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PREFACE This Draft Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range has been developed by URS Group, Inc. (URS) and EG&G Technical Services (EG&G) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center’s (GSFC) Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). URS/EG&G have prepared this report for the exclusive use of WFF in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500- 1508), NASA’s regulations for implementing NEPA (14 CFR Subpart 1216.3), and the NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) for implementing NEPA and Executive Order 12114 (NPR 8580.1) (NASA, 2001). Executive Summary DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EXPANSION OF THE WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY LAUNCH RANGE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY WALLOPS ISLAND, VA 23337 Lead Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Cooperating Agency: Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation Proposed Action: Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range on Wallops Island For Further Information: Joshua A. Bundick NEPA Program Manager Code 250.W Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wallops Island, VA 23337 (757) 824-2319 Date: April 2009 ABSTRACT This Environmental Assessment addresses the proposed expansion of the launch range at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), which is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Under the Proposed Action, NASA and Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport facilities would be upgraded to support medium large class suborbital and orbital ELV launch activities from WFF, including site improvements required to support launch operations (such as facility construction and infrastructure improvements), testing, fueling and processing operations, as well as launching of an additional 6 vehicles and associated spacecraft per year from Pad 0-A. The Proposed Action would have both adverse and beneficial impacts to environmental or socioeconomic resources, however most are minor and of short duration and none are considered 19-MAR-09\\ i Executive Summary significant. Adverse impacts would be mitigated to the greatest extent practicable to minimize the effects on resource areas. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE ACTION The purpose for the Proposed Action is to enhance the respective NASA or MARS facilities such that they are able to accommodate a wider variety of new launch vehicles and payloads. Such an expansion is consistent with national space policies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 and the 1994 National Space Transportation Policy, both of which contain the primary objective of keeping the United States at the forefront of space transportation technology. Additionally, WFF and MARS are located within the only NASA-owned launch range, and therefore they provide the only established location in the world solely under NASA control and focused on NASA’s schedule, budget, and mission objectives. ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTIONS No Action Alternative Under the No Action Alternative, the proposed launch vehicle activities would not be conducted at WFF, and NASA or MARS would not proceed with expansion activities to support medium large class Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) operations at Pad 0-A. Proposed Action The Proposed Action is to expand and upgrade NASA or MARS facilities to support medium large class suborbital and orbital ELV launch activities from WFF. Components of the Proposed Action include site improvements required to support launch operations, testing, fueling and processing operations, and launching of an additional 6 vehicles and associated spacecraft per year from Pad 0-A. NASA or MARS would make minor modifications to the boat dock on the north end of Wallops Island, such as installing additional fendering, sheet piling, and armor stone. Ongoing maintenance dredging would continue at the Wallops Island Boat Dock to ensure a navigable channel and docking area. NASA would construct a dedicated payload fueling facility (PFF) as well as a facility dedicated to payload processing (PPF) and storage that would be located on the north end of Wallops Island. The new PFF would include a high bay, employee dress-out room, several equipment rooms, and a loading dock. Payloads would be handled by bridge cranes located within the high bay area. A water storage tank (with a maximum capacity of 1,135,625 liters [300,000 gallons]), pumps, and a deluge water retention basin would be constructed adjacent to the building to satisfy fire suppression requirements. The footprint of the PFF would occupy approximately 465 square meters (5,000 square feet). The PPF would be an approximately 1,115 square meter (12,000 square foot) facility dedicated to payload processing and storage on north Wallops Island approximately 183 meters (600 feet) east of the proposed PFF. Payloads would be transported from offsite locations to this facility prior to fueling for initial assembly, inspection, cleaning, and testing. Following fueling, the fueled payload could be transported back for final assembly prior to being integrated into the launch vehicle. Following final payload processing, the payload would be transported south to the MARS Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) for integration into the launch vehicle. 19-MAR-09\\ ii Executive Summary Transportation improvements would be made by NASA or MARS as necessary to transport cargo from the existing boat dock on the north end of Wallops Island to the proposed PFF or PPF, from the PPF or PFF to the HIF, and from the HIF to the launch pad. Infrastructure improvements include construction of new roads and minor upgrades to existing roads. New road construction could be up to 664 linear meters (2,178 feet) of 6 meter (20 foot) wide road, adding approximately 0.4 hectare (1 acre) of additional asphalt pavement. The widening or straightening of existing roads could add up to an additional 0.2 hectare (0.5 acre) of pavement. A new launch complex including a pad access ramp, launch pad, and deluge system would be constructed in approximately the same location as the existing Pad 0-A. The combined improvements would result in an overall pad complex footprint of approximately 1.3 hectares (3.3 acres). New construction would add approximately 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of impervious surface, which would consist primarily of concrete pavement. Because demolition of portions of the launch pad and the entire gantry at Pad 0-A have been completed, only minor additional demolition activities would occur. Several existing facilities could undergo minor interior modifications to support the launch of commercial medium large class orbital rockets; these facilities would include the blockhouses (launch control buildings), communication support systems, radar, and antennae improvements. In addition to constructing a dedicated PFF, NASA may make minor interior modifications to building V-55 so that it could also serve as a temporary PFF. Modifications could include the installation of explosion-proof electrical outlets, ventilation system changes, and installing vapor monitoring devices. Fueling operations would generally be the same as in the PFF, however use of this building for fueling would be irregular and only if the primary PFF was not available. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Potential environmental impacts resulting from the Proposed Action are summarized below. No environmental impacts are anticipated as a result of the No Action Alternative. Topography and Drainage Under the Proposed Action, land grading, excavation, and construction activities for the construction of a PPF, PFF, roads, and Pad 0-A would cause land disturbances. Construction of these facilities would also result in increased impervious surfaces on Wallops Island. Because Wallops Island is essentially flat, the site improvement activities would not substantially alter topography; therefore, changes to natural drainage patterns would be minor. Although wetlands would be filled for construction of the launch ramp and PPF, only minor changes in drainage patterns would occur as a result. Permanent stormwater control measures would be implemented in compliance with Virginia Stormwater Management Laws and Regulations to provide adequate drainage for the new building sites, and to mitigate the effects of increased runoff from impervious surfaces. Therefore, with permanent stormwater measures incorporated into the site design, no significant impacts to topography and drainage are anticipated. Geology and Soils Under the Proposed Action, construction activities, including grading, clearing, filling, and excavation, would result in disturbance of the ground surface and would have the potential to cause soil erosion. NASA or MARS would minimize adverse impacts to soils by acquiring 19-MAR-09\\ iii Executive Summary VSMP permits as necessary, and developing and implementing site-specific SWPPPs and E&SC Plans prior to ground disturbing activities. NASA or MARS would revegetate bare soils and incorporate landscaping measures in areas to be left as pervious surfaces (not paved) when construction is complete. Other potential impacts to soils include spills or leaks of pollutants from vehicles

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