National Environmental Policy Act; Aerodynamic and Propulsion Testing at Ames Research Center

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 95-003]

National Environmental Policy Act; Aerodynamic and Propulsion

Testing at Ames Research Center

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement

(EIS) and conduct scoping for proposed aerodynamic and propulsion

testing in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex at Ames

Research Center.

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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 Regulations for Implementing the Procedural

Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and

regulations (24 CFR part 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA intends to prepare

an EIS for aerodynamic and propulsion testing (hereinafter referred to

as the ``Testing Program'') at Ames Research Center. This EIS will (1)

serve as programmatic EIS for NASA's future Testing Program activities

at Ames Research Center; (2) address specifically a requirement for

tests in support of the [[Page 3272]] Department of Defense X-32 Common

Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) Program in 1995 and 1996; and (3)

address specifically a possible requirement for future testing in

support of the NASA High Speed Research (HSR) Program.

Better performance and decreased operational costs are necessary

for critical components of future generations of high performance

military and civil aircraft development programs. The overall purpose

of the Testing Program is to support these development programs. The

Testing Program is proposed to occur in the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel,

the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel, and/or the Outdoor Aerodynamic

Research Facility (OARF) of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics

Complex (NFAC) at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to

NASA on or before February 27, 1995 to ensure full consideration during

the scoping process.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Jerry Kirk, Special

Assistant for Integration, Aeronautical Test and Simulation Division,

Code AO, Mail Stop 247-3, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

94035-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerry Kirk, 415-604-5045.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Better performance and decreased operational

costs are necessary and critical components of future generations of

high performance military and civil aircraft development programs. High

performance aircraft share common requirements for testing with

propulsion systems of very high thrust and increased jet exhaust

velocities, which will tend to produce noise levels greater than

present airplanes. These include new vertical take-off and landing

fighter jets, as well as future generation supersonic civil transports

The key to the successful development of these future generation

aircraft is testing of the actual propulsion systems installed in full-

scale models. The NFAC at Ames Research Center is the only test

facility in the world which has this capability. Successful results

from such tests would provide a key capability for ensuring the long

term dominance of U.S. aircraft in both the military environment and

commercial marketplace. Currently proposed Testing Program activities

for the NFAC include the X-32 CALF Program. There is also a reasonable

probability that the Testing Program could include testing to support

the High Speed Research (HSR) Program.

It is important to note that the specific tests discussed in the

EIS may be representative of future test requirements not specifically

identified to date. Therefore, this programmatic EIS will serve as a

baseline document for the environmental evaluation of subsequent

testing at Ames Research Center. This EIS will address common elements

of such testing in a single document and will provide detailed

information on each aspect of the Test Program to the extent that such

data are available.

The X-32 CALF Program is a part of the Joint Advanced Strike

Technology (JAST) program. The JAST team is comprised of members from

the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the U.S. Air Force, the

U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marines, NASA, and the United Kingdom. The goal of

the X-32 CALF Program is to develop one aircraft that meets the

Department of Defense's multi-service requirements for a next-

generation supersonic jet fighter. The High Speed Research (HSR)

Program is intended to develop the technology base required to produce

an environmentally friendly, economically viable supersonic cruise

commercial jet transport. It is anticipated that some of the tests

would generate noise levels beyond the Ames Research Center boundaries

exceeding those currently produced.

Programmatic and test specific alternatives for this proposed

testing include, but are not necessarily limited to: (1) alternative

daily time periods for typical testing activities; (2) modifying the

testing procedures to reduce the noise levels; (3) testing at a

location other than Ames Research Center; and (4) elimination of the

proposed Testing Program (``no action'').

The EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts

associated with this Testing Program. Particular emphasis will be

placed on potentially incurred noise impacts associated with the

testing. Consideration will be given to the noise impact caused by

running the tests as different times (daytime versus evening hours) and

for varying lengths of time. NASA also plans to conduct consultation

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding potential impacts to

any threatened or endangered species in the Stevens Creek corridor

adjacent to Ames Research Center.

Public scoping meeting(s) will be held during the public scoping

period identified above. The specific meeting time(s) and locations(s)

will be published in the San Jose Mercury News and La Oferta Review in

a timely manner. The meeting schedule can also be obtained from Jerry

Kirk at the address or telephone number provided above.

Written public input and comments on environmental issues or

concerns related to the proposed Testing Program, including, but not

limited to, program and test-specific alternatives, noise, as well as

any other environmental concerns, are hereby solicited.

Dated: January 9, 1995.

Benita A. Cooper,

Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.

[FR Doc. 95-940 Filed 1-12-95; 8:45 am]

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