Notice2023-25242
National Environmental Policy Act; Mars Sample Return Campaign
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 16, 2023
Issuing agencies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract
NASA announces its decision to implement the flight elements of the MSR Campaign. NASA's decision is supported by the detailed analysis found in the Final PEIS, as summarized in the agency's ROD, the availability of which is located under ADDRESSES. Cooperating agencies for the MSR Campaign effort include the Department of the Air Force (DAF) for Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; the Department of the Army for Dugway Proving Ground; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 220 (Thursday, November 16, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 220 (Thursday, November 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 78795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25242]
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice: (23-116); Document Number NASA-23-XXX; Docket Number-NASA-
2022-0002]
National Environmental Policy Act; Mars Sample Return Campaign
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PEIS).
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SUMMARY: NASA announces its decision to implement the flight elements
of the MSR Campaign. NASA's decision is supported by the detailed
analysis found in the Final PEIS, as summarized in the agency's ROD,
the availability of which is located under ADDRESSES.
Cooperating agencies for the MSR Campaign effort include the
Department of the Air Force (DAF) for Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; the Department of the Army
for Dugway Proving Ground; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
ADDRESSES: The complete text of the Tier 1 ROD for the MSR Campaign, as
well as the Draft and Final PEIS, along with other supporting
informational materials, are available at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nepa-mars-sample-return-campaign">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nepa-mars-sample-return-campaign</a>. All comments received on the Draft
PEIS are available in their entirety on the MSR Campaign Docket at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NASA-2022-0002">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NASA-2022-0002</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Slaten, NASA Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, by electronic mail at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5a8849796c8968488958980c897809190978bc88b809584a5898c969196cb8b849684cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6429051617491705091408014916011011160a490a01140524080d1710174a0a0517054a030b12">[email protected]</span></a> or by telephone at 202-358-0016. For questions
regarding viewing the Docket, please call the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> Help Desk
at telephone: 1-877-378-5457 (toll free) or 703-454-9859.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MSR Campaign includes a series of flight
elements to Mars and ground operations on Earth, including spacecraft
launches from Earth to Mars, retrieving the samples on Mars, and
delivering them to Earth for study. The Preferred Alternative consists
of the sum of the following: (1) launch of the Sample Retrieval Lander
(SRL) element from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station or Kennedy Space
Center and launch of the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO), which includes the
Earth Entry System (EES), from the European Space Agency's launch
facility in French Guiana; (2) landing of the EES (containing the
retrieved Martian samples) back on Earth at the DAF-managed Utah Test
and Training Range (UTTR); (3) recovery of the EES at UTTR, with
supporting activities proposed at the U.S. Army-managed Dugway Proving
Ground (DPG) in preparation for transfer of the EES with enclosed
samples to a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF); (4) a programmatic review
of representative modes of transportation of the EES from DPG to an
SRF; and (5) a programmatic review of development and operation of
representative types of an SRF. These last two ground elements of the
MSR Campaign will be addressed under a forthcoming, tiered NEPA
analysis and a separate ROD (i.e., Tier 2 ROD).
The Final PEIS found that no significant adverse impacts are
anticipated from implementing the MSR Campaign flight elements. NASA,
in coordination with the DAF, will prepare a collaborative mitigation
and monitoring plan to identify and track all short-term and long-term
site preparation and EES recovery activities, non-discretionary
requirements (e.g., permit requirements), and Best Management Practices
to ensure all actions to minimize potential environmental impacts
associated with activities at DAF installations are accomplished in a
timely and environmentally protective fashion.
Joel R. Carney,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Strategic Infrastructure.
[FR Doc. 2023-25242 Filed 11-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-13-P
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