National Environmental Policy Act; Notice of Cassini Mission Record Decision

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 97-127]

National Environmental Policy Act; Notice of Cassini Mission

Record Decision

In furtherance of the Council on Environmental Quality regulation

at 40 CFR 1505.2 and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA) regulation at 14 CFR 1216.311, public notice is hereby provided

that on August 12, 1997, a Record of Decision (ROD) was rendered

pertaining to the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)

for the Cassini Mission to Saturn. While the ROD completes the National

Environmental Policy Act process, the ``Go/No-Go'' decision for launch

of the Cassini spacecraft will not be made until all of the mission and

flight readiness reviews are completed.

By way of background, in July 1995, NASA issued a Final

Environmental Impact Statement, dated June 1995. In April 1997, the

Draft SEIS was made available to the public. NASA responded to the

comments on the Draft SEIS and issued the Final SEIS on June 27, 1997,

with publication of the notice of availability of the Final SEIS on

July 3, 1997. The prescribed 30-day waiting period ended on August 4,

1997. Five comment letters (1 Federal agency, 4 individuals) were

received on the Final SEIS. The comments were evaluated and determined

not to present significant new information or data relevant to

environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its

environmental impacts.

After consideration of all of the information, as updated in the

final SEIS, the alternatives evaluated, public comments received, and

other technical and programmatic factors, the decision (documented in

the ROD) is the selection of the preferred alternative. This

alternative consists of completing preparations for the Cassini Mission

to Saturn, launching the spacecraft on a Titan IV (SRMU)/Centaur from

the U.S. Air Force Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, and operating

the mission. The launch is planned to take place during the primary

launch opportunity beginning in early October 1997, with a secondary

opportunity beginning in late November 1997 and a backup opportunity

beginning in March 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Mark R. Dahl, NASA Headquarters, Code SD, Washington, DC 20546-

0001; telephone 202-358-1544.

Benita A. Cooper,

Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.

[FR Doc. 97-23111 Filed 8-28-97; 8:45 am]

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