20688 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices

Murray Hill, NJ has been added as a

party to this venture. Also, American

Telephone & Telegraph Company, New

York, NY; Harris Corporation,

Melbourne, FL; LSI Logic Corporation

Milpitas, CA; Micron Technology, Inc.,

Boise, ID; and NCR Corporation, Dayton,

OH have been dropped as parties to this

venture.

No other changes have been made in

either the membership or planned

activity of the group research project.

Membership in this group research

project remains open, and SEMATECH

intends to file additional written

notification disclosing all changes in

membership.

On April 22, 1988, SEMATECH filed

its original notification pursuant to

section 6(a) of the Act. The Department

of Justice published a notice in the

Federal Register pursuant to section

6(b) of the Act on May 19, 1988 (53 FR

17987).

The last notification was filed with

the Department on January 4, 1989. A

notice was published in the Federal

Register pursuant to section 6(b) of the

Act on February 10, 1989 (54 FR 6458).

Constance K. Robinson,

Director of Operations, Antitrust Division.

[FR Doc. 01–10024 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–11–M

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (01–051)]

National Environmental Policy Act;

Genesis Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Finding of no significant

impact.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(NEPA), as amended (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

Genesis mission, which would involve

a flight to a libration point (L1 point) in

the Sun-Earth system, (i.e., where the

gravitational pulls of the Sun and the

Earth are balanced). The spacecraft

would be placed into a halo orbit about

the L1 point to collect incoming solar

wind ions. After 2 years of sample

collection, the spacecraft would return

the samples to Earth.

The baseline mission calls for the

Genesis spacecraft to be launched

aboard a Delta II 7326 from Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),

Florida during the launch opportunity

beginning in June 2001, as well as the

recovery of the sample return capsule

(SRC) at the Utah Test and Training

Range (UTTR) approximately 65

kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Salt

Lake City, Utah, no earlier than June

2004, depending on the actual launch

date.

DATES: Comments must be provided in

writing to NASA on or before May 24,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

addressed to Steve Brody, NASA

Headquarters, Code SD, 300 E Street

SW, Washington, DC 20546. The

Environmental Assessment (EA)

prepared for the Genesis mission which

supports this FONSI may be reviewed

at:

1. NASA Headquarters, Library, Room

1J20, 300 E Street, SW, Washington,

DC 20546.

2. NASA, Spaceport USA, Room 2001,

John F. Kennedy Space Center,

Florida 32899 (321–867–2622). Please

call Penny Myers beforehand at 321–

867–9280 so that arrangements can be

made.

3. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors

Lobby, Building 249, 4800 Oak Grove

Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818–354–

5179).

4. Tooele City Public Library, 128 West

Vine Street, Tooele, UT 84074 (435–

882–2182).

Other locations where the EA may be

examined are listed in the

Supplementary Information section

below.

A limited number of copies of the EA

are available for persons wishing a copy

by contacting Mr. Brody at the address

or telephone number indicated herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Brody, 202–358–1544.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA

may be examined at the following

additional public libraries:

1. Salt Lake City Public Library, Main

Library, 200 East 500 South, Salt Lake

City, UT 84111 (801–524–8200).

2. Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson

Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401–2488

(801–627–6913).

3. West Wendover Branch Library, 590

Camper Road, West Wendover, NV

89883 (775–664–2510).

The EA may also be examined at the

following NASA locations by contacting

the pertinent Freedom of Information

Act Office:

1. NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffet

Field, CA 94035 (650–604–1181).

2. NASA, Dryden Flight Research

Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (661–258–

3689).

3. NASA, Glenn Research Center, 21000

Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH

44135 (216–433–2755).

4. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center,

Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301–286–6255).

5. NASA, Johnson Space Center,

Houston, TX 77058 (281–483–8612).

6. NASA, Langley Research Center,

Hampton, VA 23665 (757–864–2497).

7. NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center,

Huntsville, AL 35812 (256–544–

1837).

8. NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS

39529 (228–688–2164). NASA has

reviewed the EA prepared for the

Genesis mission and has determined

that it represents an accurate and

adequate analysis of the scope and

level of associated environmental

impacts. This FONSI summarizes and

incorporates the EA by reference.

NASA is proposing to launch the

Genesis mission, which would deliver a

single spacecraft into a halo orbit about

the L1 point, approximately 1.5 million

kilometers (km) [0.93 million miles

(mi)] away from the Earth

(approximately 1 percent of the EarthSun distance). This would also place the

spacecraft well beyond Earth’s magnetic

field (magnetosphere), which shields

the Earth from the charged particles

emitted by the Sun, thus preventing

instruments within the Earth’s

magnetosphere from acquiring accurate

measurements of ions in the solar wind.

After arrival at the L1 point, the mostly

ultra-pure silicon collectors would be

exposed to the incoming solar wind (i.e.,

material erupting from the Sun’s

corona). The ions from the solar wind

would be accumulated as they implant

in the collector materials. After 2 years

of sample collection, the spacecraft

would stow the collectors into a sealed

canister in the SRC to protect the purity

of the solar wind particles collected for

return to Earth and subsequent recovery

at UTTR. The spacecraft would not

carry any radioactive material. Current

plans call for using a Delta II 7326

expendable launch system to inject the

Genesis spacecraft into its low energy

trajectory to the L1 point during the

launch opportunity beginning in June

2001.

Depending on the actual launch date

in 2001, the Genesis spacecraft would

return to Earth in June 2004 or

sometime thereafter. At a prescribed

time during its approach to Earth, a

command sequence would be sent to the

spacecraft to orient itself for separation

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices 20689

from the SRC. After separation from the

spacecraft, the SRC would directly enter

the atmosphere to be captured midair

via helicopter as it descends over UTTR.

Following mid-air retrieval, the SRC

would be removed to a staging area at

UTTR where it would be prepared for

transport to the planetary materials

curatorial facility at the Johnson Space

Center in Houston, Texas. Should

conditions, such as weather over the

recovery site, be unfavorable, there is an

opportunity at entry minus 12 hours to

enter a 19-day parking orbit for one or

two revolutions (19 or 38 days) prior to

a second Earth entry opportunity. In the

unlikely event of bad weather on a

second entry opportunity, the mid-air

retrieval would not be possible, so the

SRC would descend to the surface on a

parafoil. The SRC and canister are

designed to stay intact in the event of a

parafoil landing.

The overall science objectives of

Genesis are as follows:

(1) Measure the isotopic compositions

of solar matter. Most chemical elements

consist of more than one isotope. In

some cases (e.g., oxygen and nitrogen)

the relative amounts of the isotopes of

a given element are not the same for

different types of planetary materials.

(An isotope is an atomic species of a

chemical element with different atomic

mass and physical properties, e.g.,

carbon-12 versus carbon-14.) However,

at the required level of precision, the

isotopic composition of solar matter is

not available for comparison. Genesis

could provide the data to fill this gap.

The solar data are of major importance

to planetary science because the outer

regions of the Sun preserve the average

composition of the solar nebula from

which all planets in the solar system

formed.

(2) Significantly improve our

knowledge of the abundance of

elements originating in the Sun. A

remarkable feature of the solar system is

the great diversity of planetary objects.

However, this diversity was produced

from a solar nebula, which is widely

accepted to have been homogeneous in

chemical composition. How this

transition from solar nebula to planets

took place has both fascinated and

mystified scientists. Partial answers are

available from the study of the

elemental and isotopic composition of

solar system bodies which suggests that

moons, planets, and even asteroids are

significantly different in composition.

These objects are ‘‘fossil residues’’, and

differences in basic elements and

isotopic compositions provide

invaluable insight into how the solar

nebula evolved. Using these differences,

scientists can model various

evolutionary processes, but have been

hampered by missing information about

the composition of the original solar

nebula.

The Sun, which contains well over 99

percent of all the material in the solar

system, may help provide the answer.

While its interior has been modified by

nuclear reactions, the outer layers of the

Sun are composed of very nearly the

same material as the original solar

nebula. Some of the Sun’s composition

can be determined by the characteristics

of the light it emits, but the abundance

of many elements and nearly all

isotopes is as yet unknown.

By stationing a spacecraft outside

Earth’s magnetic field, solar wind

particles can be captured and returned

to Earth where high precision analyses

can be carried out. Comparing the Sun’s

isotopic composition and abundance

against known planetary composition

data sets may provide another piece of

the puzzle in the continuing search for

origins. The goal of Genesis is to

improve the accuracy in the measure of

each element’s abundance by at least a

factor of three.

(3) Provide a reservoir of solar matter

for the 21st century. A great advantage

of sample return missions is that

curated materials are available to

address the advanced questions that

arise in the normal course of scientific

study. When the need arises for

improved knowledge of solar isotopic or

elemental abundance beyond that

provided in the initial studies, the

curated Genesis materials would be

available to address these needs.

Alternatives to the Genesis mission

that were evaluated include: (1) NoAction (i.e., no Genesis mission); (2)

launch vehicle options, including the

Space Shuttle, Taurus, and Atlas

configurations, as well as other Delta

configurations; (3) alternative launch

sites; and (4) alternative recovery sites.

Of the launch vehicles evaluated, the

Delta II 7326 launch system most

closely matches the Genesis mission

requirements within the cost constraints

of this Discovery Mission.

Expected impacts to the human

environment associated with the

mission arise almost entirely from the

normal launch of the Delta II 7326, and

to a much lesser extent, the entry,

descent, and recovery operations of the

sample return. Air emissions during the

launch 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 wetlands, plants, and animals,

would occur in the vicinity of the

launch complex. These short-term

impacts are of a nature to be selfcorrecting, and none of these effects

would be substantial. No impact on

threatened or endangered species or

critical habitat, cultural resources, or

floodplains is anticipated. In addition to

the impacts that might be expected to

arise from a normal launch, launch

accident scenarios have been addressed

and indicate no expected significant

impact to the environment.

The second stage would be ignited at

an altitude of 111 kilometers (69 miles).

Although the second stage would

achieve orbit, its orbital decay time

would fall below the limit NASA has set

for orbital debris consideration. After

burning its propellant to depletion, the

second stage would remain in low-Earth

orbit until its orbit eventually decayed.

The second stage is designed to burn up

as it reenters Earth’s atmosphere. The

Genesis mission planning has followed

NASA guidelines regarding orbital

debris and minimizing the risk of

human casualty for uncontrolled reentry

into the Earth’s atmosphere. No other

impacts of environmental concern have

been identified.

The level and scope of environmental

impacts associated with the launch of

the Delta II 7326 vehicle are well within

the envelope of impacts that have been

addressed in previous FONSIs

concerning other launch vehicles and

spacecraft. No significant new

circumstances or information relevant to

environmental concerns associated with

the launch vehicle have been identified

which would affect the earlier findings.

The Genesis mission has been

categorized by the NASA Planetary

Protection Officer as a Planetary

Protection Category V mission,

‘‘Unrestricted Earth Return’’, because

there is essentially zero chance of

extraterrestrial biological contamination

during sample collection at the L1

point, and thus an insignificant chance

of back contamination by returning a

novel organism to Earth. Nonetheless,

prior to Earth return, the most recent

scientific data related to the Genesis

sample collection would be considered

by the NASA Planetary Protection

Advisory Committee in its review of this

categorization for NASA.

Upper altitude emissions associated

with reentry of the SRC would include

ablation (i.e., vaporization) products of

the thermal protection system on the

forebody. The SRC would enter the

Earth’s atmosphere directly above

UTTR’s South Range. At an altitude of

20690 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices

2.8 km (9200 ft) mean sea level, a

recovery helicopter would intercept the

SRC and initiate a mid-air retrieval

operation above the UTTR surface. The

intercept altitude would permit

multiple passes, if necessary, to effect

capture. A back-up helicopter would

provide redundant capability. The

proposed material to be used for the

forebody heatshield is a carbon-carbon

(C–C) composite. The peak heating

would occur at approximately 60

seconds after reentry begins, which

corresponds to an altitude of

approximately 60 km (196,860 ft) above

the Earth. The ablation would continue

for about twenty seconds. Models

conservatively predict that less than five

percent [2.05 kg (4.5 lb)] of the total C–

C material would ablate during reentry.

The chemical species produced during

ablation would be dissipated in the

shock wave behind the SRC. The

ablation process and thus the

production of ablation products would

cease more than 48 km (157,000 ft)

above the Earth. Therefore, these

concentrations would disperse in the

large volume of air in the upper

atmosphere and would not constitute a

danger to health or life on Earth. The

SRC heatshield would be rapidly

cooling during the subsonic portion of

the descent, and would not emit to the

lower atmosphere. UTTR is primarily

used by the U.S. Air Force as a bombing

and artillery test and training range. The

entry, descent, and recovery operations

for the 225-kg (495-lb) SRC would be

well within the bounds of the day-today operations carried on at UTTR. No

impact on threatened or endangered

species or critical habitat, cultural

resources, wetlands, or floodplains is

expected. Recovery scenarios wherein

the SRC is not retrieved via helicopter

in mid-air have also been addressed and

do not lead to substantial environmental

impacts.

Current plans call for commanding

the remaining spacecraft bus to perform

a controlled maneuver to burn the

remaining on-board propellant

approximately one hour after releasing

the SRC. This ‘‘deboost’’ maneuver

would result in the spacecraft entering

the upper atmosphere high above the

Pacific Ocean, where it would burn up

due to atmospheric friction. The

proposed Genesis deboost maneuver

would comply with the guideline for

footprint clearance of land masses [46

km (25 nautical miles) from U.S. soil,

370 km (200 nautical miles) from any

non-U.S. land mass].

Based on the Genesis Spacecraft

Breakup Analysis, the main spacecraft

composite structure is conservatively

predicted to break apart at altitudes

above 68 km (223,108 ft). Even in the

worst case wherein the spacecraft bus

reenters the atmosphere along the same

trajectory as the SRC, all components

have been shown by independent

modeling to burn up above 47 km

(154,000 ft). The small quantities of

gases produced during burnup of the

Genesis spacecraft are left at these

extreme altitudes.

Failure to undertake the Genesis

mission would disrupt the execution of

NASA’s Solar System Exploration

program as defined by the agency’s

Solar System Exploration Committee.

Solar wind samples returned by the

Genesis mission could significantly

improve our knowledge of the average

chemical and isotopic composition of

the solar system. Cancellation of the

proposed mission would result in no or

minimal environmental impact, but the

loss of the scientific knowledge and

database from carrying out the mission

could be significant.

On the basis of the Genesis EA, NASA

has determined that the environmental

impacts associated with the mission

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.

Edward J. Weiler,

Associate Administrator for Space Science.

[FR Doc. 01–10070 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–01–P

THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE

ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Meetings of Humanities Panel

AGENCY: The National Endowment for

the Humanities.

ACTION: Additional notice of meetings.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act

(Public Law 92–463, as amended),

notice is hereby given that the following

meetings of the Humanities Panel will

be held at the Old Post Office, 1100

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20506

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Laura S. Nelson, Advisory Committee

Management Officer, National

Endowment for the Humanities,

Washington, DC 20506; telephone (202)

606–8322. Hearing-impaired individuals

are advised that information on this

matter may be obtained by contacting

the Endowment’s TDD terminal on (202)

606–8322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposed meetings are for the purpose

of panel review, discussion, evaluation

and recommendation on applications

for financial assistance under the

National Foundation on the Arts and the

Humanities Act of 1965, as amended,

including discussion of information

given in confidence to the agency by the

grant applicants. Because the proposed

meetings will consider information that

is likely to disclose trade secrets and

commercial or financial information

obtained from a person and privileged

or confidential and/or information of a

personal nature the disclosure of which

would constitute a clearly unwarranted

invasion of personal privacy, pursuant

to authority granted me by the

Chairman’s Delegation of Authority to

Close Advisory Committee meetings,

dated July 19, 1993, I have determined

that these meetings will be closed to the

public pursuant to subsections (c) (4),

and (6) of section 552b of Title 5, United

Stated Code.

1. Date: May 28–30, 2001.

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Room: 527.

Program: This meeting will review

applications for Extending the Reach:

Faculty Research Awards, submitted to

the Division of Research Programs at the

April 10, 2001 deadline.

Laura S. Nelson,

Advisory Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 01–10053 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7536–01–M

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION

SAFETY BOARD

Sunshine Act Meeting

TIME AND PLACE: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, May

1, 2001.

PLACE: NTSB Conference Center, 429

L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC

20594.

STATUS: The three items are open to the

public.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 7357 Fire

On Board Liberian Passenger Ship

Ecstasy, Miama, Florida, July 20, 1998

(DCA–98–MM–035).

7356 Special Investigation Report:

Rear-End Collision Prevention

Technologies.

7339A Railroad Accident Report:

Collision Involving Three Consolidated

Rail Corporation Freight Trains

Operating in Fog at Bryan, Ohio,

January 17, 1999 (DCA–99–MR–002)—

Positive Train Separation Issues.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Telephone: (202)

314–6100.