[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20973-20974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10459]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (FPEIS) for the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 
Program

AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

SUMMARY: On April 23, 1995, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization 
(BMDO) signed the Record of Decision (ROD) on research, development, 
and testing of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability. The decision 
included in this ROD has been made in consideration of, but not limited 
to, the information contained in the Ballistic Missile Defense Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) filed with the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on November 18, 1994. Other 
factors considered in this decision include the present and projected 
threat, cost, and administrative and congressional directives.

    The BMD programmatic alternatives arose from existing and potential 
national security needs. The need for further research and development 
of BMD capability comes from the threat posed by the global 
proliferation of missile technology, and the accompanying production 
and development of weapons of mass destruction. This threat is 
compounded by improvements to missile performance and weapon design by 
other nations, as well as increases in the number of missile-armed 
nations. The ROD documents the BMDO decision between the programmatic 
alternatives.
    The BMD program includes both National Missile Defense (NMD) and 
Theater Missile Defense (TMD) segments under the direction of BMDO. The 
NMD segment of the program considers developing ground and space-based 
elements, including Ground-Based Sensor (GBS), Ground-Based Interceptor 
(GBI), Space-Based Sensor (SBS), and Battle Management/Command, 
Control, and Communications (BM/C3) elements, to defend the United 
States against long-range missiles. The TMD segment 
[[Page 20974]] considers developing transportable systems to defend 
elements of the armed forces of the United States deployed abroad, and 
United States' allies, against short- and medium-range missiles. The 
TMD segment was analyzed separately in the TMD Programmatic EIS, due to 
the distinct functions and independent utility of the TMD and NMD 
segments.
    The decision conveyed by the ROD is to continue research, 
development, and testing of NMD capabilities. The decision includes 
continuing the NMD Technology Readiness Program but does not include 
the procurement or acquisition of an operational NMD system. Only 
limited NMD research, development, and testing is to continue. The 
acquisition of TMD system capabilities will continue as described in 
the TMD ROD published in the Federal Register on August 11, 1994 (59 FR 
41277).
    The specific decision with respect to NMD is to continue a focused 
approach to technology development in the form of the Technology 
Readiness Program (the Preferred Action in the Final PEIS). The program 
involves the development of existing and new technologies and test 
systems for BM/C3, GBS, GBI, and SBS elements. Research is to be 
focused to ensure the capability to deploy a limited NMD system in the 
next decade. Basic technology efforts will continue to infuse new 
advances as the program proceeds. Contingency planning and options 
development will continue to be conducted to meet unexpected threats.
    Three NMD System Acquisition Alternatives were also evaluated. 
These alternatives consisted of proceeding with system acquisition and 
design of NMD elements through the Engineering and Manufacturing 
Development (EMD) phase of the DoD System Acquisition Life-cycle. 
Activities included in the EMD phase involve development and testing of 
elements up to, but not including, element and/or system production and 
basing. The System Acquisition Alternatives evaluated were:
    1. Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground- and Space-Based 
Interceptors System Acquisition Alternative (which consists of 
Engineering and Manufacturing Development of GBS, SBS, GBI, SBI, and 
BM/C3);
    2. All Ground-Based System Acquisition Alternative (which consists 
of Engineering and Manufacturing Development of GBS, GBI, and BM/C3); 
and
    3. Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground-Based Interceptors 
System Acquisition Alternative (which consists of Engineering and 
Manufacturing Development of GBS, SBS, GBI, and BM/C3).
    The Final PEIS analyses determined that environmental impacts for 
the Preferred Action (No Action Alternative) or any of the three System 
Acquisition Alternatives would be minimal. The Final PEIS analyses 
found no significant and unavoidable environmental impacts for the 
Preferred Action or any of the three alternatives. The Preferred Action 
would be termed the environmentally preferred alternative since there 
would be fewer activities associated with its implementation, and 
therefore fewer impacts. The other alternatives would generally create 
greater areas of disturbance, require more resources, and create more 
and greater hazards than the Preferred Action although the 
environmental impact of all options would be minimal.
    Therefore, the implementation of BMD research, development, and 
testing activities and associated mitigation measures will proceed with 
minimal adverse impact to the environment. BMDO Deputies and Program 
Executive Officers are tasked to monitor these activities to ensure 
that the required environmental standards and controls described in the 
Final PEIS are followed. BMDO activities will conform with all 
applicable Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations. 
Additionally, all reasonable and practical efforts and appropriate 
safeguards will be implemented to minimize harm to the public and the 
environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Lehner, BMDO/SRE, 
Washington, DC 20301-7100, (703) 695-8743.

    Dated: April 25, 1995.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 95-10459 Filed 4-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M