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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Notices

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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Notices 17216 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Notices NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND locations by contacting the pertinent of plutonium dioxide to generate SPACE ADMINISTRATION Freedom of Information Act Office: electric power for the spacecraft and its (d) NASA, Ames Research Center, instruments. The spacecraft would also [Notice 97±040] Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415±604± use approximately 130 RHU's, each National Environmental Policy Act; 4190). containing a small amount of plutonium Cassini Mission (e) NASA, Dryden Flight Research dioxide, to generate heat for controlling Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805±258± the thermal environment of the AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 3448). spacecraft and several of its Space Administration (NASA). (f) NASA, Goddard Space Flight instruments. ACTION: Notice of availability of draft Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301±286± The action selected and documented supplemental environmental impact 0730). in the ROD consists of completing statement (DSEIS) for the Cassini (g) NASA, Johnson Space Center, preparations for and implementing the mission to Saturn and its moons. Houston, TX 77058 (713±483±8612). Cassini mission to Saturn and its (h) NASA, Langley Research Center, moons, with a launch of the Cassini SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Hampton, VA 23665 (757±864±2497). spacecraft onboard a Titan IV (SRMU)/ Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (i) NASA, Lewis Research Center, Centaur. The launch would take place at (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH CCAS during the primary launch seq.), the Council on Environmental 44135 (216±433±2222). opportunity that begins in early October Quality Regulations for Implementing (j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight 1997 and continues into mid-November the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Center, AL 35812 (205±544±0031). 1997. A secondary launch opportunity CFR Parts 1500±1508), and NASA (k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS extends from the end of November 1997 policy and procedures (14 CFR Part 39529 (601±688±2164). to early January 1998, with a backup 1216, Subpart 1216.3), NASA has Limited copies of the DSEIS are opportunity from mid-March to early prepared and issued a DSEIS for the available, on a first request basis, by April 1999, both using the Titan IV Cassini mission. The DSEIS focuses on contacting Mark Dahl at the address or (SRMU)/Centaur. The primary launch updated information pertinent to the telephone number indicated herein. opportunity would employ a Venus- consequence and risk analyses of Venus-Earth-Jupiter-Gravity-Assist potential accidents during the launch FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Dahl, 202±358±1544. trajectory to Saturn; the secondary and and cruise phases of the mission. Such backup opportunities would both SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: accidents could result in the release of The employ a Venus-Earth-Earth-Gravity- plutonium dioxide from one or more of planned Cassini mission is an Assist (VEEGA) trajectory. The above the three Radioisotope Thermoelectric international cooperative effort of primary launch opportunity remains Generators (RTG's) and the NASA, the European Space Agency, and NASA's preferred alternative and approximately 130 Radioisotope Heater the Italian Space Agency, to explore the Proposed Action and would allow the Units (RHU's) onboard the Cassini planet Saturn and its environment. Cassini spacecraft to gather the full spacecraft. The currently planned Saturn is the second-largest and second- science return desired to accomplish mission involves the launch of the most massive plant in the solar system mission objectives. Cassini spacecraft from Cape Canaveral and has the largest, most visible Along with the No-Action alternative Air Station (CCAS), Florida, during the dynamic ring structure of all the (ceasing preparations and not primary launch opportunity that begins planets. The planned mission is an implementing the Cassini mission), the in early October 1997. important part of NASA's program for EIS evaluated in detail two other DATES: Comments on the DSEIS must be exploration of the solar system, the goal mission alternatives. The March 1999 submitted in writing and received by of which is to understand the system's alternative would have used two Shuttle NASA no later than May 27, 1997, or 45 birth and evolution. The Cassini flights with on-orbit integration of the days from the date of publication in the mission would involve a 4-year spacecraft and upper stage, followed by Federal Register of the U.S. scientific exploration of Saturn, it's injection of the spacecraft into a VEEGA Environmental Protection Agency's atmosphere, moons, rings, and trajectory to Saturn. Due to the long notice of availability of the Cassini magnetosphere. The Cassini spacecraft lead-time in developing and certifying mission DSEIS, whichever is later. consists of the Cassini Orbiter and the the new upper stage that would be ADDRESSES: Written comments should detachable Huygens Probe. The needed to implement it, this alternative be addressed to Mr. Mark R. Dahl, Huygens Probe would be released for a is no longer considered reasonable. The NASA Headquarters, Code SD, parachute descent into the atmosphere other mission alternative considered in Washington, DC 20546±0001. The of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The the EIS was the 2001 alternative which DSEIS may be reviewed at the following scientific information gathered by the would use a Titan IV (SRMU)/Centaur locations: Cassini mission could help provide to launch the spacecraft from CCAS in (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, clues to the evolution of the solar March 2001 on a Venus-Venus-Venus- Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW., system and the origin of life on Earth. Gravity-Assist trajectory. A backup Washington, DC 20546. NASA issued the Final Environmental opportunity in May 2002 would use a (b) Spaceport U.S.A., Room 2001, Impact Statement for the Cassini VEEGA trajectory. The 2001 alternative John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL Mission in July 1995 (hereinafter the would require completing development 32899. Please call Lisa Fowler ``EIS'') followed by the associated and testing of a new high-performance beforehand at 407±867±2497 so that Record of Decision (ROD) to complete rhenium engine for the spacecraft, as arrangements can be made. preparation of the Cassini mission for well as adding about 20 percent more (c) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors launch in the October 1997 opportunity, propellant to the spacecraft. Science Lobby, Building 249, 4800 Oak Grove or either the secondary or backup returns from this alternative would meet Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818±354± opportunities, and to implement the the minimum acceptable level for the 5179). mission. mission. In addition, the DSEIS may be The Cassini spacecraft would carry The EIS analyses demonstrated that examined at the following NASA three RTG's that use the heat of decay completing preparations for and Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 1997 / Notices 17217 implementing a normal Cassini mission DATES: Responses to this notice must be NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS would not significantly impact the received by June 9, 1997. ADMINISTRATION human environment. The principal FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: concern associated with all mission Ms. Kimberly A. Chasteen, Patent Records Schedules; Availability and alternatives (except No-Action) was Attorney, NASA Langley Research Request for Comments with accidents during launch and Center, Mail Stop 212, Hampton, VA AGENCY: Office of National Archives and operation of the mission that have the 23681±0001, telephone (757) 864±3227; Records Administration, Records potential to result in a release of fax (757) 864±9190. Services. plutonium dioxide from the RTG's and/ ACTION: or RHU's onboard the spacecraft. In Dated: April 2, 1997. Notice of availability of response, NASA and the U.S. Edward A. Frankle, proposed records schedules; request for Department of Energy (DOE), using the General Counsel. comments. best information available at that time, [FR Doc. 97±9103 Filed 4±8±97; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: The National Archives and developed an array of representative BILLING CODE 7510±01±M Records Administration (NARA) accident scenarios that could potentially publishes notice at least once monthly result in a release of plutonium dioxide of certain Federal agency requests for from the RTG's. NASA and DOE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND records disposition authority (records analyzed the representative accident SPACE ADMINISTRATION schedules). Records schedules identify scenarios with respect to the records of sufficient value to warrant consequences and risks. The results of [Notice 97±042] preservation in the National Archives of those analyses were presented in the the United States. Schedules also Notice of Prospective Patent License Cassini EIS. authorize agencies after a specified Updated results from the continuing AGENCY: National Aeronautics and period to dispose of records lacking tests and analyses have recently become Space Administration. administrative, legal, research, or other available for NASA review. This value. Notice is published for records updated data indicates that there is new ACTION: Notice of Prospective Patent License. schedules that (1) Propose the information relevant to the destruction of records not previously environmental impacts of the Proposed SUMMARY: NASA hereby gives notice authorized for disposal, or (2) reduce Action. that HITCO Technologies, Inc. of the retention period for
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