1. This Environmental Assessment (EA) is for the United States
Air Force (USAF) atmospheric interceptor technology (ait)
program, which consists of two proposed sub-orbital missile launches.
The United States Congress directed the Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization (BMDO) to provide funds to support the USAF National
Missile Defense (NMD) initiative. The USAF NMD initiative is to
exploit existing missile and radar capabilities in support of
the effort to develop a national missile defense system. The USAF
plans to develop a target launch capability to realistically simulate
inbound missile threat trajectories from potential Pacific Basin
adversaries. In the interest of enhancing timely, economical national
defense, this capability will be used to evaluate the performance
and utility of existing radar systems to support potential low_cost,
low_risk NMD architectures.
2. Two existing USAF radar systems have high potential for NMD
application. The upgraded Precision Acquisition Vehicle Energy
- Phased Array Warning System (PAVE PAWS) radar located at Beale
Air Force Base (AFB), California is a wide-looking potential target
detection element of a future NMD system. The HAVE STARE tracking
radar located at Vandenberg AFB, California represents a candidate
design to perform the narrow_looking, target tracking radar role
in a future NMD system. To fully understand the utility of these
radar systems in an NMD role, the USAF plans to integrate and
test these systems using realistic threat scenarios. California
is the only location where these radars are close enough to be
tested together. The PAVE PAWS radar initially detects an incoming
target and hands over specific target tracking to the HAVE STARE.
3. Space and Missile Systems Center, Test and Evaluation Directorate,
Launch Test Programs (SMC/TEB) proposes to launch two sub_orbital
test vehicles as part of the USAF ait program to test these
existing ground_based early warning radar systems with authentic
inbound rockets, flying from north to south as they would if used
in an actual attack.
4. The Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) for the proposed
program is set forth in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 32-7061, Environmental
Impact Analysis Process, which implements the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and the PresidentÌs Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) regulations. Additional NEPA requirements are contained
in Department of Defense (DoD) Regulation 5000.2, Mandatory Procedures
for Major Defense Acquisition Programs.
5. This EA evaluates available DoD and commercial launch capabilities
that could support the launch of the USAF ait test vehicles
while meeting the test objectives of the program. The USAF included
the evaluation of commercial launch sites to support the objectives
of the Commercial Space Launch Act. The Commercial Space
Launch Act encourages "Östrengthening and expansion
of the U.S. space transportation infrastructure, including the
enhancement of U.S. launch sites and launch site support
facilities, with Government, State, and private sector involvement."
[49 U.S.C. ß 70101(b)(4)] In 1995, SMC/TEB
awarded a Spaceport Contract for the purpose of providing competitive,
commercial spaceport services to support potential SMC/TEB launch
operations for both orbital and sub-orbital missions. At the time
the contract was awarded, none of the contract awardees had existing
launch facilities. The contract awardees are the Alaska Aerospace
Development Corporation (AADC); Spaceport Systems International
(SSI), California; Old Dominion University Research Facility,
Virginia; and Spaceport Florida Authority (SFA). The USAF would
be a commercial "customer" of AADC for this proposed
action. The USAF would be solely responsible for the two USAF
ait launches, to include range safety. The USAF is not
involved in the construction or operation of the Kodiak Launch
Complex (KLC).
6. Several potential alternatives were considered but eliminated
from further detailed analysis in this EA based upon selection
criteria developed for this proposed action. Based on the evaluation
of potential alternatives, only the AADC commercial spaceport
on Kodiak Island, Alaska, will meet the selection criteria for
the USAF ait program. The construction and operation of
AADCÌs KLC was the subject of an EA conducted by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA EA for KLC was completed
in June 1996 and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (Attachment
1) was signed for the KLC site by the FAA in October 1996. To
avoid a repetitive discussion of the environmental issues associated
with AADCÌs construction and operation of KLC previously
discussed in the FAA EA, and to focus the USAF decision making
process on the issues associated with the USAF ait program,
the USAF adopts the FAA EA analysis and findings regarding the
construction and operation of KLC. The FAA is a cooperating agency
for the USAF ait EA. The location of the KLC site is shown
in Figure 1.1.
7. To support the launch of USAF ait test vehicles, the
USAF will use the following facilities at KLC: Launch Control
and Management Center, Launch Pad and Service Structure, and Integration
and Processing Facility. These facilities will be designed and
constructed by AADC.
8. This EA identifies, describes and evaluates the potential direct,
indirect and cumulative environmental impacts of activities associated
with the proposed launch by the USAF of two ait sub-orbital
test vehicles. This EA also identifies other alternatives to the
proposed action, including the No Action alternative, and describes
mitigation measures necessary to prevent or minimize environmental
effects. To address potential impacts specific to the processing
and launch of the USAF ait test vehicle from KLC, the USAF
ait EA includes an analysis of air quality, biological
resources, noise, health and safety, and hazardous materials and
waste. The USAF analysis focused on those aspects of the ait
sub-orbital launch operations that were not analyzed in the FAA
EA. In addition, the USAF analyzed those circumstances that have
changed since the FAA EA was finalized in June 1966. These include
the reduction of the construction period from 18 months to 9 months,
the designation of the StellerÌs eider seabird as a Ïthreatened
species,Ó and the redesignation of the Steller sea lion
from ÏthreatenedÓ to Ïendangered.Ó Based
upon their review of this EA, the USAF decision makers will
determine whether the EA supports a FONSI or whether an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) is required due to the potential of the
proposed action to have significant environmental impacts.
9. Public health and safety is of paramount importance to this
program. Therefore, to eliminate physical risk to the public,
areas that could be impacted in the event of a major launch failure
will be evacuated. The evacuation area is expected to include
up to a 10,000-foot radius around the launch pad. However, further
detailed analysis for the two USAF ait launches may favor
the use of a smaller exclusion zone. The brief evacuation time
period will extend for approximately four hours before launch
to no more than one hour after launch. In the case of KLC, this
would include the road providing access to Narrow Cape.
10. The following environmental laws and Executive Orders were among those considered during the preparation of this EA:
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