ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT KSC

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Center-wide Operations at KSC

Please click on the link below to view a PDF of the Draft KSC Center-Wide PEIS;
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Center-Wide Operations at KSC

(click on the above images for a larger view)

Project Description

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is beginning preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on Center-wide Operations at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

This PEIS is being prepared in conjunction with an updated Center Master Plan (CMP) to evaluate potential environmental impacts from proposed Center-wide operations and activities for a 20-year planning horizon from 2012–2032. The PEIS will consider a range of future scenarios, from repurposing existing facilities and recapitalizing infrastructure to reorganizing KSC management of its land resources with various types of commercial partnerships. The PEIS is intended to ensure NASA is in compliance with applicable environmental statutes as it sets program priorities for future operations and activities.

A CMP for Kennedy was developed in 2002 with a 50-year planning horizon. NASA Policy Directive 8810.2, Master Planning for Real Property, requires the CMP to be updated every five years. The 2008 CMP update was based on the now cancelled Constellation Program, while the current CMP update will guide KSC as it transitions toward a multiuser spaceport over the next 20 years.

Proposed Action and No Action Alternatives

Under the Proposed Action in the years ahead, KSC will implement the aforementioned CMP update and transition from a Government, program-focused, single-user launch and landing complex to a more central capability, cost-effective, and multiuser spaceport. KSC’s new mission will be to furnish both Government and commercial space providers with the necessary facilities, experienced workforce, and knowledge to support existing mission sets and new space programs.

The KSC master planning process is identified in NASA’s institutional requirements to report to Congress, pursuant to the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, Section 1102. The resulting CMP update will result in changes to the infrastructure, land use, space transportation providers and users’ customer base, and business model over a 20-year planning horizon from 2012–2032. The CMP update will include a number of component plans, including future land use, facility development, area development, transportation, utilities systems, and safety and security control. Implementing the future land use plan will promote the right-sizing of NASA KSC operations and attract non-NASA investment by providing more operational autonomy. Consolidating NASA operations into a smaller geographic footprint is a major component of the future land use plan Likewise, directing future NASA and non-NASA development into functional areas with defined, allowable operations will streamline safety and security considerations while promoting maximum utilization of KSC’s horizontal infrastructure capacities. In addition, the future land use plan supports expansion of the quint-modal capabilities to provide multiuser spaceport users increased support.

The future land use plan identifies 18 land use categories, their existing acreages, and their proposed future acreages. Changes in the size and location between existing and proposed land uses will constitute the basis for differential potential environmental impacts between the Proposed Action and the No Action alternatives.

Under the No Action Alternative, KSC would not transition toward a multiuser spaceport with fully integrated NASA programs and non-NASA users. Each NASA program would continue to operate to a significant degree as an independent entity, funded separately and managing activities and buildings in support of its own program. A limited non-NASA presence would continue at KSC.

Notice of Intent

NASA published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a PEIS, open a public scoping period and conduct public scoping meetings in the Federal Register on May 20, 2014. The NOI is NASA’s official announcement that it will prepare an EIS for the Center-wide Operations at the Kennedy Space Center.

Scoping

NASA and its Cooperating Agencies plan to hold two public scoping meetings to provide KSC PEIS information and solicit public comments regarding environmental concerns and alternatives for PEIS consideration. The public scoping meetings are scheduled as follows:

1. Eastern Florida State College Titusville Campus, John Henry Jones Gymnatorium, June 4, 2014, 5–8 p.m.
2. New Smyrna Beach High School Gymnasium, 1015 Tenth Street, New Smyrna Beach, June 5, 2014, 5–8 p.m.

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

NASA reviewed all comments received from members of the public, government agencies, and interest groups. Together, NASA and the cooperating agencies used the scoping comments to identify key environmental concerns to address in the Draft PEIS. The Notice of Availability for the Draft PEIS was published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2016 and is accessible online at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/action/eis/details?eisId=205030

Public meetings were held at the following locations to present an overview of the key findings and to solicit public comment.

• Eastern Florida State College Titusville Campus, John Henry Jones Gymnatorium,
  March 29, 2016, 5-8 p.m.
• New Smyrna Beach High School Auditorium, 1015 10th Street, New Smyrna Beach,
  March 30, 2016, 5-8 p.m.

The Draft PEIS can be accessed online at: http://environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/projects/peis.htm. Copies are also available for viewing at the following public libraries:

Written comments on the Draft PEIS submitted by email or U.S. Mail must be received by 5:00 PM EST on May 2, 2016. Comments may be submitted via:

1. Email to ksc-dl-centerwide-eis@mail.nasa.gov
2. Mail to Mr. Donald Dankert, NASA KSC Environmental Management Branch, SI-E3, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

Public Meeting Presentation Materials

Public Meeting Presentation  |  Informational Handout

This webpage provides information on the EIS and how to get involved in the NEPA process. Additional information will be added to this website as the project progresses. If you would like to be added to the project mailing list, please send an email to ksc-dl-centerwide-eis@mail.nasa.gov requesting to be added to the project mailing list.