA, NASA has determined that the 
environmental impacts associated with the program would not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality 
of the human environment. NASA will take no final action prior to the 
expiration of the 30-day comment period.
William F. Townsend,
Acting Associate Administrator for Mission to Planet Earth.
[FR Doc. 97-28966 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
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