3 July 1997
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html

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[Federal Register: July 3, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 128)]
[Notices]
[Page 36080-36081]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jy97-95]

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 97-090]


National Environmental Policy Act; Cassini Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of final supplemental environmental
impact statement (FSEIS) for the Cassini Mission to Saturn and its
moons.

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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 an FSEIS for the Cassini Mission. The FSEIS focuses on the most
recently available information pertinent to the risk analyses of
potential accidents during the launch and cruise phases of the mission.
Certain accidents could potentially result in some release of plutonium
dioxide from one or more of the three Radioisotope Thermoelectric
Generators (RTG's) and the 129 Radioisotope Heater Units (RHU's)
onboard the Cassini spacecraft. The currently planned mission involves
the launch of the Cassini spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Station
(CCAS), Florida, during the primary launch opportunity that begins in
early October 1997.

DATES: NASA will take no final action on the proposed launch of the
Cassini Mission before August 4, 1997, or 30 days form the date of
publication in the Federal Register of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's notice of availability of the Cassini Mission
FSEIS, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: The FSEIS may be reviewed at the following locations:

(a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street SW, Washington,
DC 20546.
(b) Spaceport U.S.A. Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.
Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2497 so that arrangements
can be made.
(c) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 Oak
Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).

    In addition, the FSEIS may be examined at the following NASA
locations by contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act
Office:

(d) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-604-4190).
(e) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-258-
3448).
(f) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-286-
0730).
(g) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (713-483-8612).

[[Page 36081]]

(h) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23655 (757-864-2497).
(i) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH
44135 (216-433-2222).
(j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812 (202-544-0031).
(k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).

    Limited copies of the FSEIS are available, on a first request
basis, by contacting Mark R. Dahl at the address or telephone number
indicated below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark R. Dahl, NASA Headquarters, Code SD, Washington, DC 20546-
0001; telephone 202-358-1544.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planned Cassini Mission is an
international cooperative effort of NASA, the European Space Agency,
and the Italian Space Agency, to explore the planet Saturn and its
environment. Saturn is the second-largest and second-most massive
planet in the solar system and has the largest, most visible dynamic
ring structure of all the planets. The planned mission is an important
part of NASA's program for exploration of the solar system, the goal of
which is to understand the system's birth and evolution. The Cassini
Mission would involve a 4-year scientific exploration of Saturn, its
atmosphere, moons, rings, and magnetosphere. The Cassini spacecraft
consists of the Cassini Orbiter and the detachable Huygens Probe. The
Huygens Probe would be released for a parachute descent into the
atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The scientific information
gathered by the Cassini Mission could help provide clues to the
evolution of the solar system and the origin of life on Earth.
    NASA issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the
Cassini Mission in July 1995 (hereinafter the ``EIS'') followed by the
associated Record of Decision (ROD) to complete preparation of the
Cassini Mission for launch in the October 1997 opportunity, or either
the secondary or backup opportunities, and to implement the mission.
    The Cassini spacecraft would carry three RTG's that use the heat of
decay of plutonium dioxide to generate electric power for the
spacecraft and its instruments. The spacecraft would also use 129
RHU's, each containing a small amount of plutonium dioxide, to generate
heat for controlling the thermal environment of the spacecraft and
several of its instruments.
    The action selected and documented in the ROD associated with the
EIS consists of completing preparations for and implementing the
Cassini Mission to Saturn and its moons, with a launch of the Cassini
spacecraft onboard a Titan IV(SRMU)/Centaur. The launch would take
place at CCAS during the primary launch opportunity that begins in
early October 1997 and continues into mid-November 1997. A secondary
launch opportunity extends from the end of November 1997 to early
January 1997, with a backup opportunity from mid-March to early April
1999, both using the Titan IV(SRMU)/Centaur. The primary launch
opportunity would employ a Venus-Venus-Earth-Jupiter-Gravity-Assist
trajectory to Saturn; the secondary and backup opportunities would both
employ a Venus-Earth-Earth-Gravity-Assist (VEEGA) trajectory. The above
primary launch opportunity remains NASA's preferred alternative and
Proposed Action and would allow the Cassini spacecraft to gather the
full science return desired to accomplish mission objectives.
    Along with the No-Action alternative (ceasing preparations and not
implementing the Cassini Mission), the EIS evaluated in detail two
other mission alternatives. The March 1999 alternative would have used
two Shuttle flights with on-orbit integration of the spacecraft and
upper stage, followed by injection of the spacecraft into a VEEGA
trajectory to Saturn. Due to the long lead-time in developing and
certifying the new upper stage that would be needed to implement it,
this alternative is no longer considered reasonable. The other mission
alternative considered in the EIS was the 2001 alternative which would
use a Titan IV(SRMU)/Centaur to launch the spacecraft from CCAS in
March 2001 on a Venus-Venus-Venus-Gravity-Assist trajectory. A backup
opportunity in May 2002 would use a VEEGA trajectory. The 2001
alternative would require completing development and testing of a new
high-performance rehenium engine for, as well as adding about 20
percent more propellant to, the spacecraft. Science returns from this
alternative would meet the minimum acceptable level for the mission.
    The results from the safety risk analyses have recently become
available. The FSEIS compares this recent best available information
with that presented in the EIS. The FSEIS addresses the Proposed
Action, the No-Action alternative, and the 2001 mission alternative
(which is still available to NASA).
    Comments on the draft supplemental environmental impact statement
were solicited from Federal, State and local agencies, organizations,
and members of the general public through: (a) notices published in the
Federal Register--NASA notice on April 9, 1997, (62 FR 17216) and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency notice on April 11, 1997, (62 FR
17810); and (b) direct mailings to interested parties. Comments
received have been addressed in the FSEIS.
Benita A. Cooper,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.
[FR Doc. 97-17404 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M

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[Federal Register: July 3, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 128)]
[Notices]
[Page 36081-36083]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jy97-96]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


[Notice 97-091]




National Environmental Policy Act; X-33 Advanced Technology
Demonstrator Vehicle Program


AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).


ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) for the X-33 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
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 DEIS for Phase II of the X-33 Program, which involves the
development and demonstration of the X-33 test vehicle. The DEIS
addresses environmental issues associated with the preparation of the
flight operations (launch) and landing sites and testing of the X-33
technology demonstrator spaceplane. The purpose of the proposed test
program is to demonstrate the feasibility of technology which could
result in commercially viable Reusable Launch (RLVs).
    The reasonable alternative launch sites are located within Edwards
Air Force Base (AFB) near Lancaster, California.
    Reasonable alternative landing sites for segments of the flight
test activities are located at Silurian Lake, near Baker, California;
China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, near Ridgecrest, California;
Dugway Proving Grounds, near Tooele, Utah; Grant County Airport, Moses
Lake, Washington; and Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana. NASA is the
lead agency in the preparation of the environmental impact statement.
Components of the U.S. Department of Defense; the U.S.


[[Page 36082]]


Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; and the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration are
acting as cooperating agencies.


DATES: Comments on the DEIS must be submitted in writing and received
by NASA no later than August 18, 1997 or 45 days from the date of
publication in the Federal Register of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's notice of availability of the X-33 DEIS, whichever
is later.


ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Dr. Rebecca C.
McCaleb, NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, AE01/Building 4201,
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812. In addition, written comments
may be sent to Dr. McCaleb electronically at (X33EIS@msfc.nasa.gov) or
by facsimile at 205-544-9259. The DEIS may be reviewed at the following
locations:


(a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street SW, Washington,
DC 20546.
(b) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Library, Building 4200,
Huntsville, AL 35812.
(c) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Library, Building 4800, Room
2149, Edwards AFB, CA 93523.
(d) NASA,Spaceport USA, Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL
32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2468 so that
arrangements can be made.
(e) Kern County Library, Boron Branch, 27070 Highway 5, Boron, CA
93516.
(f) Kern County Library, Ridgecrest Branch, 131 East Las Flores Street,
Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
(g) Los Angeles County Library, Lancaster Branch, 1150 West Avenue J,
Lancaster, CA 93524.
(h) Palmdale City Library, 700 East Palmdale Boulevard, Palmdale, CA
93550.
(i) San Bernadino County Library, Barstow Branch, 304 East Buena Vista,
Barstow, CA 92311.
(j) Great Falls Public Library, 301 2nd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT
59401.
(k) Moses Lake Library, 418 East 5th Street, Moses Lake, WA 98837.
(l) Dugway Proving Grounds Library, 5124 Kisstler Avenue, Dugway, UT
84022.
(m) Tooele Library, 47 East Vine Street, Tooele, UT 84074.
(n) Salt Lake City Library, 209 East 500 South, Business/Science
Department, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.


    In addition, the DEIS may be examined at the following NASA
locations by contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act
Office:


(o) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-604-4190).
(p) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-286-
0730).
(q) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Resident Office, 4800 Oak Grove
Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
(r) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (713-483-8612).
(s) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (757-864-2497).
(t) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH
44135 (216-433-2222).
(u) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).


    The DEIS can be found and accessed at the following internet
address: http://eemo.msfc.nasa.gov/eemo/x33__eis. Limited copies of the
DEIS are available, on a first request basis, by contacting Dr. Rebecca
McCaleb at the address indicated above or Dr. Dominic Amatore by
telephone at the number provided below.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Dominic A. Amatore, Deputy
Director, Public Affairs Office, Code CA01, Marshall Space Flight
Center, AL 35812, 205-544-6533.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The X-33 test vehicle is planned as an
approximately one-half scale reusable spaceplane. The vehicle would
launch vertically and land horizontally. The X-33 vehicle would consist
of a lifting body airframe with two cryogenic liquid propellant tanks
(liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX)) placed within the
aeroshell, and would use two linear aerospike main engines. Water would
be the primary product of the LOX/LH2 combustion. The entire spaceplane
(with all fuel tanks and engines) would launch and land as a single
unit.
    The flight test plan to meet the X-33 program objectives optimally
involves flights of approximately 160, 720, and 1,530 kilometers (100,
450, and 950 miles). During the landing sequence, the spaceplane would
be unpowered. Flight tests would involve speeds of up to Mach 15 and
altitudes up to approximately 75,800 meters (250,000 feet). None of the
X-33 test flights would achieve Earth orbit. Ground operations and
servicing (e.g., checkout, refueling, etc.) would be conducted with
``aircraft like'' procedures and systems. The test flight program would
be conducted in three stages, with all launches occurring from the same
launch site. The three stages would involve the incremental increase of
distance and speed, referred to as the ``flight envelope expansion,''
which allows the development program to minimize risk while achieving
test objectives. The three stage approach would necessitate short-
range, mid-range, and long-range landing sites to achieve speeds of
March 4, 12, and 15, respectively. After each test flight, the X-33
would be ferried back to the flight operations site by a Boeing 747
aircraft in a manner similar to that used for the transport of Space
Shuttle orbiters. The test program is currently planned for a combined
total of 15 flights.
    Reasonable alternatives considered for this proposed action
include:


--Flight operations (launch) sites:
(a) Edwards Air Force Base, California, Space Port 2000 site, and
(b) Edwards Air Force Base, California, Haystack Butte site;
--Short-range landing sites:
(a) Armitage Airfield, China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, California,
and
(b) Silurian Lake, a dry lake bed, north of Baker, California;
--Mid-range landing sites:
Michael Army Air Field, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah;
--Long-range landing sites (may serve as an alternative mid-range
landing site):
(a) Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls Montana, and
(b) Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, Washington; and,--``No Action.''
The ``No Action'' alternative (i.e., absence of the X-33 Program) would
mean that the RLV Program, as planned, could not proceed.


    The DEIS considers the potential environmental impacts associated
with the test program and related construction/modification of
facilities. Areas of focus include, but are not necessarily limited to:
noise and sonic booms; flight safety; surface transportation impacts;
effects on airspace and air traffic; wildlife and threatened and
endangered species; and cultural resources.
    Public information meetings will be held at the following dates,
times, and locations:


(a) Monday, July 7, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Washington, State National Guard
Armory, 6500 32nd Avenue, N.E., Moses Lake, Washington 98837.
(b) Tuesday, July 8, 1997; 6:00 p.m.; Great Falls High School, 1900
Second Avenue, South, Great Falls, Montana 59405.
(c) Wednesday, July 9, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Social Rehabilitative Services
Auditorium, 111 Sanders Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601.
(d) Thursday, July 10, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; University of Idaho/Idaho State
University, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402.


[[Page 36083]]


(e) Monday, July 14, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; US Army Dugway Proving Grounds,
Old Post Headquarters, Building 5450, Command Conference Room, Dugway,
Utah 84022.
(f) Tuesday, July 15, 1997; 6:00 p.m.; Salt Lake City Public Library,
Main Library Lecture Hall, 209 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah
84111.
(g) Wednesday, July 16, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Tooele Senior Center, 59 East
Vine Street, Tooele, Utah 84074.
(h) Monday, July 21, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Lancaster High School, 44701 32nd
Street West, Lancaster, California 93536.
(i) Tuesday, July 22, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Boron High School, 26831
Prospect Street, Boron, California 93516.
(j) Wednesday, July 23, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Burroughs High School, 500
East French Street, Ridgecrest, California 93555.
(k) Thursday, July 24, 1997; 7:00 p.m.; Baker Senior Citizen Center,
73730 Baker Blvd., Baker, California 92309.
Benita A. Cooper,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.
[FR Doc. 97-17405 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M

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