NASA Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Antares 200 Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight
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FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ANTARES 200 CONFIGURATION EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE AT WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY www.nasa.gov September 2015 Front cover image: The Antares Orb-2 launched the third Cygnus from Wallops Island, Virginia to the International Space Station on July 13, 2014. Photo Credit: Brea Reeves, NASA WFF Optical Systems Group Back cover image: The Antares Orb-D1 mission launched on September 18, 2013, from Wallops Island, Virginia, with the first Cygnus on board to rendezvous with the International Space Station. Photo Credit: Jamie Adkins, NASA WFF Optical Systems Group FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ANTARES 200 CONFIGURATION EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE AT WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY WALLOPS ISLAND, VIRGINIA 23337 Lead Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Cooperating Agency: Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation Proposed Action: Processing, Static Fire, and Launch of the 200 Configuration Antares Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility For Further Information: Joshua A. Bundick Lead, Environmental Planning National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA 23337 (757) 824-2319 [email protected] Date: September 2015 ABSTRACT This Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) addresses the proposed processing, static fire, and launch of the 200 Configuration Antares Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), located in Accomack County, Virginia. The SEA has been prepared as a supplement to the 2009 Final Environmental Assessment Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range, and therefore focuses on the differences between the current Antares configuration (i.e., the “100” Configuration) at WFF and a proposed upgraded version (i.e., the “200” Configuration). Updated information regarding WFF’s environmental context is also provided, as appropriate. This SEA analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of two alternatives: the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Antares 200 Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility Table of Contents Table of Figures........................................................................................................................ iii Table of Tables ......................................................................................................................... iii 1 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION .................................. 1-1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 Relationship to 2009 Final EA ............................................................................. 1-2 1.1.2 Cooperating Agency ............................................................................................ 1-2 1.2 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ......................................................... 1-3 1.2.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.2.2 Need ..................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.3 Cooperating Agency Purpose and Need .............................................................. 1-4 2 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ............................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Proposed Action ................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3.1 Antares 200 Configuration ELV .......................................................................... 2-3 2.3.2 Antares 200 Configuration Spacecraft ................................................................. 2-5 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ......... 3-1 3.1 Physical Environment .......................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.1 Soils...................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-4 3.1.2 Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-5 3.1.3 Coastal Zone Management .................................................................................. 3-7 3.1.3.1 Regulatory Context ......................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.3.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.3.3 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-8 Table of Contents i Final: September 2015 Antares 200 Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility 3.1.4 Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 3-8 3.1.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-8 3.1.4.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-9 3.1.5 Noise .................................................................................................................. 3-11 3.1.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-11 3.1.5.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-12 3.2 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.1 Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-17 3.2.1.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-17 3.2.2 Wildlife and Migratory Birds............................................................................. 3-18 3.2.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-18 3.2.2.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-19 3.2.3 Marine Mammals ............................................................................................... 3-22 3.2.3.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-22 3.2.3.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-23 3.2.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................. 3-24 3.2.4.1 Regulatory Context ....................................................................................... 3-24 3.2.4.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-24 3.2.4.3 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-27 3.3 Social Environment ............................................................................................ 3-33 3.3.1 Land and Water Uses ......................................................................................... 3-33 3.3.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-33 3.3.1.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-33 3.3.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................. 3-34 3.3.2.1 Regulatory Context ....................................................................................... 3-34 3.3.2.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-34 3.3.2.3 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-35 3.3.3 DOT Act Section 4(f) Resources ....................................................................... 3-35 3.3.3.1 Regulatory Context ....................................................................................... 3-35 3.3.3.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-36 ii Table of Contents Final: September 2015 Antares 200 Configuration Expendable