[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27332-27333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12553]



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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 95-031]


National Environmental Policy Act; International Space Station 
Program

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Tier 2 environmental impact 
statement (EIS) and conduct scoping for the assembly and operation of 
the proposed International Space Station (ISS) Program.

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SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and NASA's policy and procedures (14 CFR Part 
1216 Subpart 1216.3), intends to prepare a Tier 2 EIS for the ISS 
Program. The proposed action by NASA is to continue to provide U.S. 
participation in the assembly and operation of the ISS. The alternative 
is cancellation of the ISS Program, specifically, the ``No Action'' 
alternative. The Tier 2 EIS will focus on those areas of the ISS 
Program which have changed substantially since the Tier 1 EIS was 
prepared. This includes modifications to the space station itself, its 
assembly and operation, and an assessment of the probability and 
consequences of reentry of the station into Earth's atmosphere.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
NASA on or before July 7, 1995, to ensure full consideration during the 
scoping process.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be in writing and addressed to Mr. David 
Ruszczyk, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center, Code OF, Houston, Texas 
77058-3696.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. David Ruszczyk, 713-244-7756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA issued the Final Tier 1 Environmental 
Impact Statement for Space Station Freedom, March 1991 (hereinafter 
referred to as the ``Tier 1 EIS''). The Tier 1 EIS was prepared as part 
of the decision process to determine whether to proceed with the 
development, assembly, and operation of a human occupied space station 
in cooperation with the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space 
Agency, and Japan's National Space Development Agency. Several 
programmatic and design configuration alternatives were considered, 
along with the alternative to take no action. The program decision, 
made on the basis of the Tier 1 EIS and other relevant documents, was 
to proceed with full scale design and development of the concept known 
as Space Station Freedom.
    At the time the Tier EIS was prepared, detailed design information 
was not available. As a consequence, some issues relating to the 
potential environmental effects of Space Station Freedom were deferred 
to the Tier 2 EIS. These issues included the impacts of any significant 
design modifications that might be incorporated as the design matured; 
and a quantitative analysis of the probability and consequences of 
accidental or uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere during 
assembly and operation. Other impacts that were reserved include 
venting of nontoxic gases during station operation, and change to a 
hydrazine propulsion system.
    On March 9, 1993, the President directed NASA to undertake a major 
redesign of the space station program in such a manner that major 
reductions in the projected costs of Space Station Freedom could be 
realized. An Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station 
was chartered to provide advice with respect to the redesign options 
for the U.S. space station program. The results of the redesign studies 
were presented in the Space Station Redesign Team Final Report to the 
Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station, dated June 
1993. The result was the currently proposed ISS, which 
[[Page 27333]] includes design modifications and agreements to include 
Russia as a partner, and incorporates Russian hardware and capabilities 
into the program.
    The proposed action considered in this Tier 2 EIS is to continue 
the implementation of the U.S. contribution to the overall effort to 
assemble and operate the ISS. The remaining alternative involves the 
``No Action'' alternative (i.e., cancellation of U.S. participation in 
the ISS). Significant design changes that have occurred since the Tier 
1 EIS include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: The 
number of research laboratories on the space station has been increased 
from three to six; the number of logistics modules has been increased 
from one to two; the pressurized volume has been almost doubled; the 
crew size has been increased from four to six; and the orbital 
inclination has been changed from 28.5 degrees to 51.6 degrees, 
permitting space station access by Russian launch vehicles and 
additional mission control capabilities from Russia's mission control 
center. The ISS contemplates 15 Russian launches, increasing the total 
number of launches through completion of assembly from 32 to 44, and 
reducing the number of U.S. launches from 29 to 27, one European 
launch, and one launch yet to be determined. Accordingly, resupply 
flights to the completed ISS will now include Russian as well as U.S. 
flights; whereas Space Station Freedom was to be resupplied exclusively 
by U.S. Space Shuttle flights. The planned U.S. launches will not 
include any expendable launch vehicles; only the Space Shuttle will be 
used. However, the U.S. may use expendable launch vehicles in a 
contingency or backup role.
    The design of the ISS has progressed to the point where it is now 
possible to conduct a quantitative analysis of the probability and 
consequences of accidental or uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's 
atmosphere. The Tier 2 EIS will assess the probabilities and potential 
impacts associated with accidental or uncontrolled reentry. The Tier 2 
EIS also will address decommissioning alternatives, including the plan 
presented in the Tier 1 EIS.
    Other issues to be addressed in the Tier 2 EIS include, but will 
not necessarily be limited to, the following: the cumulative effects of 
the U.S. launches associated with the assembly and operation of the 
ISS; the change to a Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine/Nitrogen Tetroxide 
propulsion system; and the venting and outgassing of nontoxic gases 
from the ISS. The Tier 2 EIS will address environmental effects on the 
United States and the integrated ISS impacts on the global commons.
    Written public input and comments on the range of alternatives 
being considered and the potential environmental issues related to the 
assembly and the operation of the International Space Station are 
hereby solicited.

    Dated: May 12, 1995.
Benita A. Cooper,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.
[FR Doc. 95-12553 Filed 5-22-95; 8:45 am]
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