[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16586-16587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8797]


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

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (98-045)]


National Environmental Policy Act; Mars Surveyor Program

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Tier I environmental impact 
statement (EIS) and a Tier II EIS and conduct scoping for the Mars 
Surveyor Program.

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

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's policy and 
procedures (14 CFR Part 1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA intends to prepare a 
Tier I EIS and a Tier II EIS for the Mars Surveyor Program. This 
program has been authorized by Congress to launch missions to Mars 
periodically as part of a long-term program of Mars exploration. The 
purposes of the Mars Surveyor Program are to (1) conduct additional 
scientific exploration of Mars, and (2) use the first Mars Sample 
Return (MSR) mission to return Martian samples collected earlier by 
either the Mars 2001 or Mars 2003 mission to Earth.
    The Tier I EIS will serve as a programmatic EIS for the Mars 
Surveyor Program and as a mission-specific EIS for the proposed Mars 
2001 and Mars 2003 missions. It will address the environmental impacts 
of the proposed Mars 2001 and Mars 2003 missions and give a preliminary 
overview of the proposed first MSR mission which is planned for 2004. 
The Tier II EIS will provide further details of the MSR mission, 
including the potential environmental impacts of returning a sample of 
Martian surface materials and atmosphere to Earth.
    The Mars 2001 and 2003 missions are currently proposed to launch 
from Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Florida. The Mars 2001 orbiter 
is scheduled for launch in February 2001. The lander and rover are 
scheduled for launch in April 2001. The Mars 2003 orbiter, lander, and 
rover are proposed for launch in May 2003. The first proposed MSR 
mission, including orbiter, lander and Earth reentry capsule, is 
scheduled for a single launch in November 2004. Environmental impacts 
to be considered are those impacts associated with a normal launch from 
CCAS, and the potential radiological and non-radiological risks of 
launch accidents. The Mars 2001 and 2003 missions may require the use 
of up to eight Radioisotope Heater Units (RHU's) for each mission, and 
minor quantities of Curium-242, Curium-244, and Cobalt-57 for 
scientific instrumentation. The MSR mission may require the use of up 
to thirty RHU's.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments or 
environmental concerns on or before May 18, 1998 to assure full 
consideration during the scoping process.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Mark R. Dahl, NASA 
Headquarters, Code SD, Washington, DC 20546-0001. While hard copy 
comments are preferred, comments by electronic mail may be sent to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark R. Dahl, 202-358-1544; electronic 
mail ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The goal of the Mars Surveyor Program is to 
understand Mars in terms of life, climate and resources. The specific 
goals of the 2001, 2003, and MSR missions are to: Do a detailed 
exploration and characterization of selected areas of the Martian 
surface; characterize, collect, cache (store) and return samples of the 
Martian surface materials and atmosphere; map the global geochemical 
and mineralogical composition of Mars; acquire data on the radiation 
environment of Mars; demonstrate the viability of in-situ propellant 
production; and demonstrate aerocapture and precision landing 
capabilities.
    In accordance with the Mars Robotic Exploration Plan, one or two 
spacecraft to Mars are proposed to be launched during the time period 
around each orbital opportunity (approximately every twenty-six 
months). The missions could include the participation of scientists 
from the broad research community. The science community and industry 
would supply science instruments. These missions would be conducted in 
partnership with industry, and are to be executed within a specific 
funding profile. The Mars Surveyor Program would include the 
implementation of an education and outreach program. The 2001 and 2003 
proposed mission plans, as defined at this time, include global 
observations from orbit and, from the surface, collections, storage and 
analysis of Martian soil and rock samples. The proposed MSR mission 
plan, as presently defined, includes returning to Earth for more 
extensive study that cache of samples from either the 2001 or 2003 
caches, which is determined to be of most scientific interest. In order 
to ensure the maximum scientific payoff for the missions, the 2001 and 
2003 landers would collect data for 100 days, and the rovers each would 
collect science data for about one Earth year. In order for the rovers 
and surface instruments to survive at the low Mars temperatures, RHU's 
are proposed for use on the rover and on the Mars In-situ Propellant 
Production instrument in 2001 and on the rover and possibly on 
instruments not yet selected on the 2003 lander. The landed elements of 
each of these missions may use up to eight RHU's. RHU's are also likely 
to be required for the larger MSR spacecraft, but the number and 
location of any RHU's are still to be determined. However, present 
planning suggests that the MSR mission may need to use up to thirty 
RHU's. Each RHU would contain approximately 2.7 grams (about 0.1 ounce) 
of plutonium dioxide.
    NASA plans to address the environmental impacts of the Mars 
Surveyor Program through a two-tiered EIS process. The Tier I EIS will 
discuss the overall purpose and need for the Mars Surveyor Program. 
This EIS also will focus on the specific purpose and need for and the 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed Mars 2001 and 2003 
missions, as well as alternatives to the proposals. Because of 
unavailable information, it is likely that the MSR mission will only be 
addressed in terms of a broad conceptual framework in the Tier I EIS. 
The Mars 2001 and 2003 missions would serve purposes and needs 
independent of whether or not the MSR is ultimately approved. The 
Record of Decision (ROD) issued pursuant to the Tier I EIS and other 
relevant information will

[[Page 16587]]

focus on the determination of whether or not to proceed with the 
proposed Mars 2001 and 2003 missions.
    A decision on the MSR mission will be deferred until after the 
completion of the NEPA process associated with the Tier II EIS. NASA 
plans to focus the Tier II EIS on the purpose and need for the proposed 
MSR mission, other alternatives (both for launch and sample return to 
Earth), and the potential environmental impacts associated with the 
mission, including those related to the return of a Martian soil sample 
to Earth. Another notice of intent to prepare an EIS and conduct 
scoping will be issued at the initiation of the NEPA process for the 
Tier II EIS.
    Alternatives to be considered in the Tier I EIS include but are not 
limited to:

--Alternative launch vehicles
--Alternative mission configurations for the Mars 2001 and 2003 
missions
--Alternative launch sites
--Alternative means to maintain a spacecraft, lander, and rover 
environment which will permit extended operation of equipment and 
instruments
--Other means to meet the purpose and need
--The ``no action'' alternative which defines the baseline conditions 
that would prevail in the absence of the Mars Surveyor Program

    The Tier I EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed Mars 2001 and 2003 missions, and to the 
extent that information is available, the proposed MSR mission. 
Preliminary thinking on potential environmental impacts indicates that 
the Tier I EIS should focus on those associated with both the normal 
launches of the spacecraft and accident situations.
    Written public input and comments on environmental impacts and 
concerns associated with the Mars Surveyor Program are hereby 
solicited.
Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Acting Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.
[FR Doc. 98-8797 Filed 4-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M