[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60533-60534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29637]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (97-161)]


National Environmental Policy Act; Expansion of Launch Range 
Operations at Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (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 expansion 
of launch range operations at Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops 
Flight Facility (WFF), Wallops Island, Virginia. NASA proposes to 
enhance national launch capabilities through improvements to 
infrastructure and the expansion of its launch range operations at WFF. 
The major elements of the proposed action include: (1) support of the 
Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority's establishment of a 
commercial launch site to operate from WFF under a Use Agreement with 
NASA (operation of this launch site would be licensed by the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA)); (2) improvements to real property 
necessary to support the expansion of launch operations; (3) expansion 
of operations at WFF to accommodate an increase in orbital launch 
capability; and (4) restoration of the historical level and nature of 
suborbital operations on the WFF range. The improvements to 
infrastructure and the establishment of a licensed commercial launch 
site at WFF would increase the national capacity for the launch of 
commercial satellites, and provide additional capacity for all launch 
operations from Wallops Island.
    The FAA has acted as a cooperating agency throughout the NEPA 
process.

DATE: Upon publication of this FONSI, NASA will proceed immediately to 
implement the proposed action.

ADDRESSES: The environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed expansion 
of launch range operations at WFF may be reviewed at the following 
locations:
    (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20546.
    (b) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, 
Public Affairs Office, Wallops Island, Virginia 23337.
    (c) Eastern Shore Public Library, Accomack, VA 23301.
    (d) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 
Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
    (e) Spaceport U.S.A., Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 
32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2497.
    In addition, the EA may be reviewed at the following NASA locations 
by contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act Office.
    (f) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650-604-
4190)
    (g) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-
258-3448).
    (h) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-
286-0730)
    (i) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (281-483-8612).
    (j) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (757-864-
2497).
    (k) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, 
OH 44135 (216-433-2222).
    (l) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812 (205-544-0031).
    (m) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164). A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available, on a first request basis, by 
contacting the WFF Public Affairs Office at the address or telephone 
number indicated herein.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office, NASA Goddard 
Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337; 
telephone 757-824-1579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the EA prepared for the 
expansion of launch operations at WFF and determined that it represents 
an accurate and adequate analysis of the scope and level of associated 
environmental impacts. NASA hereby incorporates the EA by reference in 
this FONSI.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to enhance national launch 
capabilities through improvements to infrastructure and the expansion 
of launch range operations at WFF. An FAA licensed commercial launch 
site at WFF would be established to promote this expansion of launch 
capabilities. The licensed commercial launch site is needed to further 
encourage, facilitate, and promote a competitive United States 
commercial launch industry.
    The EA identifies potential impacts that may occur during 
implementation of the proposed actions. The EA addresses environmental 
impacts associated both with launch operations and construction of 
launch support facilities. The expansion of launch range operations 
would accommodate an increase in orbital launch capability, and a 
restoration of the historical level of suborbital launches conducted at 
the WFF launch range. The proposed annual orbital launch schedule for 
WFF is anticipated to be twelve per year, with environmental impacts 
associated with an individual launch less than or equivalent to 
launching a Lockheed-Martin Launch Vehicle-3 with eight strap-ons 
(LMLV-3). The proposed improvements to WFF's real property and 
infrastructure necessary to accomplish the proposed expansion include: 
(1) modifications to existing launch pad 0-A; (2) modifications to 
existing buildings for payload processing facilities; and (3) the 
construction of a new launch pad designated as pad 0-B. WFF's proposed 
launch range expansion would accommodate various solid and liquid 
(liquid oxygen-hydrogen, liquid oxygen-kerosene) rocket motor 
configurations.
    Reasonable alternatives to the proposed action that were considered 
included launch sites at: (1) Spaceport

[[Page 60534]]

Florida, located adjacent to Cape Canaveral Air Station on the east 
coast of Florida; (2) California Spaceport, located at Vandenberg Air 
Force Base, California; (3) and Kodiak Launch Complex, near Kodiak, 
Alaska. Foreign launch sites, such as Russia, Japan, China, Canada, and 
India, are not considered reasonable alternative sites. NASA also 
considered the ``no action'' alternative.
    Impacts to the human environment associated with the proposed 
action can be divided into short-term (construction phase) and long-
term (operational phase) impacts. The construction phase would last 
approximately 12-15 months. The EA evaluated the environmental 
consequences of both the construction and operational phases including, 
but not limited to, air and water quality, noise, flora and fauna, 
threatened and endangered species, health and safety, solid and 
hazardous waste management, socioeconomics, land use, wetlands and 
floodplain management.
    Overall impacts individually and cumulatively to the human 
environment are not anticipated to be substantial. Neither construction 
nor operational activities will have a substantial impact on air 
quality at WFF. The highly localized, short duration air emissions from 
rocket launches quickly dissipate and are well below exposure standards 
established to protect human health. Neither construction nor 
operational noise levels will differ substantially from current noise 
levels at WFF. During launch operations, the noise is maintained for 
only a few seconds, is of low frequency, attenuates rapidly, and occurs 
infrequently.
    Construction activities will disturb some vegetation. Operational 
activities may include the searing of vegetation within approximately 
200 to 300 meters (660 to 980 feet) of the combustion path. The 
proposed construction area is dominated by Pharagmities australis 
(common reed) and no longer supports indigenous hydrophilic floral 
species. Construction activities will not disturb wildlife in the 
vicinity. Operational activities may include injury or death to fauna 
within 200 to 300 meters of the combustion path. Some temporary 
interruption of foraging and nesting activities within a 1,000 meter 
(3300 feet) radius of the launch pad for 2 to 10 minutes during launch 
operations may be expected. Construction activities will not disturb 
any federally or state listed threatened or endangered species or 
critical habitat. There are no known endangered species within a 1,000 
meter (3300 foot) radius of the launch pad. However, a piping plover 
nesting area is adjacent to this 1,000 meter zone. Pursuant to formal 
Section 7 consultation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has 
issued a biological opinion that WFF's proposed action is not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of the piping plover. Monitoring the 
piping plover will take place during the first three launches from pad 
0-B that take place during the nesting season.
    Relatively small amounts of toxic substances may be needed for 
payload processing, and limited amounts of solid and hazardous wastes 
will be generated. No water quality or cultural resource impacts are 
anticipated, and there are no environmental justice concerns. The 
proposed action is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with 
the Virginia coastal zone management program. The proposed construction 
will occur in a 100-year floodplain and will convert 1,280 square 
meters (approximately \1/3\ acre) of low quality wetlands to industrial 
use. There are no practicable alternatives which avoid the floodplain 
or conversion of the wetlands. Wetlands will be established or improved 
to compensate for the loss created by the project. There will be some 
positive socioeconomic benefit to the surrounding community through job 
creation and purchases of goods and services. There are no other issues 
of potential environmental concern.
    NASA sought public and agency review and comment on the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action through: (1) a notice of 
availability of the Draft EA concerning expansion of launch range 
operations at WFF in the Federal Register on September 8, 1997 (62 FR 
47223); (2) notice of availability of the Draft EA in local news media; 
(3) consultations with state and federal agencies; and (4) direct 
mailing of the Draft EA to interested parties. No environmental 
concerns were raised during the 30-day public comment on the Draft EA.
    On the basis of the EA for the expansion of launch range operations 
at WFF and underlying reference documents, NASA has determined that the 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action will not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality 
of the human environment.
    Therefore, an environmental impact statement is not required.
William F. Townsend,
Acting Associate Administrator for Mission to Planet Earth.
[FR Doc. 97-29637 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M