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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 5, 2006 / Notices 52347

can be adapted to the same use as a Exploration Program (MEP). The DEIS Division, Science Mission Directorate, Merrill document, and there are no presents descriptions of the proposed Attn: Receiving & Inspection (Rear of articles ‘‘like or directly competitive’’ MSL mission, spacecraft, and candidate Building), NASA Headquarters, 300 E with any Merrill ‘‘article.’’ Because launch vehicle; an overview of the Street SW., Washington, DC 20024– there are no articles which are like or affected environment at and near the 3210. While hard copy comments are directly competitive with those launch site; and the potential preferred, comments may be sent by produced by the subject company, there environmental consequences associated electronic mail to cannot be any imports, much less with the Proposed Action and mep.nepa@hq..gov. increased imports. Therefore, neither alternatives, including the No Action The DEIS may be reviewed at the Section 222(a)(2)(A) nor Section Alternative. following locations: 222(a)(2)(B) of the Trade Act, as The MSL mission is planned for (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, amended, has been satisfied. launch during the September–November Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW., The Department determines that the 2009 time period from Cape Canaveral Washington, DC 20546; revised policy articulated in Lands’ End Air Force Station (CCAFS), , on (b) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors does not affect Plaintiffs’ claim and an expendable launch vehicle. The Lobby, Building 249, 4800 Oak Grove determines that the subject workers are arrival date at Mars would range from Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109. not eligible to apply for TAA. mid-July 2010 to not later than mid- Hard copies of the DEIS also may be October 2010, depending on the exact Conclusion examined at other NASA Centers (see launch date and selected landing site, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below). After reconsideration on remand, I yet to be determined, on the surface of Limited hard copies of the DEIS are affirm the original notice of negative Mars. Using advanced instrumentation, available, on a first request basis, by determination of eligibility to apply for the MSL rover would acquire contacting Mark R. Dahl at the address, adjustment assistance for workers and significant, detailed information telephone number, or electronic mail former workers of Merrill Corporation, regarding the habitability of Mars from address indicated herein. The DEIS is St. Paul, Minnesota. a scientifically promising location on also available in Adobe portable Signed at Washington, DC, this 24th day of the surface. The mission would also document format at http:// August 2006. fulfill NASA’s strategic technology goals spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/pubs/ Elliott S. Kushner, of increasing the mass of science msl/index.htm. payloads delivered to the surface of Certifying Officer, Division of Trade FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adjustment Assistance. Mars, expanding access to higher and Mark R. Dahl, Planetary Science [FR Doc. E6–14590 Filed 9–1–06; 8:45 am] lower latitudes, increasing precision landing capability, and increasing Division, Science Mission Directorate, BILLING CODE 4510–30–P traverse capability (mobility) to NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC distances on the order of several 20546–0001, telephone 202–358–4800, kilometers. or electronic mail NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND The DEIS evaluates two alternatives [email protected]. SPACE ADMINISTRATION in addition to the No Action SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MEP [Notice (06–063)] Alternative. Under the Proposed Action is currently being implemented as a (Alternative 1), the proposed MSL rover sustained series of flight missions to National Environmental Policy Act; would utilize a radioisotope power Mars, each of which will provide Mission system, a Multi-Mission Radioisotope important, focused scientific return. The AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), as MEP is fundamentally a science driven Space Administration (NASA). its primary source of electrical power to program whose focus is on operate and conduct science on the ACTION: understanding and characterizing Mars Notice of availability of draft surface of Mars. Under Alternative 2, an environmental impact statement (DEIS) as a dynamic system and ultimately MSL rover would utilize solar energy as addressing whether life is or was ever a for implementation of the Mars Science its primary source of electrical power to Laboratory (MSL) mission. part of that system. The core MEP operate and conduct science on the addresses the highest priority scientific SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National surface of Mars. investigations directly related to the Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as DATES: Written comments on the DEIS Program goals and objectives. MSL amended, (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et must be received by NASA no later than investigations would be a means of seq.), the Council on Environmental October 23, 2006, or 45 days from the addressing several of the high-priority Quality Regulations for Implementing date of publication in the Federal scientific investigations recommended the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Register of the U.S. Environmental to NASA by the planetary science CFR Parts 1500–1508), and NASA Protection Agency’s notice of community. policy and procedures (14 CFR Part availability of the MSL DEIS, whichever The overall scientific goals of the MSL 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has is later. mission can be divided into four areas: prepared and issued a DEIS for the ADDRESSES: Comments submitted via (1) Assess the biological potential of at proposed MSL mission. The DEIS first class, registered, or certified mail least one selected site on Mars, (2) addresses the potential environmental should be addressed to Mark R. Dahl, characterize the geology and impacts associated with implementing Mail Suite 3X63, Planetary Science geochemistry of the landing region at all the mission. The purpose of this Division, Science Mission Directorate, appropriate spatial scales, (3) investigate proposal is to explore the surface of NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW., planetary processes of relevance to past Mars with a mobile science laboratory Washington, DC 20546–0001. habitability, and (4) characterize the (rover). This environmental impact Comments submitted via express mail, a broad spectrum of the Martian surface statement (EIS) is a tiered document commercial deliverer, or courier service radiation environment. The following (Tier 2 EIS) under NASA’s should be addressed to Mark R. Dahl, specific objectives are planned for the Programmatic EIS for the Mars Mail Suite 3X63, Planetary Science mission to address these goals:

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—Determine the nature and inventory of mission, and the spacecraft would not —October 10, 2006, from 1 p.m.–4 p.m. organic compounds; be launched. With either the Proposed at the Hyatt Regency Washington on —Inventory the chemical building Action (Alternative 1) or Alternative 2, Capitol Hill; Congressional Room A; blocks of life (carbon, hydrogen, the potentially affected environment for 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW., , , phosphorus, and a normal launch includes the area at Washington, DC 20001. ); and in the vicinity of the launch site, Further information on the public —Identify features that may represent CCAFS in Florida. The environmental meetings can be obtained by contacting the effects of biological processes; impacts of a normal launch of the Mark R. Dahl at the address or —Investigate the chemical, isotopic, and mission for either alternative would be telephone number indicated herein, or mineralogical composition of Martian associated principally with the exhaust by visiting the MSL DEIS Web site at: surface and near-surface geological emissions from the expendable launch http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/ materials; vehicle. These effects would include: (1) pubs/msl/index.htm. Advanced —Interpret the processes that have Short-term impacts on air quality within registration for attending any of the formed and modified rocks and the exhaust cloud and near the launch meetings is not required. regolith; pad, and (2) the potential for acidic The FEIS may be examined at the —assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion- deposition on the vegetation and surface following NASA locations by contacting year) atmospheric evolution water bodies at and near the launch the pertinent Freedom of Information processes; and complex. Office: —Determine the present state, Potential launch accidents could (a) NASA, , distribution, and cycling of water and result in the release of some of the Moffett Field, CA 94035 (650–604– carbon dioxide. radioactive material on board the 3273); The proposed MSL mission would spacecraft. The MMRTG planned for use (b) NASA, Dryden Flight Research utilize a rover with advanced on the rover for the Proposed Action Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (661–276– instrumentation to acquire significant (Alternative 1) would use 2704); detailed information regarding the dioxide, with a radioisotope inventory (c) NASA, Glenn Research Center at habitability of Mars from a scientifically of approximately 58,700 curies, to Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH 44135 (216– promising location. The mission would provide electrical power. For either 433–2813); also fulfill NASA’s strategic technology alternative, two of the science (d) NASA, Goddard Space Flight goals of increasing the mass of science instruments on the rover would use Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301–286– payloads delivered to the surface of small quantities of radioactive material, 4721); Mars, expanding access to higher and totaling approximately two curies, for (e) NASA, Johnson Space Center, lower latitudes, increasing precision instrument calibration or science Houston, TX 77058 (281–483–8612); (f) NASA, , FL landing capability, and increasing experiments. 32899 (321–867–9280); traverse capability (mobility) to The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with NASA, has (g) NASA, Langley Research Center, distances on the order of several Hampton, VA 23681 (757–864–2497); kilometers. performed a risk assessment of potential accidents for the MSL mission. This (h) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Mobility is essential because evidence Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (256–544– for past or present life on Mars will very assessment used a methodology refined through applications to the , 1837); and likely not be so abundant or widespread (i) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS , Cassini, Mars Exploration that it will be available in the immediate 39529 (228–688–2118). Rover, and missions. vicinity of the selected landing site. Any person, organization, or DOE’s risk assessment for the proposed Without the mobility necessary to governmental body or agency interested MSL mission indicates that in the event conduct in situ exploration, it may not in receiving a copy of NASA’s Record of of a launch accident the expected be possible to uniquely characterize a Decision after it is rendered should so impacts of released radioactive material target location. indicate by mail or electronic mail to at and in the vicinity of the launch area, The Proposed Action (Alternative 1) Mr. Dahl at the addresses provided and on a global basis, would be small. consists of continuing preparations for above. and implementing the MSL mission to Alternative 2 would not involve any Written public input and comments Mars. The proposed MSL rover would MMRTG-associated radiological risks on alternatives and environmental utilize a MMRTG as its primary source since an MMRTG would not be used for issues and concerns associated with the of electrical power to operate and this mission alternative. proposed Mars Science Laboratory conduct science on the surface of Mars. NASA will hold public comment mission are hereby requested. Under Alternative 2, NASA would meetings during which the public is discontinue preparations for the invited to participate in an open Olga M. Dominguez, Proposed Action (Alternative 1) and exchange of information and submission Assistant Administrator for Infrastructure implement an alternative MSL mission of comments on the DEIS. Each public and Administration. to Mars. The alternative MSL rover meeting will begin with an [FR Doc. E6–14649 Filed 9–1–06; 8:45 am] would utilize solar energy as its primary for informal discussions with project BILLING CODE 7510–13–P source of electrical power to operate and personnel, followed by a brief NASA conduct science on the surface of Mars. presentation on the MSL mission, and With either the Proposed Action conclude with the submission of formal NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (Alternative 1) or Alternative 2, the MSL comments, both written and oral. These spacecraft would be launched on board meetings will be held on: Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To an expendable launch vehicle from —September 27, 2006, from 1 p.m.–4 Establish an Information Collection CCAFS, Florida during the September– p.m. and 6 p.m.–9 p.m. at the Florida AGENCY: National Science Foundation. November 2009 time period. Under the Solar Energy Center; H. George ACTION: Notice and Request for No Action Alternative, NASA would Carrison Auditorium; 1679 Clearlake Comments. discontinue preparations for the MSL Road, Cocoa, Florida 32922;

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