[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31651-31652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14875]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 99-075]


National Environmental Policy Act; Ames Research Center; 
Aerodynamics Testing Program

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the final environmental impact 
statement (FEIS) for the NASA Ames Aerodynamics Testing Program.

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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 
procedures (14 CFR Part 1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared and 
issued a FEIS for the proposed NASA Ames Aerodynamics Testing Program 
(ATP). The FEIS addresses environmental issues associated with proposed 
wind tunnel testing of high performance aircraft powered by engines 
with supersonic jet exhaust and powered-lift systems in the National 
Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) at NASA Ames Research Center 
(ARC), Santa Clara County, California. The ATP proposes to define the 
envelope of future wind tunnel testing in the NFAC and change the 
operational parameters for testing in two facilities at ARC: the 40- by 
80-foot Wind Tunnel and the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel. This program 
would increase maximum noise levels but would not increase the number 
of wind tunnel operation hours.
    NASA's preferred alternative, Alternative 2, would allow 600 hours 
annually of full-scale wind tunnel testing of advanced aircraft 
technologies, but would limit the higher noise aerodynamic testing to 
daytime hours (i.e., between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.).
    NASA has developed and issued a Mitigation Implementation Plan for 
the Agency's preferred alternative.

DATES: NASA will take no final action on the proposed ATP before July 
12, 1999 or 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal 
Register of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's notice of 
availability of the ATP FEIS, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS and Mitigation Implementation Plan can be reviewed 
at the following locations:
    (a) Mountain View Public Library, Reference Section, 585 Franklin 
Street, Mountain View, CA (650-903-6887).
    (b) Sunnyvale Public Library, Reference Section, 665 West Olive 
Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA (408-730-7300).
    (c) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room lJ20, 300 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20546 (202-358-0167).
    (d) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 
Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
    (e) NASA, Spaceport USA, Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, 
FL 32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2497, so that 
arrangements can be made.
    In addition, the FEIS and Mitigation Implementation Plan can be 
examined at the following NASA locations by contacting the pertinent 
Freedom of Information Act Office:
    (a) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650-604-
4191).
    (b) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, (661-258-
2662).
    (c) NASA, Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, 21000 Brookpark 
Road, Cleveland, OH 44135 (216-433-2755).
    (d) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771(301-286-
0730).
    (e) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (281-483-8612).
    (f) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (757-864-
2497).
    (g) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (256-
544-5549).
    (h) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (228-688-2164).
    Limited copies of the FEIS and Mitigation Implementation Plan are 
available, on a first request basis, by contacting Sandra Olliges at 
the address, telephone number, or electronic mail address provided 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Olliges, NASA, Ames 
Research Center, M.S. 218-1/Building 218, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000; 
telephone 650-604-3355; electronic mail ([email protected]).

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 ARC is the only test facility in the world 
that has this capability. Conducting such tests would provide a key 
capability for helping ensure the long-term dominance of U.S. aircraft 
in both the military environment and commercial marketplace.
    The X-32/X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) testing project could be 
one of the first projects implemented under the ATP. The X-32/X-35 test 
aircraft and associated proposed testing project established the 
operational boundaries of high-noise testing in the NFAC wind tunnel 
facilities for the ATP. Testing at ARC for the High Speed Civil 
Transport program, which is developing new technology for supersonic 
civilian airliners that are economically viable and more 
environmentally friendly, is another program that could fall under the 
envelope of the ATP.
    The JSF program is investigating the technical feasibility of 
fielding an affordable, military viable, multi-service aircraft in the 
2010 time frame. This program currently has a dual experimental 
aircraft designation of X-32 and X-35. The JSF concept currently has 
three variations: (1) A Short Takeoff Vertical Landing attack aircraft 
for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Navy; (2) a U.S. Air Force 
Conventional Takeoff and Landing multi-role fighter aircraft; and (3) 
an aircraft carrier capable fighter/attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy. 
The X-32/X-35 JSF program provides a unique opportunity to potentially 
develop a truly common and affordable aircraft for expeditionary naval 
forces and fixed-base land use.
    It is important to note that the specific tests discussed in the 
FEIS may be representative of future test requirements not specifically 
identified to date. Therefore, this ATP FEIS will serve as a baseline 
document for the environmental evaluation of subsequent testing at Ames 
Research Center. The FEIS addresses common elements of such testing in 
a single document and provides detailed information on each

[[Page 31652]]

aspect of the ATP to the extent that such data are available.
    Programmatic and test specific alternatives for this proposed 
testing that were considered include, but are not necessarily limited 
to: (1) Alternative daily time periods for typical testing activities; 
(2) modification of the testing procedures to reduce noise levels; (3) 
tests at a location other than Ames Research Center; and (4) 
elimination of the proposed ATP--``no action.'' As a result of 
preliminary analysis, the FEIS considers four alternatives in detail, 
including the ``no action'' alternative. The three action alternatives 
considered in detail would create the same maximum noise levels but 
differ primarily in the number of testing hours permitted annually and 
the daily time periods for different testing noise levels.
    The FEIS considers the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed ATP. Particular emphasis is placed on potentially 
incurred noise impacts and air emissions associated with the testing.
    The FEIS is a program-level Environmental Impact Statement and 
thus, analyzes the environmental impacts of implementing a proposed new 
operational protocol for aerodynamics testing at ARC in the NFAC wind 
tunnel complex. The ATP would be made up of smaller, specific, limited 
duration and scope projects, such as the X-32/X-35 JSF testing project. 
If the ATP were adopted, any future testing project would be required 
to comply with the parameters of the ATP. NASA would be required to 
determine whether each proposed aerodynamics testing project is 
consistent with the ATP. If such a proposed aerodynamics testing 
project does not comply the ATP, assuming that ATP were adopted, 
additional environmental analysis and NEPA documentation would be 
prepared, as appropriate, before any final decision is made.
    Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) were 
solicited from Federal, State, and local agencies, organizations, and 
the general public through: (a) notices published in the Federal 
Register--NASA notice on June 28, 1995, (60 FR 33438) and U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency notice on June 30, 1995, (60 FR 34246), 
(b) notices in the San Jose Mercury News and the La Oferta Review, (c) 
direct mailing of a fact sheet to persons within the proposed noise 
contours, and (d) a series of public participation meetings. A total of 
13 written and 32 oral comments (arising during public meetings on the 
DEIS), primarily related to noise, were provided on the DEIS. These 
comments have been addressed in the FEIS.
Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 99-14875 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-P