National Environmental Policy Act: Mars 2020 Mission, 32577-32578 [2014-13151]

Agencies

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32577-32578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13151]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (14-044)]


National Environmental Policy Act: Mars 2020 Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the Mars 2020 Mission.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and procedures (14 CFR Part 
1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared and issued a DEIS for the 
proposed Mars 2020 mission. The purpose of this notice is to apprise 
interested agencies, organizations, and individuals of the availability 
of the DEIS and to invite comments on the document during a 45-day 
public comment period. The DEIS addresses the potential environmental 
impacts associated with implementing the proposed mission. The purpose 
of the proposed mission is to continue NASA's in-depth exploration of 
Mars with a mobile science laboratory (rover). The DEIS includes: 
Descriptions of the proposed Mars 2020 mission, spacecraft, and 
candidate launch vehicles; an overview of the potentially affected 
environment at and near the launch site; and the potential 
environmental consequences associated with the Proposed Action and 
Alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. The DEIS is 
available at the NASA Mars 2020 NEPA Web site at: https://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/mars2020eis.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on 
environmental issues and concerns, preferably in writing. Comments on 
the DEIS will be accepted until July 21, 2014, or no later than 45 days 
from the publication in the Federal Register of the U.S Environmental 
Protection Agency's Notice of Availability of the Mars 2020 Mission 
DEIS, whichever is later. NASA will hold a virtual public meeting on 
June 26, 2014, during which the public is invited to participate in an 
open exchange of information and electronic submission of comments. The 
virtual meeting will be held from1:00 to 3:00 p.m. EDT at the following 
Web address: https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/mars2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Mars 2020 mission DEIS at any 
time during the comment period by:
     Email: Comments by electronic mail may be sent to 
mars2020-nepa@lists.nasa.gov.
     Mail: Mr. George Tahu, Planetary Science Division, Science 
Mission Directorate, Mail Suite 3E46, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 
20546-0001.
     Telephone: Comments will be accepted at 202-358-0016.
    Comments will also be accepted electronically during the June 26th, 
2014 virtual public meeting at the following Web site: https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/mars2020. The DEIS may be reviewed at the following 
locations:
     NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20546;
     Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 
4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.
    Limited hard copies or CDs of the DEIS are available by contacting 
Mr. George Tahu at the address, telephone number, or electronic mail 
address provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Tahu, Planetary Science 
Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, 
DC 20456-001, telephone 202-358-0016, or electronic mail at mars2020-nepa@lists.nasa.gov. Additional information on NASA's NEPA process and 
the proposed Mars 2020 mission can be found on the Internet at: https://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/ and https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Mars 2020 mission is planned 
for launch during the July-August 2020 time period from Kennedy Space 
Center (KSC) or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida, on 
an expendable launch vehicle. The DEIS evaluates three alternatives in 
addition to the No Action Alternative. Under the Proposed Action 
(Alternative 1), the proposed Mars 2020 rover would utilize a 
radioisotope power system, a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric 
Generator (MMRTG), to continually provide electrical power to the 
rover's battery and heat for on board systems so the rover can operate 
and conduct science on the surface of Mars. Under Alternative 2, the 
proposed Mars 2020 rover would utilize solar energy as its source of 
electrical power to operate and conduct science on the surface of Mars. 
Under Alternative 3, the proposed Mars 2020 rover would utilize solar 
energy augmented by the thermal output from Light Weight Radioisotope 
Heater Units (LWRHUs) to help keep the rover's on board systems at 
proper operating temperatures to conduct science on the surface of 
Mars.
    The DEIS assesses potential environmental impacts associated with a 
normal launch as well as a potential launch accident. These include

[[Page 32578]]

potential non-radiological and radiological impacts.
    Public Meeting: As a follow-up to the public scoping meetings held 
in Florida on October 9-10, 2013, NASA will hold a virtual public 
meeting during which the public is invited to participate in an open 
exchange of information, including briefings by agency and project 
representatives, and electronic submission of formal comments before, 
during, and after the meeting. This meeting will be held on June 26, 
2014, at the following Web address: https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/mars2020.
    Further information on the virtual public meeting can be obtained 
by contracting Mr. George Tahu at the address and phone number indicted 
herein or by visiting the Mars 2020 NEPA Web site at: https://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/mars2020eis.
    NASA will consider all comments received in developing its Final 
EIS; comments received and responses to comments will be included in 
the final document.

Calvin F. Williams,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Strategic Infrastructure.
[FR Doc. 2014-13151 Filed 6-4-14; 8:45 am]
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