National Environmental Policy Act; Mars 2020 Mission, 50860-50861 [2019-20569]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 50860 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2019 / Notices the entered value of subject articles during the Presidential review period. The Commission is interested in further development of the record on the public interest in this investigation. Accordingly, parties are to file public interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4). In addition, members of the public are hereby invited to file submissions of no more than five (5) pages, inclusive of attachments, concerning the public interest in light of the ALJ’s Recommended Determination. Comments should address whether issuance of a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders in this investigation directed to respondents’ infringing products would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers. In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that: (i) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the recommended orders are used in the United States; (ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the United States relating to the recommended orders; (iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the United States which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded; (iv) indicate whether complainant, complainant’s licensees, and/or third party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the recommended exclusion order and/or a cease and desist order within a commercially reasonable time; and (v) explain how the limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders would impact consumers in the United States. Written submissions from the public must be filed no later than by close of business on Monday, October 21, 2019. Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadlines stated above and submit 8 true paper copies to the Office of the Secretary by noon the next day pursuant to section 210.4(f) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.4(f)). Submissions should refer to the investigation number (‘‘Inv. No. 337–TA–1130’’) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, https://www.usitc.gov/ documents/handbook_on_filing_ procedures.pdf). Persons with questions VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Sep 25, 2019 Jkt 247001 regarding filing should contact the Secretary (202–205–2000). Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. A redacted nonconfidential version of the document must also be filed simultaneously with any confidential filing. All nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary and on EDIS. The authority for the Commission’s determination is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in Part 210 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR part 210). By order of the Commission. Issued: September 20, 2019. Lisa Barton, Secretary to the Commission. appropriate, write separately in appellate cases involving a broad range of legal, medical, economic and technical issues which affect the entire maritime and coal mining industries. Applicants must possess a J.D. and are required to be active members of the Bar in any U.S. State or U.S. Territory Court under the U.S. Constitution. To Be Considered: Applicants must provide a detailed resume containing a demonstrated ability to perform as a Member of the Board. Closing Date: Resumes must be submitted (postmarked, if sending by mail; submitted electronically; or received, if hand-delivered) by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2019. Resumes must be submitted to: sylvia.john@ dol.gov or mail to: U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, ATTN: Office of Executive Resources, Room N2453, Washington, DC 20210, phone: 774–365–6851. This is not a tollfree number. Dated: September 23, 2019. Bryan Slater, Assistant Secretary for Administration & Management. [FR Doc. 2019–20887 Filed 9–25–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–04–P [FR Doc. 2019–20875 Filed 9–25–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF LABOR [NOTICE: 19–054] Vacancy Posting for a Member of the Administrative Review Board National Environmental Policy Act; Mars 2020 Mission Summary of Duties: The incumbents exercise completely independent judgment in considering and deciding appeals and other matters which come before the Boards required by law and any applicable regulations. They sign decisions with which they agree or take such action as appropriate, including that of writing concurring and/or dissenting opinions. Also included there in are the following responsibilities, exercised jointly by the Chair and the Board Members: Establishing general policies for the Board’s operations; participation at Board case conferences and at oral argument; and other responsibilities necessary for the orderly and efficient disposition of all matters properly before the Board. Appointment Type: Excepted. The term of appointment is for four years or less and may be extended. Qualifications: The applicant should be well versed in law and have the ability to interpret statutes and regulations and come to a determination with other members of the Board or as AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for implementation of the Mars 2020 mission. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA’s procedures for implementing NEPA, NASA intends to prepare a supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mars 2020 Mission (Supplemental EIS). The Supplemental EIS will provide updated information related to the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed Mars 2020 mission. The updated information is pertinent to the consequence and risk analyses of potential accidents which could occur during the launch phases of the mission. Although the probability of such accidents occurring is highly unlikely, it is possible that under certain SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2019 / Notices conditions an accident could result in a release of plutonium dioxide from the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). The MMRTG is a critical component of the Mars 2020 rover; it would enable the Mars 2020 rover mission to undertake a much broader scope of scientific discovery by providing a continuous supply of electrical power and temperature control to the Mars 2020 rover while on the surface of Mars. The Mars 2020 spacecraft would launch onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Brevard County, Florida, during the summer of 2020. Additional information about the mission may be found on the internet at: https:// mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/. DATES: A Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the Federal Register once NASA has completed drafting the SEIS. The NOA will provide a 45-day public comment period. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Tahu by electronic mail at mars2020-nepa@lists.nasa.gov or by telephone at 202–358–0016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA’s proposed Mars 2020 mission would use the proven design and technology developed for the Mars Science Laboratory mission and rover (Curiosity) that launched from CCAFS in November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. NASA would select a high priority, scientifically important landing site based upon data from past and current missions. The rover would be equipped with new scientific instrumentation that would: (a) Characterize the geological processes and history of an astrobiologically relevant ancient environment on Mars; (b) within the selected geological environment, assess the past habitability of the landing region and search for evidence of past life; (c) assemble a scientifically selected, welldocumented, cache of samples for potential future return to the Earth; (d) further the preparation for future human exploration of Mars; and (e) demonstrate improved technical capabilities for landing and operating on the surface of Mars to benefit future Mars missions. On September 11, 2013, NASA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mars 2020 mission. It was anticipated that the electrical, thermal, and operational requirements of the rover would require a radioisotope power source (MMRTG) using plutonium-238. This single MMRTG would provide adequate power to operate the rover, similar to the Mars VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Sep 25, 2019 Jkt 247001 Curiosity rover. Some of the waste heat from the MMRTG would be used for temperature control of the rover electronics, science instruments, and other sensitive components. Alternatives to the Proposed Action addressed in that EIS included: (1) The use of alternative sources of on-board power and heat (including solar energy); and (2) the No Action Alternative. The Mars 2020 EIS also addressed the purpose and need for the proposed Mars 2020 mission and the environmental impacts associated with its implementation. The environmental impacts of the mission associated with the normal launch of the mission were addressed, as were the potential consequences of accident situations. NASA issued the Mars 2020 Final EIS in November 2014, and on January 27, 2015, NASA issued its Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD adopted Alternative 1 as the preferred alternative. Alternative 1 required NASA to complete preparations for and implement the proposed Mars 2020 mission during July—August 2020, or during the next available launch opportunity in August through September 2022, and to operate the mission using a MMRTG that would continually provide heat and electrical power to the rover’s battery. Since 2015, NASA has significantly advanced preparations for the Mars 2020 mission and selected the Atlas V as the launch vehicle. The Mars 2020 Final EIS discussed Incomplete and Unavailable Information which would be addressed in the future through more detailed risk analyses conducted as part of NASA’s and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) ongoing radiological safety review programs. These analyses were completed in 2019 and accounted for the chosen launch vehicle (that was selected on August 25, 2016, after the Mars 2020 Record of Decision on January 27, 2015), up to date safety test information, and updated analytical models. NASA policy for implementation of NEPA is found in NASA Procedural Requirements 8580.1A (NPR). The NPR requires preparation of a supplemental NEPA document when a substantial change in information relevant to environmental concerns that bear on the impacts of the proposed action is discovered. Since NASA issued the 2014 Final EIS and 2015 ROD, updated results from DOE conducted risk and consequence modeling have become available for NASA’s consideration. NASA has determined that the purposes PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50861 of NEPA will be furthered by preparation and issuance of an SEIS. Nanette Smith, NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2019–20569 Filed 9–25–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7510–13–P POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. CP2018–119 and CP2019–197] New Postal Products Postal Regulatory Commission. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission’s consideration concerning negotiated service agreements. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps. DATES: Comments are due: September 30, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Filing Online system at https:// www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202–789–6820. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Docketed Proceeding(s) I. Introduction The Commission gives notice that the Postal Service filed request(s) for the Commission to consider matters related to negotiated service agreement(s). The request(s) may propose the addition or removal of a negotiated service agreement from the market dominant or the competitive product list, or the modification of an existing product currently appearing on the market dominant or the competitive product list. Section II identifies the docket number(s) associated with each Postal Service request, the title of each Postal Service request, the request’s acceptance date, and the authority cited by the Postal Service for each request. For each request, the Commission appoints an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 (Public Representative). Section II also E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50860-50861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20569]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[NOTICE: 19-054]


National Environmental Policy Act; Mars 2020 Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) for implementation of the Mars 2020 mission.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's 
procedures for implementing NEPA, NASA intends to prepare a supplement 
to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mars 2020 Mission 
(Supplemental EIS). The Supplemental EIS will provide updated 
information related to the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed Mars 2020 mission. The updated information is 
pertinent to the consequence and risk analyses of potential accidents 
which could occur during the launch phases of the mission. Although the 
probability of such accidents occurring is highly unlikely, it is 
possible that under certain

[[Page 50861]]

conditions an accident could result in a release of plutonium dioxide 
from the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). 
The MMRTG is a critical component of the Mars 2020 rover; it would 
enable the Mars 2020 rover mission to undertake a much broader scope of 
scientific discovery by providing a continuous supply of electrical 
power and temperature control to the Mars 2020 rover while on the 
surface of Mars. The Mars 2020 spacecraft would launch onboard an Atlas 
V launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), 
Brevard County, Florida, during the summer of 2020. Additional 
information about the mission may be found on the internet at: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

DATES: A Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the Federal 
Register once NASA has completed drafting the SEIS. The NOA will 
provide a 45-day public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Tahu by electronic mail at 
[email protected] or by telephone at 202-358-0016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA's proposed Mars 2020 mission would use 
the proven design and technology developed for the Mars Science 
Laboratory mission and rover (Curiosity) that launched from CCAFS in 
November 2011 and arrived at Mars in August 2012. NASA would select a 
high priority, scientifically important landing site based upon data 
from past and current missions. The rover would be equipped with new 
scientific instrumentation that would: (a) Characterize the geological 
processes and history of an astrobiologically relevant ancient 
environment on Mars; (b) within the selected geological environment, 
assess the past habitability of the landing region and search for 
evidence of past life; (c) assemble a scientifically selected, well-
documented, cache of samples for potential future return to the Earth; 
(d) further the preparation for future human exploration of Mars; and 
(e) demonstrate improved technical capabilities for landing and 
operating on the surface of Mars to benefit future Mars missions.
    On September 11, 2013, NASA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mars 2020 mission. It was 
anticipated that the electrical, thermal, and operational requirements 
of the rover would require a radioisotope power source (MMRTG) using 
plutonium-238. This single MMRTG would provide adequate power to 
operate the rover, similar to the Mars Curiosity rover. Some of the 
waste heat from the MMRTG would be used for temperature control of the 
rover electronics, science instruments, and other sensitive components. 
Alternatives to the Proposed Action addressed in that EIS included: (1) 
The use of alternative sources of on-board power and heat (including 
solar energy); and (2) the No Action Alternative. The Mars 2020 EIS 
also addressed the purpose and need for the proposed Mars 2020 mission 
and the environmental impacts associated with its implementation. The 
environmental impacts of the mission associated with the normal launch 
of the mission were addressed, as were the potential consequences of 
accident situations. NASA issued the Mars 2020 Final EIS in November 
2014, and on January 27, 2015, NASA issued its Record of Decision 
(ROD). The ROD adopted Alternative 1 as the preferred alternative. 
Alternative 1 required NASA to complete preparations for and implement 
the proposed Mars 2020 mission during July--August 2020, or during the 
next available launch opportunity in August through September 2022, and 
to operate the mission using a MMRTG that would continually provide 
heat and electrical power to the rover's battery. Since 2015, NASA has 
significantly advanced preparations for the Mars 2020 mission and 
selected the Atlas V as the launch vehicle. The Mars 2020 Final EIS 
discussed Incomplete and Unavailable Information which would be 
addressed in the future through more detailed risk analyses conducted 
as part of NASA's and the Department of Energy's (DOE) ongoing 
radiological safety review programs. These analyses were completed in 
2019 and accounted for the chosen launch vehicle (that was selected on 
August 25, 2016, after the Mars 2020 Record of Decision on January 27, 
2015), up to date safety test information, and updated analytical 
models.
    NASA policy for implementation of NEPA is found in NASA Procedural 
Requirements 8580.1A (NPR). The NPR requires preparation of a 
supplemental NEPA document when a substantial change in information 
relevant to environmental concerns that bear on the impacts of the 
proposed action is discovered. Since NASA issued the 2014 Final EIS and 
2015 ROD, updated results from DOE conducted risk and consequence 
modeling have become available for NASA's consideration. NASA has 
determined that the purposes of NEPA will be furthered by preparation 
and issuance of an SEIS.

Nanette Smith,
NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-20569 Filed 9-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P
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