SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NASA, in coordination with the European Space Agency, proposes to conduct a campaign to retrieve samples from Mars and transport them to Earth. A scientifically selected set of samples ( i.e., Martian rocks, regolith, and atmosphere), acquired and cached on the surface of Mars by the Perseverance rover, would be returned to Earth for scientific analysis and research. The proposed sample landing location is the DAF- managed Utah Test and Training Range, with additional activities potentially occurring on the U.S. Army's Dugway Proving Ground. The Final PEIS provides information and analysis related to the potential environmental impacts associated with this proposed action.

The proposed action and a no action alternative were evaluated in the Final PEIS. Under the no action alternative, the MSR Campaign would not be undertaken and investigation of Mars as a planetary system would be severely constrained due to the cost and complexity of sending into space (and operating) science instruments capable of conducting the appropriate level of sample analysis in space or on Mars where in situ analyses could be performed. The environmental resource areas analyzed in the Final PEIS include health and safety, cultural resources, hazardous materials and waste, soils and geology, biological resources, water resources, air quality and climate, land use, socioeconomics, environmental justice/protection of children, noise, and infrastructure. No significant adverse impacts were identified in the Final PEIS.

Comments and stakeholder input received within the Draft PEIS comment period were considered during the development of the Final PEIS. NASA released the Draft PEIS for comment from November 4, 2022, through December 19, 2022. During the 45-day review and comment period, NASA held two virtual and two in-person ( printed page 33920) public meetings (one in Wendover, UT and the other in Salt Lake City, UT). The Final PEIS provides details on substantive comments received during the comment period and the public meetings, as well as NASA responses to those comments.

NASA provided press releases to local newspapers and distributed letters to stakeholders, Native American tribes, and other interested parties. In addition to availability on the website ( https://www.nasa.gov/​feature/​nepa-mars-sample-return-campaign), hard copies of the Final PEIS will be made available at the following public libraries.

• Cocoa Beach Public Library, 550 N Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
• Central Brevard Library and Reference Center, 308 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32922
• Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
• Titusville Public Library, 2121 S Hopkins Avenue, Titusville, FL 32780
• Melbourne Library, 540 E Fee Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901
• Merritt Island Public Library, 1195 N Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953
• NASA Headquarters Library, 300 E Street SW #1120, Washington DC 20024
• Tooele City Public Library, 128 West Vine Street, Tooele, UT 84074
• Grantsville Library, 42 Bowery Street, Grantsville, UT 84029
• Brigham City Public Library, 26 E Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302
• Tremonton Municipal Library, 210 N Tremont Street, Tremont, UT 84337
• West Wendover Branch Library, 590 Camper Drive, West Wendover, NV 89883
• Garland Public Library, 86 W Factory Street, Garland, UT 84312

88 FR 33919