National Environmental Policy Act; Earth Observing System Program

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]

BILLING CODE 7510-01-M