National Aeronautics and Space Administration March 10, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 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 intends to conduct scoping and prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The purpose of this proposed mission would be to place a mobile science laboratory (rover) on the surface of Mars to assess the biological potential of at least one target environment, characterize the geology of the landing region, investigate planetary processes of relevance to past habitability, including the role of water, and characterize the broad spectrum of the surface radiation environment. The proposed MSL mission is currently planned for launch during September or October 2009 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida, onboard an expendable launch vehicle from either the Atlas V or Delta IV class of vehicles. The baseline mission plan would include the use of one multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for rover electrical power and could use several radioisotope heater units (RHUs) for thermal control of critical rover components while on the surface of Mars. Some science instruments may require the use of very small quantities of radioactive material for instrument calibration or for the conduct of an experiment. Environmental impacts to be considered in the EIS are those impacts associated with a normal launch from CCAFS, and radiological and non- radiological risks associated with a launch accident.