[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 117 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37802-37804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15257]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: 00-068]


National Environmental Policy Act; Ames Development Plan for NASA 
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 an Ames Development Plan (ADP) for NASA 
Ames Research Center (hereinafter referred to as the ``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 
Procedures (14 CFR part

[[Page 37803]]

1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA intends to conduct scoping and prepare an 
EIS for the proposed ADP. The ADP will include integrated development 
plans for the following areas within the Center: (1) A portion of the 
Center comprised of approximately 86 hectares (213 acres) situated 
between the original Center campus, the airfield, U.S. Highway 101, and 
U.S. Air Force controlled military housing area (hereinafter referred 
to as the ``NASA Research Park''); (2) a portion of the Center 
comprised of 385 hectares (952 acres) including the airfield and lands 
to the east of the airfield (hereinafter referred to as ``East Side-
Airfield''); (3) a portion of the Center comprising 38 hectares (94.6 
acres) located north of the original Center campus (hereinafter 
referred to as ``Bay View''); and (4) that portion of the Center 
comprising the original 97 hectares (240 acres) Center campus 
(hereinafter referred to as the ``ARC Facilities''). The Center is 
located in Santa Clara County, California. The EIS will address the 
environmental issues associated with the ADP and its implementation.
    The ADP will focus, in part, on the NASA Research Park, proposed as 
a world-class, shared-use educational and research and development 
(R&D) campus focused on astrobiology, life sciences, space sciences, 
nanotechnology, information technology, and aeronautics. The goal of 
the NASA Research Park is to create partnerships with Federal, state, 
and local government agencies, universities, private industry and non-
profit organizations in support of NASA's mission to conduct research 
on and develop new technologies. The ADP will also focus on proposed 
new development in Bay View and East Side-Airfield, and potential 
replacement of existing NASA research facilities in the ARC Facilities.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments or 
environmental concerns to NASA on or before July 31, 2000 to ensure 
full consideration during the scoping process. Public scoping meetings 
will be held in the vicinity of the Center during the middle part of 
July 2000. The specific meeting times and locations will be published 
in the San Jose Mercury News and the La Oferta Review. The meeting 
schedule can also be obtained from Michael Mewhinney at the phone 
number listed below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Ms. Sandy Olliges, NASA Ames 
Research Center, Environmental Services Office, Mail Stop 218-1, 
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000. While hard copy comments are preferred, 
comments by electronic mail may be sent to [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Mewhinney, Development and 
Communication Office, 650-604-3937.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1991, the Federal Base Closure and 
Realignment Commission decided to close Moffett Field Naval Air 
Station. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Defense transferred 
stewardship of the property to NASA. NASA took over administration of 
752 hectares (1,857 acres) of Moffett Field in 1994. The immediate 
issues were how to use the newly acquired land in a manner consistent 
with NASA's mission, and how to pay for the maintenance and operations 
of such a large site. These matters were originally addressed in the 
Moffett Field Comprehensive Use Plan (CUP) and its associated 
Environmental Assessment (EA), which resulted in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) in 1994. After the transfer of the property, 
local community leaders formed a Community Action Committee (CAC) and 
recommended uses for the newly acquired land. The uses proposed in the 
ADP are consistent with the CAC recommendations.
    In addition to the activities described in the CUP, NASA now 
proposes to develop the NASA Research Park and other areas, which will 
build on the full range of existing high-technology and aviation 
resources at Moffett Field and create partnerships with Federal, State, 
and local governmental agencies, universities, private industry and 
non-profit organizations in support of NASA's mission to develop new 
technologies. With the help of these collaborative organizations, NASA 
proposes to develop on currently underutilized land at Moffett Field a 
world-class, shared-use educational and R&D campus focused on 
astrobiology, life sciences, space sciences, nanotechnology, 
information technology, and aeronautics. This new campus would further 
NASA's mission by providing the critical mass of scholars and engineers 
necessary to create a vital research and educational community focused 
on the advancement of human knowledge about life sciences, space 
sciences, nanotechnology, information technology, the Earth and space. 
By integrating public and private R&D efforts, the NASA Research Park 
would serve as a hub of technology transfer, keeping NASA researchers 
involved in cutting-edge technology advances, and promoting the 
commercial applications of NASA's basic scientific research.
    Alternatives for the development at the Center to be studied in the 
EIS include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:
    (1) Alternative 1: No action; continued current use of buildings 
and land.
    (2) Alternative 2: Increase buildings and existing structures to 
326,000 square meters from 140,000 square meters (3.5 million square 
feet from 1.5 million square feet) of floor space within the NASA 
Research Park. Proposed uses within the NASA Research Park would 
include: Student/faculty housing, training and residential conference 
facilities, offices, R&D, laboratory, museum and educational 
facilities. Also included in this alternative is the renovation of 
46,500 square meters (500,000 square feet), including Hangar 1 for the 
California Air and Space Center. For Bay View, this alternative also 
includes 121,000 square meters (1.3 million square feet) of offices, 
R&D, laboratory, educational facilities and student/faculty housing. 
For East Side-Airfield, this alternative includes approximately 51,000 
square meters (550,000 square feet) of new light industrial, R&D, 
office and educational facilities. For ARC Facilities, this alternative 
includes the renovation and replacement of approximately 46,500 square 
meters (500,000 square feet) for offices, R&D and laboratories. No new 
wind tunnels or increased aircraft operations are proposed. The 
existing Burrowing Owl habitat would be protected.
    (3) Alternative 3: Increase buildings and existing structures to 
418,000 square meters from 140,000 square meters (4.5 million square 
feet from 1.5 million square feet) of floor space within the NASA 
Research Park. Proposed uses within the NASA Research Park would 
include: Student/faculty housing, training and residential conference 
facilities, offices, R&D, laboratory, museum and educational 
facilities. Also included in this alternative is the renovation of 
46,500 square meters (500,000 square feet), including Hangar 1 for the 
California Air and Space Center. For Bay View, this alternative 
includes no proposed development. For East Side-Airfield, this 
alternative includes the adaptive reuse of existing historic hangars. 
For ARC Facilities, this alternative includes the renovation and/or 
replacement of existing buildings and structures. No new wind tunnels 
or increased aircraft operations are proposed. The existing Burrowing 
Owl habitat would be protected.
    (4) Alternative 4: Increase buildings and existing structures to 
279,000 square meters from 140,000 square

[[Page 37804]]

meters (3.0 million square feet from 1.5 million square feet) of floor 
space within the NASA Research Park. Proposed uses within the NASA 
Research Park would include: Student/faculty housing, training and 
residential conference facilities, offices, R&D, laboratory, museum and 
educational facilities. Also included in this alternative is the 
renovation of 46,500 square meters (500,000 square feet), including 
Hangar 1 for the California Air and Space Center. For Bay View, this 
alternative also includes 251,000 square meters (2.7 million square 
feet) of offices, R&D, laboratory, educational facilities and student/
faculty housing, and elimination of the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research 
Facility in the northern portion of Bay View). For East Side-Airfield, 
this alternative would include approximately 62,000 square meters 
(670,000 square feet) of new light industrial, R&D, office and 
educational facilities. For ARC Facilities, this alternative would 
include the renovation and replacement of approximately 140,000 square 
meters (1.5 million square feet) for offices, R&D and laboratories. No 
new wind tunnels or increased aircraft operations are proposed. The 
existing Burrowing Owl habitat would be protected.
    NASA is currently proceeding with a project that includes the 
development of a laboratory facility that was covered by a FONSI issued 
in 1994 for the CUP. Development under the CUP also includes renovation 
of portions of the Shenandoah National Historic District and other 
minor development.
    The California Air National Guard (CANG) is proceeding with its 
master plan, which includes construction of a new airfield support 
facility. The CANG's development is covered by a separate FONSI and EA, 
which they issued in 1997.
    No new wind tunnels or additional aircraft operations are proposed 
for any of the action alternatives. No development would occur in 
wetlands. The Bay Trail would be accommodated as part of the action 
alternatives.
    The Center area is served by several modes of public 
transportation, including the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority 
Light Rail, CalTrain, and bicycle paths.
    The EIS will consider the full range of potential environmental 
impacts associated with these alternatives. Environmental issues 
addressed will include, but not necessarily be limited to, public 
policy, land use, motor vehicle traffic, air quality, infrastructure 
and drainage, hazardous materials and site contamination, pollution 
prevention, geology, biological resources, noise, aesthetics, cultural 
resources, socioeconomic impacts (including environmental justice), and 
other issues identified for emphasis during the scoping process. NASA 
believes that the greatest potential for environmental impact is to 
traffic and air quality. If the proposed development would increase 
relevant air emissions above 100 tons per year, NASA would conduct a 
detailed general conformity determination, pursuant to the Clean Air 
Act.
    NASA will consult with the State Historic Preservation Office 
during the planning process because part of the NASA Research Park and 
East Side-Airfield development would be located in a historic district 
that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
    Written public input and comments on environmental issues or 
concerns related to the development of the Center are hereby solicited.

Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 00-15257 Filed 6-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-P