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NASA Procedures and Guidelines |
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11.1.1 NASA Centers and, as appropriate, major Component Facilities have an Environmental Resources Document (ERD) on file that serves as an initial source of baseline environmental information for the facility (see chapter 9). An ERD can, thus, be a useful resource for performing an environmental evaluation and preparing the Affected Environment chapter of an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS). Another source of information can be found in recent EA's and EIS's prepared for earlier NASA actions.
11.1.2 In addition to these in house information sources, a number of other resources are available, particularly for environmental information on areas outside NASA Centers and facilities. A number of these potential sources of information, collated by topical area, are identified below.
11.2.1 General land use information, including information on special use lands, can be obtained from a number of sources. Particular attention needs to be paid to certain types of land uses. For example, the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. º4201 et seq.) provides protection for important farmland. The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a final rule, 7 of CFR Part 658, implementing the Farmland Protection Policy Act.
11.2.2 In addition, certain properties are either administered by Federal, State, and local agencies or have been accorded special protection through formal designation. Additional environmental review requirements or permits may apply to use of such lands. Formally classified lands include, but are not necessarily limited to, national parks and monuments; national natural landmarks; national battlefields; wilderness areas; wild, scenic, and recreational rivers; wildlife refuges; national seashores, lake shores, and trails; state parks; Bureau of Land Management-administered lands; national forest and grasslands; and Native American-owned lands.
11.2.3 Potential Sources of Information
a. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps
b. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey maps-general land use information can be obtained from the State Conservationist or NRCS field office
c. State Conservationist, NRCS field office-important farmland and erosion control
d. National Park Service-national natural landmarks; national parks; national battlefields and monuments; national seashores and lake shores; national recreational areas; national trails; and wild, scenic, and recreational rivers and those in the national inventory
e. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered lands and wilderness areas
f. U.S. Forest Service (USFS)-administered lands, wilderness areas, and forest lands
g. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)-wildlife refuges
h. State and local land management and planning agencies-wild, scenic, and recreational rivers, state and local parks and other state-owned lands
i. State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or equivalent
j. U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs-tribal lands (contact with individual tribes may also be necessary).
11.3.1 Executive Order (EO) 11988, Floodplain Management, requires Federal agencies to avoid actions, to the extent practicable, that will result in the location of facilities in floodplains and/or affect floodplain values. Floodplain management guidelines require Federal agencies to apply the 0.2 percent or 500-year flood occurrence standard to the location of critical facilities. Critical facilities include health care facilities, emergency service facilities, and areas used for the storage of hazardous materials.
11.3.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-Flood Hazard Boundary Maps. Under EO 11988, these maps must be used if available
b. COE-floodplain information in the absence of FEMA maps; assessment of floodplain impacts
c. NRCS-same information as provided by COE
d. USGS-same information as provided by COE.
11.4.1 EO 11990, Protection of Wetlands, is directed at minimizing the destruction, loss, or degradation of wetlands and preserving and enhancing the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.
11.4.2 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires that anyone proposing to deposit dredged or fill material into waters of the United States including wetlands, must obtain a permit granted by the COE.
11.4.3 Nationwide Wetland Inventory Maps can be obtained from the USFWS; however, not all wetlands have been mapped. Soil Survey Maps should also be consulted.
11.4.4 Potential Sources of Information
a. Nationwide Wetland Inventory Maps-contact the National Cartographic Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 507 National Center, Reston, Virginia 22092
b. COE
c. USFWS
d. NRCS-Soil Survey Maps (hydric soils)
e. State DNR-Wetland Inventory Maps.
11.5.1 The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's implementing regulations, 36 CFR Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, require Federal agencies to take into account the effect their actions may have on historic properties before carrying out such actions.
11.5.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. National Register of Historic Places
b. State Historic Preservation Office
c. State or local historical and archaeological societies.
11.6.1 The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. º1531 et seq.) establishes a national program for the conservation and protection of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals and preservation of habitats upon which they depend. Federal agencies should consult with the USFWS or the National Marine Fisheries Service, as appropriate. The appropriate State agency should also be contacted for information on State-listed species and concerns.
11.6.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. USFWS, Region or Field Office
b. National Marine Fisheries Service for marine and anadromous species or coastal projects
c. State DNR or other appropriate state agency (for equivalent state species).
11.7.1 Fish and wildlife resources are important to the ecology of an area and also constitute important recreational and commercial resources.
11.7.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. State DNR or equivalent
b. USFWS
c. Administering agency on Federal, State, and local government-managed lands.
11.8.1 Vegetation not only provides wildlife habitat, but it also stabilizes soils, prevents erosion, and can be an important economic resource.
11.8.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. State Conservationist, NRCS area or field office
b. State Division of Forestry or equivalent
c. State DNR or equivalent
d. USFWS
e. Administering agency on Federal, State, or local government-managed lands.
11.9.1 Coastal areas serve as wildlife habitat and buffer inland areas from storms and hurricanes. The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. º1451 et seq.) applies to all American lands on the boundary of any ocean or arm thereof, and the Great Lakes.
11.9.2 The Coastal Barrier Resources Act and the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. º3501 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. º4028) apply to selected geographic areas called Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) units. CBRS units have not yet been designated for the entire coastal U.S.
11.9.3 Potential Sources of Information
a. State Coastal Zone Management Agency
b. USFWS- coastal barrier resource information
c. CBRS unit maps are available from the United States Geologic Service Distribution Branch, Open Files Services, Box 25425, Denver, Colorado 80225.
11.10.1 Air quality is subject to regulation by the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990. Within each state, a State Implementation Plan forms the framework for emission control.
11.10.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. State Division of Air Quality or equivalent (or regional Air Quality District)
b. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Office.
11.11.1 Water quality can be affected through direct discharge of project-generated effluents into a watercourse and by indirect runoff or leaching into surface or groundwater.
11.11.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. COE-grants permits for certain dredge or fill operations in a waterway
b. NRCS
c. State or local conservationist
d. State DNR or equivalent office
e. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Office.
11.12.1 Impacts to the visual quality of an area can be associated with constructing of a new building or structure. Visual impacts are particularly important for projects near areas of high scenic value (e.g., wilderness areas, national parks and forests, and scenic or national inventory rivers).
11.12.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. Federal land management agencies
b. State land management agencies
c. National Park Service
11.13.1 Transportation issues associated with a proposed project can range from impacts to traffic volumes on local highways; to interference from high structures near airports (e.g., microwave towers); to airspace restrictions.
11.13.2 Potential Sources of Information
a. Federal Aviation Administration
b. Federal Highway Administration
c. State Highway Department
d. COE
e. Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)-air space maps.
11.14.1 Some projects may result in impacts that affect socioeconomic resources and can include impacts to the demographic makeup of an area or public safety resources (e.g., police, fire, emergency medical).
11.14.2 In addition, EO 12898, Environmental Justice, was created to prevent federally assisted projects from adversely affecting the environments of minority populations and low-income communities at a disproportionately high rate.
11.14.3 Potential Sources of Information
a. NASA Center Environmental Justice implementation Plan
b. Local, regional, State planning offices
c. Census Bureau
d. Department of Commerce.
11.15.1 Many sources of information exist electronically, the most user-friendly and accessible being information sources on the World Wide Web. Federal and State Agencies and other public and private institutions have made many reference materials available on their Web sites.
11.15.2 Table 11-1 provides a short list of available resources. This list is not comprehensive and is subject to change. Many State and local agencies and organizations also provide information on the web. For example, the California Environmental Protection Agency Web site at address http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/agencies/calepa.html provides links to the State's regulatory agencies as well as to State laws and regulations.
Table 11-1. Web Sites for Environmental Information 1
| Organization | Address | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The Council on Environmental Quality | http://ceq.eh.doe.gov or http://www.whitehouse.gov/CEQ | Includes CEQ's NEPANet and other resources related to NEPA |
| U.S. EPA | http://www.epa.gov | |
| Code of Federal Regulations | http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html | |
| Federal Register | http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html | With search capability |
| U.S. Government Printing Office | http://www.access.gpo.gov/index.html or http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/db2.html | Electronic access to many Government Printing Office publications, including the Federal Register. |
| Federal Web Locator | http://www.firstgov.com/Agencies/Federal/Federal_Government.shtml | Access to World Wide Web site of most, if not all, Federal agencies and organizations. |
| Environmental Professional's Virtual Desktop | http://www.clay.net/ep1.html | |
| Ambient Concentrations of Particulate Matter | http://capita.wustl.edu/CAPITA/CAPITAREPORTS/CritDocPMConc96/CritDocEnvironConc.htm | |
| KSC Ecological Resources Home Page | http:// environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/Nepa/nepa.htm | |
| KSC Environmental Program Office Home Page | http:// environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/ | |
| The Enviroweb | http://www.envirolink.org/index.html | |
| The Wilderness Society | http://www.tws.org or http://www.wilderness.org/ | Both go to the same web page. |
| National Cancer Institute Home Page | http://www.nci.nih.gov | |
| World Health Organization | http://www.who.ch | |
| U.S. DOE NEPA | http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/ | |
| Econonet Home Page | http://www.econet.apc.org/econet or http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/enindex.html | |
| U.S. Department of Interior | http://www.doi.gov | |
| U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | http://os.dhhs.gov | |
| National Oceanographic Data Center | http://www.nodc.noaa.gov |
| 1 Web sites are subject to change. |
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