NASA Notice of availability of draft programmatic environmental impact statement (DPEIS) for implementation of the Mars Exploration Program

[Federal Register: April 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 78)]
[Notices]
[Page 21865-21867]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ap04-91]

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 04-054]

National Environmental Policy Act; Mars Exploration Program

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft programmatic environmental
impact statement (DPEIS) for implementation of the Mars Exploration
Program.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (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 DPEIS for the Mars
Exploration Program (MEP). The DPEIS addresses the potential
environmental impacts associated with continuing the preparations for
and implementing the program.

The MEP would be a science-driven, technology-enabled effort to
characterize and understand Mars using an exploration strategy, which
focuses on evidence of the presence of water. Following the pathways
and cycles of water may lead to preserved ancient records of biological
processes, as well as the character of environments on Mars. The
Proposed Action addresses the preparation for and implementation of a
coordinated series of robotic orbital, surface, and atmospheric
missions to gather scientific data on Mars and its environments through
2020. Continued planning for sample return missions, which would enable
study of Martian samples in Earth-based laboratories, would be
included. Some MEP missions could use radioisotope power systems (RPSs)
for electricity, radioisotope heater units (RHUs) for thermal control,
and small quantities of radioisotopes in science instruments for
experiments and instrument calibration. Environmental impacts
associated with specific missions would be addressed in subsequent
environmental documentation, as appropriate. Missions launched from the
United States would originate from either Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station (CCAFS), Florida or Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB),
California.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on
environmental concerns on or before June 7, 2004, or 45 days from the
date of publication in the Federal Register of the EPA notice of
availability of the MEP DPEIS, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted via first class, registered, or certified
mail should be addressed to Mark R. Dahl, Office of Space Science, Mail
Code SM, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001. Comments
submitted via express mail, a commercial deliverer, or courier service
should be addressed to Mark R. Dahl, Office of Space Science, Mail Code
SM, Attn: Receiving & Inspection (Rear of Building), NASA Headquarters,
300 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20024-3210. While hard copy comments
are preferred, comments by electronic mail may be sent to
mep.nepa@hq.nasa.gov. The DPEIS may be reviewed at the following

locations:

(a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20546.

(b) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 Oak
Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).

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

(c) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650-604-1181).

(d) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, P.O. Box 273, Edwards, CA 93523 (661-258-3449).

(e) NASA, Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135 (216-433-2755).

(f) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-286-6255).

(g) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (281-483-8612).

(h) NASA, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 (321-867-9280).

(i) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681 (757-864-2497).

(j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (256-544-2030).

(k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (228-688-2164).

Limited hard copies of the DPEIS are available, on a first request
basis, by contacting Mark R. Dahl at the address or telephone number
indicated herein. The DPEIS also is available in Acrobat[reg] format at
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/pubs/mepdpeis/index.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark R. Dahl, Office of Space Science,
Mail Code SM, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001, telephone
202-358-4800, or electronic mail mep.nepa@hq.nasa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the MEP, NASA would establish a series
of objectives to address the open scientific questions associated with
the exploration of Mars. These objectives have been organized by the
program as follows:

• Determine if life exists or has ever existed on Mars,
• Understand the current state and evolution of the atmosphere, surface, and interior of Mars, and
• Develop an understanding of Mars in support of possible future human exploration.

The purpose of the action addressed in the DPEIS is to further the
scientific goals of the MEP by continuing the exploration and
characterization of the planet. On the basis of the knowledge gained
from prior and ongoing missions (i.e., the early Mariners, Viking, Mars
Pathfinder, Mars Global Surveyor, and Mars Odyssey), it appears that
Mars, like Earth, has experienced dynamic interactions among its
atmosphere, surface, and interior that are, at least in part, related
to water. Following the pathways and cycles of water has emerged as a
strategy that possibly may lead to a preserved record of biological
processes, as well as the character of ancient environments on Mars. In
addition to understanding the history of Mars, investigations
undertaken in the MEP may shed light on current environments that could
support existing biological processes.

The Proposed Action (Alternative 1) would consist of a long-term
program that, as a goal, sends at least one spacecraft to Mars during
each launch opportunity extending through the first two decades of the
twenty-first century. Efficient launch opportunities to Mars occur
approximately every 26 months. MEP missions would be launched on
expendable launch vehicles (e.g., Delta or Atlas class) from either
CCAFS, Florida, or VAFB, California.

International participation in the MEP could include, but not be
limited to, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency (ESA),
the French Space Agency, the German Space Agency, the Italian Space
Agency, and the Russian Space Agency. The MEP could include
international missions in which NASA proposes to be a participant that are to be launched from a foreign
site. Under the Proposed Action, the MEP would consist of a series of
robotic orbital, surface, and atmospheric missions to Mars. Some
spacecraft could use RPSs for continuous electrical power, RHUs for
thermal control, and small quantities of radioisotopes in science
instruments for experiments and instrument calibration.

At this time, it is envisioned that the MEP missions through the
first decade would consist of the following:

• NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter, which was launched on April 7, 2001, and is currently in orbit about Mars.
• NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers project, which consists of two missions that sent two identical rovers to two different sites on the surface of Mars. Spirit and Opportunity were launched in June and July 2003, respectively, and successfully landed on Mars in January 2004. Both rovers are currently operating on Mars.
• ESA’s Mars Express mission, which consists of an orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander, launched in June 2003. Mars Express successfully entered orbit at Mars on December 25, 2003 (Beagle 2 was deemed lost after attempts to communicate with it failed after the scheduled landing on December 25).
• NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is proposed for launch in 2005, and is intended to narrow the focus of potential landing sites to search for the most compelling indicators for bearing life.
• A series of small, narrowly focused missions, called Mars Scouts, is currently proposed to explore Mars at every other launch opportunity beginning in 2007. The first Mars Scout mission, a lander called Phoenix, would be launched during this opportunity.
• NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), proposed for launch in 2009, would conduct surface and sub-surface investigations to examine the aqueous history of Mars and search for potential building blocks of life. The MSL could utilize a RPS to provide uninterrupted electrical power. NASA also proposes to launch a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter during the 2009 opportunity.
• A second Mars Scout mission is proposed for launch during the 2011 opportunity.

Missions beyond 2011 could use orbiters, rovers, and landers and
could include the first mission to return Martian samples. As new
information and techniques become available during the course of the
program, the timing, focus, and objectives of MEP missions in the
second decade could be redirected.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action evaluated in the DPEIS include
the following:

• Under Alternative 2, NASA would continue to explore Mars through 2020, but on a less frequent, less comprehensive, mission-by-mission basis. These missions may include international partners. Any mission proposed to continue the exploration of Mars would be developed and launched within the broader context of all other missions proposed for exploring other parts of the solar system. Robotic orbital, surface, and atmospheric missions could be used to explore Mars and could include sample return missions. Landed spacecraft could use RPSs for power generation or RHUs for thermal control of temperature-sensitive components in the spacecraft. Some spacecraft may carry small quantities of radioisotopes in science instruments for experiments and for instrument calibration.
• Under the No Action Alternative, NASA would discontinue planning for and launching robotic missions to Mars through 2020. Currently operating NASA spacecraft at or en route to Mars would continue their missions to completion. New science investigations of Mars would only be made remotely from Earth-based assets, i.e., ground- or space-based observatories, or from spacecraft developed and launched to Mars by non-U.S. space agencies.

The environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives
are discussed in the DPEIS from a programmatic perspective. Because the
DPEIS is being prepared during the planning stages for the MEP,
specific proposed projects and missions within the MEP are only
addressed in terms of a broad, conceptual framework. Each project or
mission within the MEP that would propose use of RPSs or RHUs would be
the subject of additional environmental documentation. While detailed
analyses and test data for each spacecraft-launch vehicle combination
are not yet available, there is sufficient information from previous
programs and existing NEPA documentation to assess the potential
environmental impacts.

A major component of the MEP is continued planning for one or more
missions that would return samples from Mars. At the time of
publication of the DPEIS, preliminary concepts for a sample return
mission are being studied and would continue to be refined and
evaluated. A sample return mission would be the subject of separate
environmental documentation, as would the location, design and
operational requirements for a returned-sample receiving facility. NASA
may also propose to participate in international missions to Mars to be
launched from foreign locations. In such an event, NASA will prepare
environmental documentation in accordance with Executive Order 12114,
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions. The non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with normal spacecraft
launches from both CCAFS and VAFB have been addressed in previous U.S.
Air Force and NASA environmental documentation. Rocket launches are
discrete events that cause short-term impacts on local air quality.
However, because launches are relatively infrequent events, and winds
rapidly disperse and dilute the launch emissions to background
concentrations, long-term effects from exhaust emissions would not be
anticipated. If solid rocket motors are used, surface waters in the
immediate area of the exhaust cloud might temporarily acidify from
deposition of hydrogen chloride. Launching a mission during each
opportunity to Mars (approximately every 26 months) under the Proposed
Action or less frequently under Alternative 2 would result in
negligible release of ozone-depleting chemicals with no anticipated
long-term cumulative impacts.

One or more of the missions to Mars could propose the use of
radioisotopes under the Proposed Action and Alternative 2. Small
quantities of radioisotopes may be used for instrument calibration or
to enable science experiments, and RHUs or RPSs containing varying
amounts of plutonium dioxide may be used to supply heat and electric
power, respectively. Under both alternatives NASA will determine the
appropriate level of NEPA documentation required for any mission
proposing use of radiological material. If required, a nuclear risk
assessment will be developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to
address the human health and environmental risks associated with the
use of radioactive material. Many of the parameters that determine the
risks for a specific mission are expected to be similar to those
associated with previous missions (e.g., Galileo, Ulysses, Cassini, and
the Spirit and Opportunity rovers). Mission-specific factors that
affect the estimated risk include the amount and type of radioactive material used in a mission, the
protective features of the devices containing the radioactive material,
the probability of an accident which can damage the radioactive
material, and the accident environments (e.g., propellant fires, debris
fragments, and blast overpressure). The risks associated with a Mars
exploration mission carrying radioactive material are, therefore,
expected to be similar to those estimated for earlier missions. The
population and individual risks associated with prior missions that
have made use of radioactive material have all been shown to be
relatively small.

Any person, organization, or governmental body or agency interested
in receiving a copy of NASA’s Record of Decision after it is rendered
should so indicate by mail or electronic mail to Mr. Dahl at the
addresses provided above.

Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Assistant Administrator for Institutional and Corporate Management.
[FR Doc. 04-9133 Filed 4-21-04; 8:45 am]

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