83_FR_19926 83 FR 19839 - National Environmental Policy Act; Wallops Flight Facility; Site-Wide

83 FR 19839 - National Environmental Policy Act; Wallops Flight Facility; Site-Wide

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 87 (May 4, 2018)

Page Range19839-19841
FR Document2018-09469

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's NEPA policy and procedures, NASA has prepared a Draft PEIS for the improvement of infrastructure and services at WFF. The Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Organization (FAA-ATO) and Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA-AST); the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA-NESDIS); the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA); the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); U.S. Navy, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the U.S. Air Force Space Command/Space and Missile Systems Center; and Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (Virginia Space) have served as Cooperating Agencies in preparing the Draft PEIS as they either have permanent facilities or missions at WFF or possess regulatory authority or specialized expertise pertaining to the Proposed Action. The purpose of this notice is to apprise interested agencies, organizations, tribal governments, and individuals of the availability of the Draft PEIS and to invite comments on the document. In partnership with its Cooperating Agencies, NASA will hold a public meeting as part of the Draft PEIS review process. The meeting location and date is provided under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19839-19841]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09469]


=======================================================================
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (18-039)]


National Environmental Policy Act; Wallops Flight Facility; Site-
Wide

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Site-wide Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for improvement of infrastructure 
and services at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Accomack County, 
Virginia.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as 
amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's NEPA policy 
and procedures, NASA has prepared a Draft PEIS for the improvement of 
infrastructure and services at WFF. The Federal Aviation 
Administration's Air Traffic Organization (FAA-ATO) and Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation (FAA-AST); the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA); the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and 
Information Service (NOAA-NESDIS); the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE); the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS); the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA); the U.S. 
Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); U.S. Navy, U.S. Fleet Forces 
Command; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the U.S. Air 
Force Space Command/Space and Missile Systems Center; and Virginia 
Commercial Space Flight Authority (Virginia Space) have served as 
Cooperating Agencies in preparing the Draft PEIS as they either have 
permanent facilities or missions at WFF or possess regulatory authority 
or specialized expertise pertaining to the Proposed Action.
    The purpose of this notice is to apprise interested agencies, 
organizations, tribal governments, and individuals of the availability 
of the Draft PEIS and to invite comments on the document. In 
partnership with its Cooperating Agencies, NASA will hold a public 
meeting as part of the Draft PEIS review process. The meeting location 
and date is provided under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on 
environmental issues and concerns, preferably in writing, no later than 
forty-five (45) days following the publication of the EPA's Notice of 
Availability of the Draft PEIS in the Federal Register. Once known, 
this date will be posted on the project website at: https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-wide_eis.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by mail should be addressed to Shari 
Miller, Site-wide PEIS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops 
Flight Facility, Mailstop: 250.W, Wallops Island, Virginia 23337. 
Comments may

[[Page 19840]]

be submitted via email to Shari.A.Miller@nasa.gov.
    The Draft PEIS may be reviewed at the following locations:

(a) Chincoteague Island Library, Chincoteague, Virginia, 23336 (757) 
336-3460
(b) NASA Wallops Visitor Center, Wallops Island, Virginia, 23337 (757) 
824-1344
(c) Eastern Shore Public Library, Accomac, Virginia, 23301 (757) 787-
3400
(d) Northampton Free Library, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413 (757) 414-
0010

    A limited number of hard copies of the Draft PEIS are available, on 
a first request basis, by contacting the NASA point of contact listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The Draft PEIS is available on 
the internet in Adobe[supreg] portable document format at https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-wide_eis. The Federal 
Register Notice of Intent to prepare the Draft PEIS, issued on July 11, 
2011, is also available on the internet at the same website address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shari Miller, Site-wide PEIS, NASA 
Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Mailstop: 250.W, 
Wallops Island, Virginia 23337; telephone (757) 824-2327; email: 
Shari.A.Miller@nasa.gov. A toll-free telephone number, (800) 521-3415, 
is also available for persons outside the local calling area. When 
using the toll-free number, please follow the menu options and enter 
the ``pound sign (#)'' followed by extension number ``2327.'' 
Additional information about NASA's WFF may be found on the internet at 
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html. Information 
regarding the NEPA process for this proposal and supporting documents 
(as available) are located at https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-wide_eis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WFF is a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
field installation located in northern Accomack County on the Eastern 
Shore of Virginia. The facility consists of three distinct landmasses--
the Main Base, Wallops Mainland, and Wallops Island. WFF operates the 
oldest active launch range in the continental U.S. and the only range 
completely under NASA management. For over 70 years, WFF has flown 
thousands of research vehicles in the quest for information on the 
characteristics of airplanes, rockets, and spacecraft, and to increase 
the knowledge of the Earth's upper atmosphere and the near space 
environment. The flight programs and projects conducted by WFF range 
from small sounding and suborbital rockets, unmanned scientific 
balloons, unmanned aerial systems, manned aircraft, and orbital 
spacecraft to next-generation launch vehicles and small- and medium-
classed launch vehicles. In keeping with the principles, goals, and 
guidelines of the 2010 National Space Policy, as updated by the 2013 
U.S. National Space Transportation Policy and the 2017 Presidential 
Memorandum on Reinvigorating America's Human Space Exploration Program, 
NASA is proposing to improve its service capability at WFF to support a 
growing mission base in the areas of civil, defense, and academic 
aerospace. One guiding principle of the National Space Policy is for 
Federal agencies to facilitate the commercial space industry. The Mid-
Atlantic Regional Spaceport, a commercial launch site on Wallops 
Island, is a real-world example of WFF's commitment to making 
commercial access to space a reality. Accordingly, it is expected that 
a commercial presence at WFF will continue to expand in the coming 
years.
    The National Space Policy also instructs Federal agencies to 
improve their partnerships through cooperation, collaboration, 
information sharing, and/or alignment of common pursuits with each 
other. WFF supports aeronautical research, and science, technology, 
engineering, and math (STEM) education programs by providing other NASA 
centers and other U.S. government agencies access to resources such as 
special use (i.e., controlled/restricted) airspace, runways, and launch 
pads. WFF regularly facilitates a wide array of U.S. Department of 
Defense (DoD) research, development, testing, and evaluation; training 
missions, including target and missile launches; and aircraft pilot 
training. Similar to its forecasted commercial growth at WFF, NASA also 
expects an increase in DoD presence at WFF in the foreseeable future.
    Finally, the National Space Policy directs NASA to fulfill various 
key civil space roles regarding space science, exploration, and 
discovery; a number of which have been priorities at WFF for decades. 
NASA's need to ensure continued growth while preserving the ability to 
safely conduct its historical baseline of services is a key component 
of facilitating future projects and new missions at WFF.

Related Environmental Documents

    In January 2005, NASA issued a Final Site-Wide Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for its 
operations and institutional support at WFF. Since then, substantial 
growth has occurred and NASA, and its Cooperating Agencies, have 
prepared multiple supplemental NEPA documents including the 2008 EA/
FONSI for the Wallops Research Park; the 2009 EA/FONSI for the 
Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range; the 2010 PEIS/
Record of Decision for the Shoreline Restoration and Infrastructure 
Protection Program; the 2011 EA/FONSI for the Alternative Energy 
Project; the 2011 EA/FONSI for the Main Entrance Reconfiguration; the 
2011 NOAA-NESDIS EA/FONSI for Electrical and Operational Upgrade, Space 
Addition, and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 
Installation; the 2012 EA/FONSI for the North Wallops Island Unmanned 
Aerial Systems Airstrip Project; the U.S. Fleet Force Command's 2013 
EA/FONSI for E-2/C-2 Field Carrier Landing Practice at WFF; the Navy's 
2014 EA/FONSI for the Testing of Hypervelocity Projectiles and an 
Electromagnetic Railgun; the 2015 Supplemental EA/FONSI for Antares 200 
Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at WFF; the 2016 EA/FONSI for 
Establishment of Restricted Area Airspace R-6604 C/D/E; the Navy's 2017 
EA/FONSI for and the Installation and Operation of Air and Missile 
Defense Radar AN/SPY[hyphen]6; and the 2017 U.S. Air Force's EA/FONSI 
for the Instrumentation Tower on Wallops Island.

Need for Preparing a PEIS

    Since the 2005 WFF Site-wide EA, WFF, NOAA-NESDIS, and the Navy 
have updated their Master Plans; which propose new facilities and 
numerous infrastructure improvements to enable a growing mission base. 
Additionally, during reviews of the post-2005 Site-wide EA NEPA 
documents, resource agencies have expressed concerns regarding 
cumulative environmental effects and a desire for NASA to consider all 
reasonably foreseeable future projects at WFF in a consolidated NEPA 
document. NASA determined that preparing a single Site-wide PEIS not 
only would assist in its decision-making process for future mission 
growth at WFF but also address concerns regarding cumulative 
environmental effects. Therefore, the Site-wide PEIS considers all 
reasonably foreseeable future actions at WFF; those proposed by NASA 
along with those proposed by its tenants and partners.

Cooperating Agency Actions

    The Site-wide PEIS will serve as a decision-making tool not only 
for NASA

[[Page 19841]]

but also for its Cooperating Agencies. Given the potential for their 
undertaking actions related to NASA's actions, each of these agencies 
has been involved closely in NASA's NEPA process.

Alternatives

    The PEIS evaluates the environmental consequences of a range of 
reasonable alternatives that meet NASA's need to ensure continued 
growth at WFF while also preserving the ability to safely conduct its 
historical baseline of services. The planning horizon for actions in 
the PEIS is 20 years.
    Currently under consideration are the Proposed Action and a No 
Action alternative. The Proposed Action would support a number of 
facility projects ranging from new construction, demolition, and 
renovation; the replacement of the Wallops causeway bridge; maintenance 
dredging between the boat docks at the Main Base and Wallops Island; 
development of a deep-water port and operations area on North Wallops 
Island; construction and operation of an additional medium to heavy 
class launch site; the introduction of new NASA and DoD programs at 
WFF; the expansion of the launch vehicle services with liquid-fueled 
intermediate class and solid fueled heavy class launch vehicles; and 
the consideration of commercial human spaceflight missions and the 
return of launch vehicles to the launch site. Under the No Action 
Alternative, WFF and its partners would continue the existing 
operations and programs previously discussed in the 2005 Site-Wide EA 
and the subsequent NEPA documents identified under Related 
Environmental Documents.

Public Meeting

    NASA and its Cooperating Agencies will hold a public meeting to 
discuss WFF's proposed actions and to solicit comments on the Draft 
PEIS. The public meeting will be held at the WFF Visitor Center on May 
23, 2018, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    NASA anticipates that the public will be most interested in the 
potential environmental impacts of each alternative on protected and 
special-status species, wetlands, noise, and socioeconomics.
    In developing its Final PEIS, NASA will consider all comments 
received; comments received and responses to comments will be included 
in the Final PEIS. In conclusion, written public input on environmental 
issues and concerns associated with the improvement of infrastructure 
and services at WFF is hereby requested.

Cheryl E. Parker,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2018-09469 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices                                             19839

                                             ADDRESSES:    The public meeting will be                  1. How can OSHA deliver better                      for improvement of infrastructure and
                                             held in Room N–3437 A–B, U.S.                           whistleblower customer service?                       services at Wallops Flight Facility
                                             Department of Labor, 200 Constitution                     2. What kind of assistance can OSHA                 (WFF), Accomack County, Virginia.
                                             Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210.                        provide to help explain the
                                                Written Comments: Submit written                     whistleblower laws it enforces?                       SUMMARY:   Pursuant to the National
                                             comments to the OSHA Docket Office,                                                                           Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
                                             Docket No. OSHA–2018–0005, Room N–                      Request for Comments                                  amended, the Council on Environmental
                                             3653, U.S. Department of Labor, 200                        Regardless of attendance at the public             Quality Regulations for Implementing
                                             Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,                    meeting, interested persons may submit                the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and
                                             DC 20210; telephone (202) 693–2350.                     written or electronic comments (see                   NASA’s NEPA policy and procedures,
                                             You may submit materials, including                     ADDRESSES). Submit a single copy of                   NASA has prepared a Draft PEIS for the
                                             attachments, electronically at http://                  electronic comments or two paper                      improvement of infrastructure and
                                             www.regulations.gov which is the                        copies of any mailed comments, except                 services at WFF. The Federal Aviation
                                             Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the                  that individuals may submit one paper                 Administration’s Air Traffic
                                             on-line instructions for submissions. All               copy. Please indicate which industry                  Organization (FAA–ATO) and Office of
                                             comments should be identified with                      (railroad or trucking) your comments are              Commercial Space Transportation
                                             Docket No. OSHA–2018–0005.                              intended to address. To permit time for               (FAA–AST); the Federal Highway
                                                Registration To Attend and/or To                     interested persons to submit data,                    Administration (FHWA); the National
                                             Participate in the Meeting: If you wish                 information, or views on the issues in                Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                             to attend the public meeting, make an                   the ‘‘Scope of Meeting’’ section of this              Administration’s National
                                             oral presentation at the meeting, or                    notice, submit comments by June 5,                    Environmental Satellite, Data, and
                                             participate in the meeting via telephone,               2018. Please include Docket No. OSHA–                 Information Service (NOAA–NESDIS);
                                             you must register using this link https://              2018–0005. Comments received may be                   the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
                                             www.eventbrite.com/e/occupational-                      seen in the U.S. Department of Labor,                 (USACE); the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S.
                                             safety-and-health-administration-                       OSHA Docket Office, (see ADDRESSES),                  Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); the
                                             stakeholder-meeting-registration-                       between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET,                  U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems
                                             45311347460 by close of business on                                                                           Command (NAVSEA); the U.S. Navy,
                                                                                                     Monday through Friday.
                                             May 29, 2018. Participants may speak                                                                          Naval Air Systems Command
                                             and pass out written materials, but there               Access to the Public Record                           (NAVAIR); U.S. Navy, U.S. Fleet Forces
                                             will not be an opportunity to give an                     Electronic copies of this Federal                   Command; the U.S. Environmental
                                             electronic presentation. Actual times                   Register notice are available at http://              Protection Agency (EPA); the U.S. Air
                                             provided for presentation will depend                   www.regulations.gov. This notice, as                  Force Space Command/Space and
                                             on the number of requests, but no more                  well as news releases and other relevant              Missile Systems Center; and Virginia
                                             than 10 minutes per participant. There                  information, also are available on the                Commercial Space Flight Authority
                                             is no fee to register for the public                    Directorate of Whistleblower Protection               (Virginia Space) have served as
                                             meeting. Registration on the day of the                 Programs’ web page at: http://                        Cooperating Agencies in preparing the
                                             public meeting will be permitted on a                   www.whistleblowers.gov.                               Draft PEIS as they either have
                                             space-available basis beginning at 12                                                                         permanent facilities or missions at WFF
                                             p.m. ET. After reviewing the                            Authority and Signature                               or possess regulatory authority or
                                             presentation requests, participants will                  Loren Sweatt, Deputy Assistant                      specialized expertise pertaining to the
                                             be contacted prior to the meeting with                  Secretary for Occupational Safety and                 Proposed Action.
                                             an approximate time the participants’                   Health, authorized the preparation of                    The purpose of this notice is to
                                             presentation is scheduled to begin.                     this notice under the authority granted               apprise interested agencies,
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                           organizations, tribal governments, and
                                                                                                     by Secretary’s Order 01–2012 (Jan. 18,
                                                For press inquiries: Mr. Frank                                                                             individuals of the availability of the
                                                                                                     2012), 77 FR 3912 (Jan. 25, 2012); 29
                                             Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office of                                                                           Draft PEIS and to invite comments on
                                                                                                     U.S.C. 660(c); 49 U.S.C. 31105; 49
                                             Communications, U.S. Department of                                                                            the document. In partnership with its
                                                                                                     U.S.C. 20109, and 6 U.S.C. 1142.
                                             Labor; telephone (202) 693–1999; email                                                                        Cooperating Agencies, NASA will hold
                                                                                                       Signed at Washington, DC on April 30,               a public meeting as part of the Draft
                                             meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.                             2018.
                                                For general information: Mr. Anthony                                                                       PEIS review process. The meeting
                                                                                                     Loren Sweatt,                                         location and date is provided under
                                             Rosa, Deputy Director, OSHA
                                             Directorate of Whistleblower Protection                 Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
                                                                                                     Occupational Safety and Health.                       DATES: Interested parties are invited to
                                             Programs, U.S. Department of Labor;
                                             telephone (202) 693–2199; email                         [FR Doc. 2018–09456 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]            submit comments on environmental
                                             osha.dwpp@dol.gov.                                      BILLING CODE 4510–26–P                                issues and concerns, preferably in
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                                                    writing, no later than forty-five (45) days
                                                                                                                                                           following the publication of the EPA’s
                                             Scope of Meeting                                        NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND                              Notice of Availability of the Draft PEIS
                                                OSHA is interested in obtaining                      SPACE ADMINISTRATION                                  in the Federal Register. Once known,
                                             information from the public on key                                                                            this date will be posted on the project
                                                                                                     [Notice (18–039)]
                                             issues facing the agency’s whistleblower                                                                      website at: https://code200-
                                             program. This meeting will be the first                 National Environmental Policy Act;                    external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             in a series of meetings requesting public               Wallops Flight Facility; Site-Wide                    wide_eis.
                                             input on this program. For this meeting,                                                                      ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by
                                             OSHA is focusing on issues relating to                  AGENCY:  National Aeronautics and                     mail should be addressed to Shari
                                             whistleblower protection in the railroad                Space Administration (NASA).                          Miller, Site-wide PEIS, NASA Goddard
                                             and trucking industries. In particular,                 ACTION: Notice of availability of the                 Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight
                                             the agency invites input on the                         Draft Site-wide Programmatic                          Facility, Mailstop: 250.W, Wallops
                                             following:                                              Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)                 Island, Virginia 23337. Comments may


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:16 May 03, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00160   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM   04MYN1


                                             19840                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices

                                             be submitted via email to                               environment. The flight programs and                  Impact (FONSI) for its operations and
                                             Shari.A.Miller@nasa.gov.                                projects conducted by WFF range from                  institutional support at WFF. Since
                                                The Draft PEIS may be reviewed at the                small sounding and suborbital rockets,                then, substantial growth has occurred
                                             following locations:                                    unmanned scientific balloons,                         and NASA, and its Cooperating
                                             (a) Chincoteague Island Library,                        unmanned aerial systems, manned                       Agencies, have prepared multiple
                                                  Chincoteague, Virginia, 23336 (757)                aircraft, and orbital spacecraft to next-             supplemental NEPA documents
                                                  336–3460                                           generation launch vehicles and small-                 including the 2008 EA/FONSI for the
                                             (b) NASA Wallops Visitor Center,                        and medium-classed launch vehicles. In                Wallops Research Park; the 2009 EA/
                                                  Wallops Island, Virginia, 23337                    keeping with the principles, goals, and               FONSI for the Expansion of the Wallops
                                                  (757) 824–1344                                     guidelines of the 2010 National Space                 Flight Facility Launch Range; the 2010
                                             (c) Eastern Shore Public Library,                       Policy, as updated by the 2013 U.S.                   PEIS/Record of Decision for the
                                                  Accomac, Virginia, 23301 (757)                     National Space Transportation Policy                  Shoreline Restoration and Infrastructure
                                                  787–3400                                           and the 2017 Presidential Memorandum                  Protection Program; the 2011 EA/FONSI
                                             (d) Northampton Free Library,                           on Reinvigorating America’s Human                     for the Alternative Energy Project; the
                                                  Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413 (757)                  Space Exploration Program, NASA is                    2011 EA/FONSI for the Main Entrance
                                                  414–0010                                           proposing to improve its service                      Reconfiguration; the 2011 NOAA–
                                                A limited number of hard copies of                   capability at WFF to support a growing                NESDIS EA/FONSI for Electrical and
                                             the Draft PEIS are available, on a first                mission base in the areas of civil,                   Operational Upgrade, Space Addition,
                                             request basis, by contacting the NASA                   defense, and academic aerospace. One                  and Geostationary Operational
                                             point of contact listed under FOR                       guiding principle of the National Space               Environmental Satellite Installation; the
                                             FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The                        Policy is for Federal agencies to                     2012 EA/FONSI for the North Wallops
                                             Draft PEIS is available on the internet in              facilitate the commercial space industry.             Island Unmanned Aerial Systems
                                             Adobe® portable document format at                      The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, a                Airstrip Project; the U.S. Fleet Force
                                             https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/                 commercial launch site on Wallops                     Command’s 2013 EA/FONSI for E–2/C–
                                             250-wff/site-wide_eis. The Federal                      Island, is a real-world example of WFF’s              2 Field Carrier Landing Practice at WFF;
                                             Register Notice of Intent to prepare the                commitment to making commercial                       the Navy’s 2014 EA/FONSI for the
                                             Draft PEIS, issued on July 11, 2011, is                 access to space a reality. Accordingly, it            Testing of Hypervelocity Projectiles and
                                             also available on the internet at the                   is expected that a commercial presence                an Electromagnetic Railgun; the 2015
                                             same website address.                                   at WFF will continue to expand in the                 Supplemental EA/FONSI for Antares
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        coming years.                                         200 Configuration Expendable Launch
                                             Shari Miller, Site-wide PEIS, NASA                         The National Space Policy also                     Vehicle at WFF; the 2016 EA/FONSI for
                                                                                                     instructs Federal agencies to improve                 Establishment of Restricted Area
                                             Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops
                                                                                                     their partnerships through cooperation,               Airspace R–6604 C/D/E; the Navy’s
                                             Flight Facility, Mailstop: 250.W,
                                                                                                     collaboration, information sharing, and/              2017 EA/FONSI for and the Installation
                                             Wallops Island, Virginia 23337;
                                                                                                     or alignment of common pursuits with                  and Operation of Air and Missile
                                             telephone (757) 824–2327; email:
                                                                                                     each other. WFF supports aeronautical                 Defense Radar AN/SPY-6; and the 2017
                                             Shari.A.Miller@nasa.gov. A toll-free
                                                                                                     research, and science, technology,                    U.S. Air Force’s EA/FONSI for the
                                             telephone number, (800) 521–3415, is
                                                                                                     engineering, and math (STEM)                          Instrumentation Tower on Wallops
                                             also available for persons outside the
                                                                                                     education programs by providing other                 Island.
                                             local calling area. When using the toll-
                                                                                                     NASA centers and other U.S.
                                             free number, please follow the menu                                                                           Need for Preparing a PEIS
                                                                                                     government agencies access to resources
                                             options and enter the ‘‘pound sign (#)’’                such as special use (i.e., controlled/                   Since the 2005 WFF Site-wide EA,
                                             followed by extension number ‘‘2327.’’                  restricted) airspace, runways, and                    WFF, NOAA–NESDIS, and the Navy
                                             Additional information about NASA’s                     launch pads. WFF regularly facilitates a              have updated their Master Plans; which
                                             WFF may be found on the internet at                     wide array of U.S. Department of                      propose new facilities and numerous
                                             http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/                    Defense (DoD) research, development,                  infrastructure improvements to enable a
                                             home/index.html. Information regarding                  testing, and evaluation; training                     growing mission base. Additionally,
                                             the NEPA process for this proposal and                  missions, including target and missile                during reviews of the post-2005 Site-
                                             supporting documents (as available) are                 launches; and aircraft pilot training.                wide EA NEPA documents, resource
                                             located at https://code200-                             Similar to its forecasted commercial                  agencies have expressed concerns
                                             external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-                    growth at WFF, NASA also expects an                   regarding cumulative environmental
                                             wide_eis.                                               increase in DoD presence at WFF in the                effects and a desire for NASA to
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WFF is a                     foreseeable future.                                   consider all reasonably foreseeable
                                             NASA Goddard Space Flight Center                           Finally, the National Space Policy                 future projects at WFF in a consolidated
                                             field installation located in northern                  directs NASA to fulfill various key civil             NEPA document. NASA determined
                                             Accomack County on the Eastern Shore                    space roles regarding space science,                  that preparing a single Site-wide PEIS
                                             of Virginia. The facility consists of three             exploration, and discovery; a number of               not only would assist in its decision-
                                             distinct landmasses—the Main Base,                      which have been priorities at WFF for                 making process for future mission
                                             Wallops Mainland, and Wallops Island.                   decades. NASA’s need to ensure                        growth at WFF but also address
                                             WFF operates the oldest active launch                   continued growth while preserving the                 concerns regarding cumulative
                                             range in the continental U.S. and the                   ability to safely conduct its historical              environmental effects. Therefore, the
                                             only range completely under NASA                        baseline of services is a key component               Site-wide PEIS considers all reasonably
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             management. For over 70 years, WFF                      of facilitating future projects and new               foreseeable future actions at WFF; those
                                             has flown thousands of research                         missions at WFF.                                      proposed by NASA along with those
                                             vehicles in the quest for information on                                                                      proposed by its tenants and partners.
                                             the characteristics of airplanes, rockets,              Related Environmental Documents
                                             and spacecraft, and to increase the                       In January 2005, NASA issued a Final                Cooperating Agency Actions
                                             knowledge of the Earth’s upper                          Site-Wide Environmental Assessment                      The Site-wide PEIS will serve as a
                                             atmosphere and the near space                           (EA) and Finding of No Significant                    decision-making tool not only for NASA


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices                                                  19841

                                             but also for its Cooperating Agencies.                  improvement of infrastructure and                     a proprietary or confidential nature,
                                             Given the potential for their undertaking               services at WFF is hereby requested.                  including technical information;
                                             actions related to NASA’s actions, each                                                                       financial data, such as salaries; and
                                                                                                     Cheryl E. Parker,
                                             of these agencies has been involved                                                                           personal information concerning
                                                                                                     Federal Register Liaison.                             individuals associated with the project.
                                             closely in NASA’s NEPA process.
                                                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–09469 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]            These matters are exempt under 5
                                             Alternatives                                            BILLING CODE 7510–13–P                                U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6) of the
                                                The PEIS evaluates the environmental                                                                       Government in the Sunshine Act.
                                             consequences of a range of reasonable                                                                           Dated: May 1, 2018.
                                                                                                     NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
                                             alternatives that meet NASA’s need to                                                                         Crystal Robinson,
                                             ensure continued growth at WFF while                    Proposal Review Panel for Computing                   Committee Management Officer.
                                             also preserving the ability to safely                   and Communication Foundations;                        [FR Doc. 2018–09479 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
                                             conduct its historical baseline of                      Notice of Meeting                                     BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
                                             services. The planning horizon for
                                             actions in the PEIS is 20 years.                           In accordance with the Federal
                                                                                                     Advisory Committee Act (Pub., L. 92–                  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
                                                Currently under consideration are the                463, as amended), the National Science
                                             Proposed Action and a No Action                         Foundation (NSF) announces the                        Committee on Equal Opportunities in
                                             alternative. The Proposed Action would                  following meeting:                                    Science and Engineering; Notice of
                                             support a number of facility projects                      Name and Committee Code: Proposal                  Meeting
                                             ranging from new construction,                          Review Panel for Computing and
                                             demolition, and renovation; the                         Communication Foundations—Science                       In accordance with the Federal
                                             replacement of the Wallops causeway                     and Technology Centers—Integrative                    Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
                                             bridge; maintenance dredging between                    Partnerships Site Visit (#1192)                       463, as amended), the National Science
                                             the boat docks at the Main Base and                        Date and Time: May 21, 2018; 7:00                  Foundation (NSF) announces the
                                             Wallops Island; development of a deep-                  p.m.–8:30 p.m.; May 22, 2018; 8:00                    following meeting:
                                             water port and operations area on North                 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; May 23, 2018; 8:00                      Name and Committee Code:
                                             Wallops Island; construction and                        a.m.–4:00 p.m.                                        Committee on Equal Opportunities in
                                             operation of an additional medium to                       Place: McGovern Institute for Brain                Science and Engineering (CEOSE)
                                             heavy class launch site; the introduction               Research, Massachusetts Institute of                  Advisory Committee Meeting (#1173).
                                             of new NASA and DoD programs at                         Technology (MIT), 43 Vassar St.,                        Date and Time: May 30, 2018 1:00
                                             WFF; the expansion of the launch                        Cambridge, MA 02139.                                  p.m.–5:30 p.m.; May 31, 2018 8:30 a.m.–
                                             vehicle services with liquid-fueled                        Type of Meeting: Part-Open.                        3:30 p.m.
                                             intermediate class and solid fueled                        Contact Person: Phillip Regalia,                     Place: National Science Foundation,
                                             heavy class launch vehicles; and the                    National Science Foundation, 2415                     2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria,
                                             consideration of commercial human                       Eisenhower Avenue, Room W10207,                       VA 22314. To help facilitate your entry
                                             spaceflight missions and the return of                  Alexandria, VA 22314; Telephone: (703)                into the building, please contact Una
                                             launch vehicles to the launch site.                     292–8910.                                             Alford (ualford@nsf.gov or 703–292–
                                             Under the No Action Alternative, WFF                       Purpose of Meeting: Site visit to assess           7111) on or prior to May 29, 2018.
                                             and its partners would continue the                     the progress of the STC Award: 1231216                  Type of Meeting: Open.
                                             existing operations and programs                        ‘‘A Center for Brains, Minds and                        Contact Person: Dr. Bernice
                                             previously discussed in the 2005 Site-                  Machines: The Science and the                         Anderson, Senior Advisor and CEOSE
                                             Wide EA and the subsequent NEPA                         Technology of Intelligence’’, and to                  Executive Secretary, Office of
                                             documents identified under Related                      provide advice and recommendations                    Integrative Activities (OIA), National
                                             Environmental Documents.                                concerning further NSF support for the                Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower
                                                                                                     Center.                                               Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314. Contact
                                             Public Meeting                                             Agenda: MIT Renewal Review Site                    Information: 703–292–8040/banderso@
                                                                                                     Visit                                                 nsf.gov.
                                                NASA and its Cooperating Agencies
                                             will hold a public meeting to discuss                   Monday, May 21, 2018                                    Minutes: Meeting minutes and other
                                             WFF’s proposed actions and to solicit                                                                         information may be obtained from the
                                                                                                     7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Closed                        CEOSE Executive Secretary at the above
                                             comments on the Draft PEIS. The public                    Site Team and NSF Staff meet to
                                             meeting will be held at the WFF Visitor                                                                       address or the website at http://
                                                                                                         discuss site visit materials, review              www.nsf.gov/od/oia/activities/ceose/
                                             Center on May 23, 2018, from 6 p.m. to                      process and charge
                                             8 p.m.                                                                                                        index.jsp.
                                                                                                     Tuesday, May 22, 2018                                   Purpose of Meeting: To study data,
                                                NASA anticipates that the public will                                                                      programs, policies, and other
                                             be most interested in the potential                     8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Open
                                                                                                       Presentations by Awardee Institution,               information pertinent to the National
                                             environmental impacts of each                                                                                 Science Foundation and to provide
                                             alternative on protected and special-                       faculty staff and students, to Site
                                                                                                         Team and NSF Staff; Discussions,                  advice and recommendations
                                             status species, wetlands, noise, and                                                                          concerning broadening participation in
                                             socioeconomics.                                             question and answer sessions
                                                                                                                                                           science and engineering.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                                In developing its Final PEIS, NASA                   Wednesday, May 23, 2018                                 Agenda:
                                             will consider all comments received;                    8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.: Closed                           • Opening Statement and Chair Report
                                             comments received and responses to                         Complete written site visit report with              by the CEOSE Chair
                                             comments will be included in the Final                       preliminary recommendations.                     • NSF Executive Liaison Report
                                             PEIS. In conclusion, written public                        Reason for Closing: The work being                 • Discussion: Responses to the 2015–
                                             input on environmental issues and                       reviewed during closed portions of the                  2016 CEOSE Biennial Report: NSF
                                             concerns associated with the                            site review will include information of                 and Higher Education


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Document Created: 2018-11-02 09:53:06
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 09:53:06
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability of the Draft Site-wide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for improvement of infrastructure and services at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Accomack County, Virginia.
DatesInterested parties are invited to submit comments on environmental issues and concerns, preferably in writing, no later than forty-five (45) days following the publication of the EPA's Notice of Availability of the Draft PEIS in the Federal Register. Once known, this date will be posted on the project website at: https://code200- external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-wide_eis.
ContactShari Miller, Site-wide PEIS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Mailstop: 250.W, Wallops Island, Virginia 23337; telephone (757) 824-2327; email: [email protected]ov. A toll-free telephone number, (800) 521-3415, is also available for persons outside the local calling area. When using the toll-free number, please follow the menu options and enter the ``pound sign (#)'' followed by extension number ``2327.'' Additional information about NASA's WFF may be found on the internet at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html. Information regarding the NEPA process for this proposal and supporting documents (as available) are located at https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 250-wff/site-wide_eis.
FR Citation83 FR 19839 

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