[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9577]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

 

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the 
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program

AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), Defense.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Preferred Action is to continue to conduct a Technology 
Readiness Program for National Missile Defense (NMD). The objective of 
the Program is to research and develop long-lead time sensor; 
interceptor; and battle management/command, control, and communications 
technologies to provide improvements to existing missile defense 
capabilities. Under the Program, concepts for NMD contingency 
deployment will also be enhanced. The Preferred Action is also the No-
Action Alternative as it is a continuation of current BMDO policy.
    The Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Program will continue under the 
Preferred Action and all alternatives. A Record of Decision (ROD) to 
conduct research and development activities that would give the United 
States the capability to produce and deploy a TMD system was published 
in the Federal Register on April 15, 1994. These activities will 
proceed regardless of the decision to be made on the Ballistic Missile 
Defense PEIS.
    The DPEIS analyzes the potential environmental effects associated 
with three System Acquisition Alternatives for the continued research 
and development of a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system capability 
by the Department of Defense (DoD). The environmental impacts of the 
Preferred Action and alternatives are discussed in the DPEIS to support 
future decisions on whether and how the DoD will proceed with a BMD 
system.

LEAD AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

COOPERATING AGENCIES: Department of Energy, National Aeronautical and 
Space Administration, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action Analyzed in the DPEIS

     Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground- and Space-
Based Interceptors System Acquisition Alternative. Under this 
alternative, BMDO would proceed with research, development, and testing 
activities similar to the Preferred Action but at a more intense level 
of effort. This alternative would also allow for the acquisition of a 
Ground- and Space-Based NMD system to proceed to the development of a 
system capability.
     All Ground-Based System Acquisition Alternative. Under 
this alternative, BMDO would proceed with research, development, and 
testing activities similar to the Preferred Action but at a more 
intense level of effort. This alternative would allow for the 
acquisition of an All Ground-Based NMD system to proceed to the 
development of a system capability.
     Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground-Based 
Interceptors System Acquisition Alternative. Under this alternative, 
BMDO would proceed with research, development, and testing activities 
similar to the Preferred Action but at a more intense level of effort. 
This alternative would allow for the acquisition of a Ground- and 
Space-Based NMD system (without Space-Based Interceptors) to proceed to 
the development of a system capability.

Invitation To Provide Comments

    BMDO will sponsor two public hearings to provide the public an 
opportunity to present their comments on the DPEIS. The first public 
hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on May 10, 1994, at The University of 
California--Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California. The second public 
hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on May 12, 1994, at The National Guard 
Association of the United States ``Walsh-Reckord Hall of States'' 
Washington, DC. Translators and signers will be provided upon request 
by calling the toll-free number listed below. Additionally, comments 
may be provided through any or all of the following means:
    (1) Written comments and questions concerning the DPEIS may be 
forwarded to: Major Tracy Bailey, BMDO/AQT, 7100 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC, 20301-7100. All written comments on the PDEIS must be 
postmarked by May 31, 1994.
    (2) Written comments and questions may also be telecopied by 
calling toll-free (800) 636-BMDO (800-636-2636).
    (3) Verbal comments will be recorded by calling toll-free (800) 
636-BMDO (800-636-2636) from April 15 through May 31, 1994.
    (4) For the hearing impaired, the toll-free number to comment is 
(800) 653-2150.
    (5) Copies of the DPEIS or Executive Summary may be requested by 
calling the above toll-free number.

    Dated: April 15, 1994.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 94-9577 Filed 4-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M