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Final Environmental Assessment for Launch of Nasa Routine Payloads on Expendable Launch Vehicles

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This page intentionally left blank. FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR LAUNCH OF NASA ROUTINE PAYLOADS ON EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES TITLE PAGE Lead Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Cooperating Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force Space and Missile System Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command; Alaska Aerospace Corporation is a participating agency. Proposed Action: NASA routine spacecraft as payloads on expendable launch vehicles from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia; and Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska. For Further Information: George Tahu, Program Executive, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street, SW, Mail Stop 3X63, Washington, D.C. 20546. 202-358-0723, [email protected]. Date: November 2011 Abstract: This Final Environmental Assessment updates the Final Environmental Assessment for Launch of NASA Routine Payloads on Expendable Launch Vehicles from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (June 2002) and addresses NASA’s proposed action to launch a variety of spacecraft missions. The spacecraft used in these missions are considered routine payloads; the same threshold quantities and characteristics describe them all, and they would present no new or substantial environmental impacts or hazards as compared to previously analyzed and documented impacts. These scientific and technology demonstration missions are needed for U.S. space and Earth exploration. All spacecraft (referred to as NASA routine payloads [NRP]) examined in this environmental assessment would meet rigorously defined criteria to ensure that the spacecraft and their launch and operation would not present any new or substantial environmental or safety concerns. The NRPs would launch from existing launch facilities (or those currently under construction) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia; and Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska. National Environmental Policy Act documentation exists that analyzes the potential environmental impacts at each of these launch sites for the evaluated launch vehicles. This page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................... ES–1 ES.1 Proposed Action................................................................................................ES–1 ES.2 Purpose And Need For The Action...................................................................ES–3 ES.3 Purpose Of The Nasa Routine Payloads Spacecraft EA...................................ES–4 ES.4 Alternatives Considered....................................................................................ES–4 ES.5 No Action Alternative.......................................................................................ES–5 ES.6 Summary Of Environmental Impacts ...............................................................ES–5 ES.6.1 Air Quality........................................................................................ES–5 ES.6.2 Public Health And Safety.................................................................ES–6 ES.6.3 Hazardous Material ..........................................................................ES–7 ES.7 Summary...........................................................................................................ES–9 1. PURPOSE AND NEED ....................................................................................................1–1 1.1 Proposed Action.................................................................................................. 1–1 1.2 Purpose of the Proposed Action.......................................................................... 1–2 1.3 Need for the Proposed Action............................................................................. 1–3 1.4 NEPA Strategy.................................................................................................... 1–3 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ........................2–1 2.1 Proposed Action.................................................................................................. 2–1 2.1.1 Envelope Spacecraft Description ....................................................... 2–3 2.1.2 Routine Payload Checklist ................................................................. 2–6 2.1.3 NASA Routine Payload Launch Vehicles........................................ 2–10 2.1.3.1 The Atlas Launch Vehicle Family..................................... 2–14 2.1.3.2 Delta Family of Launch Vehicles...................................... 2–16 2.1.3.3 Taurus Launch Vehicle...................................................... 2–18 2.1.3.4 Pegasus XL Air-Launched Vehicle................................... 2–21 2.1.3.5 Falcon Family of Launch Vehicles.................................... 2–23 2.1.3.6 The Minotaur Family of Launch Vehicles ........................ 2–25 2.1.3.7 Athena Family of Launch Vehicles................................... 2–29 2.1.4 Space Launch Complexes and Pads ................................................. 2–29 2.1.4.1 Launch Complexes — CCAFS ......................................... 2–29 2.1.4.2 Space Launch Complexes at VAFB.................................. 2–32 2.1.4.3 Launch Pad at USAKA/RTS............................................. 2–34 2.1.4.4 Launch Pads at WFF ......................................................... 2–35 2.1.4.5 Launch Pads at KLC.......................................................... 2–38 2.1.5 Payload Processing Facilities ........................................................... 2–40 i NASA Routine Payload EA 2.1.5.1 Payload Processing Facilities in the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Area ................................. 2–40 2.1.5.2 Payload Processing Facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base ..................................................................... 2–40 2.1.5.3 Payload Processing Facilities at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site ...................... 2–41 2.1.5.4 Payload Processing Facilities at Wallops Flight Facility .......................................................................... 2–41 2.1.5.5 Payload Processing Facilities at Kodiak Launch Complex ........................................................................ 2–43 2.2 Alternatives to the Proposed Action ................................................................. 2–44 2.3 No-Action Alternative ...................................................................................... 2–44 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................3–1 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3–1 3.2 Environmental Topics Common to All Launch Sites ......................................... 3–1 3.2.1 Hazardous Materials and Waste ......................................................... 3–1 3.2.2 Health and Safety ............................................................................... 3–2 3.2.3 Water Quality ..................................................................................... 3–3 3.2.4 Air Quality .......................................................................................... 3–6 3.2.5 Noise and Vibration ............................................................................ 3–7 3.2.6 Biological Resources .......................................................................... 3–9 3.2.7 Historical and Cultural Resources .................................................... 3–10 3.2.8 Environmental Justice ...................................................................... 3–11 3.2.9 Global Environment ......................................................................... 3–11 3.2.9.1 Troposphere ....................................................................... 3–11 3.2.9.2 Stratosphere ....................................................................... 3–12 3.2.10 Orbital and Reentry Debris ............................................................... 3–13 3.3 Specific Launch Site Environments .................................................................. 3–14 3.3.1 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center ............................................................................................... 3–14 3.3.1.1 Land Use and Aesthetics/Visual Resources .................. 3–16 3.3.1.2 Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management .................................................................. 3–17 3.3.1.3 Health and Safety .......................................................... 3–19 3.3.1.4 Geology and Soils ......................................................... 3–19 3.3.1.5 Water Resources ........................................................... 3–20 3.3.1.6 Air Quality .................................................................... 3–21 3.3.1.7 Noise ............................................................................
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