[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3271-3272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-940]



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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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