[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50860-50861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20569]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[NOTICE: 19-054]


National Environmental Policy Act; Mars 2020 Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) for implementation of the Mars 2020 mission.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's 
procedures for implementing NEPA, NASA intends to prepare a supplement 
to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mars 2020 Mission 
(Supplemental EIS). The Supplemental EIS will provide updated 
information related to the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed Mars 2020 mission. The updated information is 
pertinent to the consequence and risk analyses of potential accidents 
which could occur during the launch phases of the mission. Although the 
probability of such accidents occurring is highly unlikely, it is 
possible that under certain

[[Page 50861]]

conditions an accident could result in a release of plutonium dioxide 
from the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). 
The MMRTG is a critical component of the Mars 2020 rover; it would 
enable the Mars 2020 rover mission to undertake a much broader scope of 
scientific discovery by providing a continuous supply of electrical 
power and temperature control to the Mars 2020 rover while on the 
surface of Mars. The Mars 2020 spacecraft would launch onboard an Atlas 
V launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), 
Brevard County, Florida, during the summer of 2020. Additional 
information about the mission may be found on the internet at: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

DATES: A Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the Federal 
Register once NASA has completed drafting the SEIS. The NOA will 
provide a 45-day public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Tahu by electronic mail at 
[email protected] or by telephone at 202-358-0016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA's proposed Mars 2020 mission would use 
the proven design and technology developed for the Mars Science 
Laboratory mission and rover (Curiosity) that launched from CCAFS in 
November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. NASA would select a 
high priority, scientifically important landing site based upon data 
from past and current missions. The rover would be equipped with new 
scientific instrumentation that would: (a) Characterize the geological 
processes and history of an astrobiologically relevant ancient 
environment on Mars; (b) within the selected geological environment, 
assess the past habitability of the landing region and search for 
evidence of past life; (c) assemble a scientifically selected, well-
documented, cache of samples for potential future return to the Earth; 
(d) further the preparation for future human exploration of Mars; and 
(e) demonstrate improved technical capabilities for landing and 
operating on the surface of Mars to benefit future Mars missions.
    On September 11, 2013, NASA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mars 2020 mission. It was 
anticipated that the electrical, thermal, and operational requirements 
of the rover would require a radioisotope power source (MMRTG) using 
plutonium-238. This single MMRTG would provide adequate power to 
operate the rover, similar to the Mars Curiosity rover. Some of the 
waste heat from the MMRTG would be used for temperature control of the 
rover electronics, science instruments, and other sensitive components. 
Alternatives to the Proposed Action addressed in that EIS included: (1) 
The use of alternative sources of on-board power and heat (including 
solar energy); and (2) the No Action Alternative. The Mars 2020 EIS 
also addressed the purpose and need for the proposed Mars 2020 mission 
and the environmental impacts associated with its implementation. The 
environmental impacts of the mission associated with the normal launch 
of the mission were addressed, as were the potential consequences of 
accident situations. NASA issued the Mars 2020 Final EIS in November 
2014, and on January 27, 2015, NASA issued its Record of Decision 
(ROD). The ROD adopted Alternative 1 as the preferred alternative. 
Alternative 1 required NASA to complete preparations for and implement 
the proposed Mars 2020 mission during July--August 2020, or during the 
next available launch opportunity in August through September 2022, and 
to operate the mission using a MMRTG that would continually provide 
heat and electrical power to the rover's battery. Since 2015, NASA has 
significantly advanced preparations for the Mars 2020 mission and 
selected the Atlas V as the launch vehicle. The Mars 2020 Final EIS 
discussed Incomplete and Unavailable Information which would be 
addressed in the future through more detailed risk analyses conducted 
as part of NASA's and the Department of Energy's (DOE) ongoing 
radiological safety review programs. These analyses were completed in 
2019 and accounted for the chosen launch vehicle (that was selected on 
August 25, 2016, after the Mars 2020 Record of Decision on January 27, 
2015), up to date safety test information, and updated analytical 
models.
    NASA policy for implementation of NEPA is found in NASA Procedural 
Requirements 8580.1A (NPR). The NPR requires preparation of a 
supplemental NEPA document when a substantial change in information 
relevant to environmental concerns that bear on the impacts of the 
proposed action is discovered. Since NASA issued the 2014 Final EIS and 
2015 ROD, updated results from DOE conducted risk and consequence 
modeling have become available for NASA's consideration. NASA has 
determined that the purposes of NEPA will be furthered by preparation 
and issuance of an SEIS.

Nanette Smith,
NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-20569 Filed 9-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P