Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Technology Demonstration Mission
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in May 2013 which evaluated and addressed the potential environmental consequences of conducting the proposed launch, operation, and recovery of the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) test flights at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii.
The 2013 Final LDSD EA assessed the first demonstration test that was successfully conducted in June 2014, as well as the campaigns planned in 2015 consisting of up to three additional demonstration tests. Based on information gleaned from the first test conducted at PMRF, NASA prepared a Supplemental EA (SEA) to evaluate the potential environmental consequences (environmental impacts) of changes planned for future tests campaigns to be conducted at PMRF. The SEA evaluated potential environmental consequences from three alternatives. Based on the analyses in the LDSD SEA, NASA has issued a FONSI with respect to the increased 5-year duration (every June through August, from 2015 to 2019) and the additional splashdown area which is needed in support of the continuing LDSD TDM.
The 2015 Final LDSD SEA and FONSI are available for review at the following locations:
- Hawaii State Library
Hawaii and Pacific Section Document Unit
478 South King Street
Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96813-2994 - Lihue Public Library
4344 Hardy Street
Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766 - Waimea Public Library
9750 Kaumualii Highway
Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
To request a hard copy of the Final LDSD SEA and FONSI, please contact:
Mr. Steven W. Slaten
NASA Management Office Environment and Facilities Manager
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
MS 180-801
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone: (818) 393-6683
Email: sslaten@nasa.gov
The Draft LDSD SEA can be accessed https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/sites/code250wff/files/inline-files/NASA_LDSD_DSEA.pdf. Please note that the comment period for the Draft EA has ended.
