DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ANTARES 200 CONFIGURATION EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE AT WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY www.nasa.gov June 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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA 23337 Reply to Attn of: 250.W June 2015 Dear Reader: This is the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (Draft SEA) for NASA’s proposal to restore the Antares launch capability at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Accomack County, Virginia. Prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Draft SEA evaluates the environmental consequences of NASA’s authorizing the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority and Orbital ATK to process, static test fire, and launch an upgraded configuration (i.e., the “200” Configuration) of the Antares Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) from Mid- Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0-A on south Wallops Island. In addition to the Proposed Action, the Draft SEA evaluates the No Action Alternative, under which processing, testing, and launch of the existing Antares ELV configuration (i.e., “100” Configuration) would continue. The Draft SEA is available for your review because public involvement is a very important part of the NEPA process. Should you desire, NASA respectfully requests that you review and provide written comments on the Draft SEA by August 3, 2015. Comments should be as specific as possible and should address distinct aspects of the Draft SEA document including alternatives or the adequacy of the environmental analysis. We will consider all comments received in preparing the Final SEA. An electronic version of the Draft SEA is available on the project website at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/Antares_DSEA.html. The Draft SEA is also available for review at the Eastern Shore Public Library, Accomac, Virginia; the Chincoteague Island Library, Chincoteague Island, Virginia; and the NASA WFF Visitor’s Center, Route 175, Wallops Island, Virginia. A limited number of hard copies of the Draft SEA are available on a first request basis. Please direct all questions, requests for copies, and comments on the Draft SEA to Mr. Joshua Bundick of the WFF Environmental Office. He can be reached at one of the following: Mail: NASA Wallops Flight Facility Email: [email protected] Mailstop: 250.W Phone: (757) 824-2319 Wallops Island, VA 23337 Fax: (757) 824-1819 We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your participation in this process! DRAFT 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: June 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 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 .............................................................. 1-3 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 .......................................................................... 2-2 2.3.2 Antares 200 Configuration Spacecraft ................................................................. 2-4 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ......... 3-1 3.1 Physical Environment .......................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.1 Soils...................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.1.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-3 3.1.2 Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.2.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-4 3.1.3 Coastal Zone Management .................................................................................. 3-6 3.1.3.1 Regulatory Context ......................................................................................... 3-6 3.1.3.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-6 3.1.3.3 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-6 Table of Contents i Antares 200 Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility 3.1.4 Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.4.2 Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 3-8 3.1.5 Noise .................................................................................................................. 3-10 3.1.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-10 3.1.5.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-10 3.2 Biological Environment ..................................................................................... 3-16 3.2.1 Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 3-16 3.2.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................. 3-16 3.2.1.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................... 3-16 3.2.2 Wildlife and Migratory Birds............................................................................. 3-17 3.2.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................