Phase 2 Environmental Assessment – NASA Shared Services Center NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER (NSSC) PHASE 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lead Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Proposed Action: To consolidate selected administrative functions currently carried out at NASA Centers into a new Center known as the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) For Further Information: Dr. A. H. Clarke Environmental Program Manager Environmental Management Division (LD020) NASA Headquarters 300 E Street, SW Washington DC 20546-0001 Phone: 202.358.0007 Email: [email protected] March 17, 2005 Phase 2 Environmental Assessment – NASA Shared Services Center TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... VIII ACRONYMS.......................................................................................................................................................... XXI 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED .....................................................................................................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................1 1.2 PURPOSE......................................................................................................................................................2 1.3 NEED...........................................................................................................................................................3 1.4 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ...................................................................................................3 1.5 DECISIONS TO BE MADE .............................................................................................................................5 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES...........................................................................................................6 2.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................6 2.2 ALTERNATIVE A: CONSOLIDATION AND CO-LOCATION OF FUNCTIONS AT AN NSSC .................................9 2.2.1 Alternative A.2.1: NSSC on-site at NASA Johnson Space Center.........................................................9 2.2.2 Alternative A.2.2: NSSC on-site at NASA Stennis Space Center.........................................................11 2.2.3 Alternative A.4.1: NSSC off-site at Aerospace Technology Park.........................................................13 2.2.4 Alternative A.4.2: NSSC off-site at Central Florida Research Park....................................................15 2.2.5 Alternative A.4.3: NSSC off-site at City Center at Oyster Point.........................................................17 2.2.6 Alternative A.4.4: NSSC off-site at Cummings Research Park...........................................................18 2.2.7 Alternative B: Virtual Consolidation ..................................................................................................20 2.2.8 Alternative C: No Action.....................................................................................................................20 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES......................................22 3.1 SCOPE OF ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................................22 3.1.1 Avoidance or Mitigation of Environmental Impacts............................................................................22 3.2 ALTERNATIVE A.2.1 NSSC ON-SITE AT NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.................................................23 3.2.1 Facilities and Infrastructure................................................................................................................23 3.2.2 Land Use..............................................................................................................................................26 3.2.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................................................27 ii Phase 2 Environmental Assessment – NASA Shared Services Center 3.2.4 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................................27 3.2.5 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................28 3.2.6 Soils and Geology................................................................................................................................29 3.2.7 Biological Resources ...........................................................................................................................30 3.2.8 Ecological Resources...........................................................................................................................31 3.2.9 Cultural and Historic Resources .........................................................................................................31 3.2.10 Environmental Justice..........................................................................................................................32 3.3 ALTERNATIVE A.2.2 NSSC ON-SITE AT NASA STENNIS SPACE CENTER..................................................37 3.3.1 Facilities and Infrastructure................................................................................................................37 3.3.2 Land Use..............................................................................................................................................40 3.3.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................................................40 3.3.4 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................................41 3.3.5 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................41 3.3.6 Soils and Geology................................................................................................................................42 3.3.7 Biological Resources ...........................................................................................................................43 3.3.8 Ecological Resources...........................................................................................................................45 3.3.9 Cultural and Historic Resources .........................................................................................................45 3.3.10 Environmental Justice..........................................................................................................................45 3.4 ALTERNATIVE A.4.1 NSSC OFF-SITE AT AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY PARK..............................................51 3.4.1 Facilities and Infrastructure................................................................................................................51 3.4.2 Land Use..............................................................................................................................................53 3.4.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................................................54 3.4.4 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................................55 3.4.5 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................56 3.4.6 Soils and Geology................................................................................................................................57 3.4.7 Biological Resources ...........................................................................................................................58 3.4.8 Ecological Resources...........................................................................................................................59 3.4.9 Cultural and Historic Resources .........................................................................................................60 3.4.10 Environmental Justice..........................................................................................................................61 3.5 ALTERNATIVE A.4.2 NSSC OFF-SITE AT CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH PARK........................................67 iii Phase 2 Environmental Assessment – NASA Shared Services Center 3.5.1 Facilities and Infrastructure................................................................................................................67 3.5.2 Land Use..............................................................................................................................................69 3.5.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................................................70 3.5.4 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................................70