DTIC ADA413257: Environmental Impact Analysis Process, Environmental Assessment Space Test Experiments Platform Mission 1, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

115 Pages·0.55 MB·English

by  Defense Technical Information Center

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ANALYSIS PROCESS

TNEMSSESSA LATNEMNORIVNE
SPTAECSET STNEMIREPXE PLA TFORM
1 NOISSIM
VACBNFAADOSERAENCI,BER E RG
J5A NUAR1Y9 94
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
Report Documentation Page
Report Date Report Type Dates Covered (from... to)
05011994 N/A -
Title and Subtitle Contract Number
Environmental Impact Analysis Process Environmental F33615-89-D-4003
Assessment Space Test Experiments Platform Mission 1
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA Grant Number
Program Element Number
Author(s) Project Number
Task Number
Work Unit Number
Performing Organization Name(s) and Address(es) Performing Organization Report Number
Engineering Science 199 S. Los Robles Avenue Pasadena, CA
91101
Sponsoring/Monitoring Agency Name(s) and Address(es) Sponsor/Monitor’s Acronym(s)
Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center/CEV HQ SMC/CEV, AL/OEB
Directorate of Acquisition Civil Engineering Los Angeles Air
Force Base, CA Armstrong Laboratory/OEB Brooks Air Force
Sponsor/Monitor’s Report Number(s)
Base, Texas
Distribution/Availability Statement
Approved for public release, distribution unlimited
Supplementary Notes
The original document contains color images.
Abstract
Subject Terms
Report Classification Classification of this page
unclassified unclassified
Classification of Abstract Limitation of Abstract
unclassified UU
Number of Pages
114
)ISNOF( TCAPMI TNACIFINGIS ON FO GNIDNIF
ENVIRONAMSESNETSASLM ENT
ESTXPEPASECTRE I MPELNATTMSFI OS1RSMI ON
CALIFORNIABASE, FORCE AIR VANDENBERG

:YCNEGA ret nsemCet seylSis s dienMca asprsetrauqd a,e)HFA SeUc( r rosiFeAt ad teSt inU
QnHe (m,n)oCrMiSvnE )VE Cn(oisiv itDnemegan alMat

GNITAREPOOC :YCNEGA Department of Defense (DOD) Space Test Program (STP)

BACKGROUND: ) , A ye9fPtc h6oEcilt9NAla1(otPnemnor il vatnn nEo oaietu thsatrNuP
lic n guln oaisC tt nynnnoteeoii mmtleneaahollutrpuQimgvienr EtcA( 00 5s1tr aRP F0C4 - ,)8051
9n1oitalug eeRcr or Fi,A1.05 0e6vitcer iDDOD - ,2 hcihw stnemelpmi eseht snoitaluger ni eht
Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP), and other applicable Federal and local
regulations, the USAF has conducted and assessment of t he potential environmental
consequences of the proposed implementation of the Space Test Experiments Platform Mission 1
P.EsT eSm)v(a1irMt gadonnrraPetla

PROPOSED ACTION: The DOD STP proposes to launch the STEP M1 spacecraft from
gre br nieeAcdrnoaFVB ase (VAFB), California. STP is procuring a space vehicle based on an
adaptable spacecraft bus to support numerous STP experiments. The overall goal of the STEP
program is to support DOD in obtaining vitally needed scientific data about space and the eart s’h
environment by creating low - .sd aseoe cltrnyio e alfeidplhceeTsztiadsr a,dtnhagtise w,tthsgoicl
payload for this first mission of STEP consists of four DOD experiments, each designed to
research different facets of the atmosphere. Once analyzed, thi s atad ll ilw aectiogmoolropnhcet
advances in high frequency communications, atmospheric modeling for aircraft and spacecraft,
and provide possible insight into the prediction of geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes.

The space launch vehicle planned elci hhecVn ulal Laem c S Pr r1 eEoseiMhhTFihActStn uoatl
(AFSLV), known commercially as the Pegasus XL. The standard Pegasus launch vehicle and
d eV ntLeia Shu sFtlnet eAaevintveabiiebhrl ol geen thi satcresaoilftpiv idtectaaicossa
latnemnorivnEssA h.c)n 9 ue8rah9elT1bo t scAuOEs(a ged)ehn1 Pta9y 9a) 1MAt(En(emsse
B F)tAaaV egrnAid a do taL doP5nH 5ag5n1idli usBe(itili cnaofitarge t dngninaissec oerlpcihev
were previously evaluated in the Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) Commercial Launch
Serv seci margorP AE hcraM( .)3991 esehT seitilicaf lliw eb desu ot troppus eht desoporp .noitca
A FONSI was approved for each of these actions. The EA for the proposed action updates and
supplements the evaluation in these previous documents as necessary to e te lephmtoc
environmental analysis.

eP hlhE tcl TT 1hn ie, St Mgufw bVedsPiao eLhnrEl ldhStaiTf1lt FfSMueA obeywhltno
payload on this launch. The AFSLV would be carried aloft by an OSC - modified Lockheed L -
1011 passenger aircraft, which would take ffo morf eht gnitsixe dleifria no htroN .BFAV nAF -
61 esahc ,tfarcria gnitanigiro morf sdrawdE riA ecroF ,esaB ,ainrofilaC lliw eb desu rof lausiv
observations to improve flight safety.
1
tI si a noissim tnemeriuqer ot ylf ruof DOD stnemirepxe ni a08 (cid:176) in clination polar orbit at
specified altitudes to collect data on ionospheric propagation phenomena and obtain
measurementso fu ppera tmosphericc ompositiona ndd ynamicp rocessesT. h eh ighi nclinationi s
needed to allow coordination between spacecraft recei vers and various ground transmitters. The
on - board propulsion system will provide orbit maintenance, since the low perigee (point in the
yr le stl wet ’iatoh ngebualtt aat rnh s ) tcridoitseehllidlntirhtlu flanatrisnieoeaweintcnergaiss
orbit energy. gnits iFxAES Ue tgo nmsienkroc iadtrnatutosra eht dlrow lliw eb desu ot rehtag
atad morf eht .etilletas PETS 1M sah a de nlnaanlopitare peofil fo 6 ot 21 .shtnom tA eht dne fo
l asntoi i,teafrielpo llano - board fuel will be consumed, the orbit will decay l leitwille t ea dhs,nta
re - enter the atmosphere.

The proposed action involves the processing and launch of the STEP M1 spacecraft at VAFB.
se :ih nBtteoFi r d A leo gue VdihNPmnlhelctEaicTs uaT rtnu1eofSfgsiMewooirrxhpet

• et neIlcihe V5(5 5g1nidliuB gration Facility) for mission processing,

• s u estg,hao natgHdiedeadrnPPaAaoL

• the airfield for takeoff and landing of the L - .tfarcr i1a101

SEVITANRETLA OT EHT DESOPORP:NOITCA C M QS,HAP E yNdberiu q e srA
considered other alternatives to the proposed vehicles launcha vailable other no are There action.
or combinations of systems in the U.S. inventory that can fulfill mission requirements of the
hc nau tasdl lane,laDnt aAgtniiT ts seniioxteinutr odp a pPo.o El1dTyM e Satep isfemUohitl
vehicles would place additional requirements on schedules, planning, and availability, and may
tluser ni eht ytilibani ot yrrac tuo eht PETS 1M noissim sa .dennalp esU fo eseht sehcnual dluow
place small payloads in suboptimum orbits with larger payloads, adding unaccep elbat ksir ot
satellite performance. Other vehicle or program concepts submitted as AFSLVs are not
alternatives because they have not been developed and are not available.

A variety of launch sites were initially considered. Previous Pegasus missions ha ve been flown
yt it latti hscngea eiTF)dl AyFnSroADiNt(artsi ns eicdcminadtapAuSa nloar nem oAoeirhtftaN
sdrawd EriA ecro F.esaB hcaE fo e ssenhotis seivmah ,desu dna lliw ,esu a ASANB - tfarcr i2a5
as the launch platform. There are two Pegasus missions .g nt i h negni siea fUldmeoFyehrrtD
Test Facility ids not possible for STEP M1 because NASA has decided to no longer support other
commercial endeavors after the last Pegasus mission is flown. The Dryden facility will no longer
support OSC activities af r.e4t991 ,ds e nrere o ohesyss .FtdeliaeBihnetFstoriAnsVo c s iehtTis
has been approved for this program by the Air Force.

Baf oesU - 52 aircraft for the STEP M1 launch is not possible because the longer and heavier
Pegasus XL was not designed or man ufactured to be carried by the B - .25 CSO sah edam eht
decision to depart from use of the NASA aircraft in favor of a completely commercial L - 1101
reirrac.tfarcria

hguohtl Aeht VLSFA yam eb dehcnu amlor fspol ldanWalsI ro eht nrets aeEgnaR ta emos retal
date, the specific mission of the STEP M1 requires and inclination for the orbit that is higher
08( (cid:176) ) than would be possible from the Eastern Range (39 (cid:176) 7 o5t (cid:176) ) or from Wallops Island off the
coast of Virginia. Therefore, these sites are not being conside P1 EMsoTetSvitanre tdsleaar
hcn ut aas.liehmtit

2
QH C MdSe roes dleiahstn o.ce voi ntnaoni rtectala fI eht PETS 1mMargo rsp idet nteomnelpmi
as planned, DOD would not be able to fulfill the mission requirement. Under the no action
,evitanretla tiuow ld not be possible to obtain the scientific and experimental data required for
mission accomplishment. Specifically, there is no other alternative to this proposed method of
collecting the atmospheric and ionospheric data. Each of the experiments would o btain unique
atad taht nac ylno eb detcelloc ni ,ecaps ni awol - earth orbit, and at the specific altitudes and
atmospheric conditions required for each experiment. There are no other space experiments
planned to gather this data in the areas needed to sup port DOD atmospheric and ionospheric
models. It was therefore determined that the no action alternative would not meet mission
requirements.

The Air Force has considered all of the above alternatives, and has selected the proposed action
as the preferred .evitanr etla

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: h ,ts BittFwcaA aVlpamtinemnor i devehnttea ue lhAaTEve
drager ot eht PETS 1M dn ugonrigssecor pdna hcnual ta ,BFAVni - orbit operation, and orbital
decaraneydeTf nhotelr lyo.w ienngv ironmentaarlew aeasrs es essfeod enviinre ofnfmerec nttsa l
,tneme ge,atnnsoaaimwt eeclniporezedohp se o getdnt anaal srahma, itciby:hslot AtclirEgliaauq
noise, public services, utilities and transportation, socioeconomics, hydrology and water quality,
natural resources, energy, visual doeapscr toipoonst ehBdee cause risk. ands aferteyas nodu rces ,
not include the construction of any new ground facilities, the topics of biological resources,
cultural resources, coastal resources, and soils and geology have not been evaluated.

tivitcA ies conducted in support of satellite processing and launch at VAFB including forklift
unloading, alcohol wipedown, hydrazine transfer, assembly truck transfer, hydraulic lift for
attachment, and takeoff and landings of the L - d1nF1a01 - l l,ritwfarc r6i1a esult in emissions to
the atmosphere. Since these emissions are minor in quantity, and generated during a very short
doirep fo emit ta a noitac otlaht si detalo smiorf eht lar e,nceiglbup eht tcapmi ot ria ytilauq si
considered insignificant.

ehToissime ns of greenhouse and ozone - depleting compounds from the STEP M1 launch will
affect the atmospheric concentrations of these compounds. However, the significance of the
thccan pu.smaliillams

Minimal amounts of hazardous and nonhazardous waste will be gen erated over a short period of
e, nllgieln zuii eaf wdehr, ubtds.lylgchann iiisrs u esoete dtaclrimol alr Agzlpenaemihtiratusd
handled in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and safety plans.

STEP M1 processing and launch ope rations will not produce significant noise levels.

Non ewc ommunityf acilitieso rs ervicesw illb er equiredf ort hep roposeda ction.T ransportation
services and traffic will not be significantly affected, due to the limited number of personnel
required f or on - base processing and launch operations.

Socioecraoednsvooiemunrircpbsccloee eup lesduym,inl p noahlgttoaow iunyiosdmlni elsnn ,gt ,,
affected by STEP M1 processing and launch at VAFB. The additional 20 personnel required for
the proposed action wi ll be only temporary.

Facility renovations have already been performed in support of processing activities at VAFB.
oN tnacifingis stcapmi no ygolordyh dna retaw ytilauq era .detapicitna retaW esu deriuqer ot
support the temporary personnel during proce .lami nlei lbmsiewitivi tgcnaiss
3
Natural and visual resources at VAFB will not be affected by the proposed action.

ygrenE stnemeriuqer fo eht PETS 1M tcejorp era ,laminim dna ton deredisnoc.tnacifingis

Identified safety concerns have been considered i .g BntFi aAsVs ePg rcEn1ooTiMfrSn pnnalp
Sparfodecectbevoyehlden eaaeulrsnFrvrvroii ieeeeepasdn vlsepkeais dp rale ,ren w oddev de,d .
.elbatpecca

A review of the regulatory requirements indicated that no permits will be required for the
proposed ac tion.

No significant environmental impacts are expected as a result of ground processing and launch at
n i,BFAV - tibro ,noitarepo dna latibro yaced dna yrtneer fo eht PETS .1M laitnetoP stcapmi era
rehtie ton ,detapicitna ro yam rucco ta ssel nahtifingis s eerr ua.nssoa liete tmnvaae gcloiNtim
required for the proposed action.

POINT OF CONTACT: y,ea4 bm9,9y 1r a,dIu AnS n 5PE a Nya1 EefOpJMAThoFoStc
obtained from, or comments on these documents may be submitted to:

VEC/CM SQH
,.dPah sl.a eAH.drAM .E
rleaetnniegmnnEorivnE
764 1etiu S,ya Wale V0242
5420 9A C,BF Aselegn AsoL - 9564

:3)e60 n31o3h(P - 4390

APPROVED:

eettim mnooCitcet olraPtnemnori vCQnMHES

4
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STNETNOC FO ELBAT
serugiF fo tsiL ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ v
selbaT fo tsiL ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. iv

IVERBBA DNA SMYNORCA SNOITA ................................ ................................ .................... iiv
1 NOITCES NOITCA EHT ROF DEEN DNA FO ESOPRUP
1.1 dnuorgkcaB ................................ ................................ ................................ 1 - 1
2.1 noitpircseD margorP ................................ ................................ .................. 1 - 1
3.1 PurptoEohsnfeev ironmentAasls essment ................................ ............. 1 - 2
4.1 Issues ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 1 - 2
5.1 T fo epocS weiveR latnemnorivnE sih ................................ ...................... 1 - 2
2 NOITCES SEVITANRETLA DNA NOITCA DESOPORP FO NOITPIRCSED
1.2 ProposeAdc tion ................................ ................................ ....................... 2 - 1
2.2 LocatiPornoject ................................ ................................ ......................... 2 - 1
3.2 DescrPitrphotoepif oAo scnet di on ................................ ......................... 2 - 1
1.3.2 TransportComponent Satellite ................................ ................... 2 - 8
2.3.2 PrPorcoecsesdiunrge s ................................ ............................... 2 - 01
3.3.2 PersonRneeqlu irements ................................ .......................... 2 - 21
4.2 noissiM 2 - 21
1.4.2 PropEWaxagDpvaueetcr itioemnde nt ................................ .... 2 - 51
2.4.2 tnemirepxE )SDA( noitacificepS ytisneD cirehpsomtA ......... 2 - 51
3.4.2 ProcessesModification And Heating of Coordination
IONo(tsChpHehiA EenMxrtPpeoI ON) tnemire .................... 2 - 61
4.4.2 tnemirepxE )AEP( rezylanA tnemnorivnE amsalP ................. 2 - 61
5.2 ActiPorno posed the Atlot ernatives ................................ ...................... 2 - 71
1.5.2 evitanretlA noitcA oN ................................ .............................. 2 - 71
2.5.2 sevitanretlA rehtO ................................ ................................ ...... 2 - 71
6.2 serusaeM noitagitiM ................................ ................................ ................ 2 - 81
3 NOITCES TNEMNORIVNE DETCEFFA
1.3 ytilauQ riA ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 - 1
1.1.3 etamilC ................................ ................................ ......................... 3 - 1
2.1.3 ytilauQ riA lacoL ................................ ................................ ......... 3 - 2
2.3 noitelpeD enozO cirehpsotartS dna egnahC etamilC labolG .................. 3 - 2
3.3 WaMsatnea gement ................................ ................................ ................... 3 - 9
1.3.3 HaTazonaxdriW dcao sutse ................................ ..................... 3 - 01
2.3.3 noitneverP noitulloP ................................ ................................ .. 3 - 11
ii
4.3 esioN ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 3 - 21
iii
C( STNETNOC FO ELBAT UNITNO ED)
3 NOITCES )d'tnoC( TNEMNORIVNE DETCEFFA
5.3 noitatropsnarT dna seitilitU ,secivreS cilbuP ................................ .......... 3 - 31
1.5.3 secivreS cilbuP ................................ ................................ ........... 3 - 31
2.5.3 seitilitU ................................ ................................ ........................ 3 - 41
3.5.3 noitatropsnarT ................................ ................................ ............ 3 - 61
6.3 Socioeconomics ................................ ................................ ....................... 3 - 71
1.6.3 Population ................................ ................................ ................. 3 - 71
2.6.3 Housing ................................ ................................ ...................... 3 - 81
3.6.3 Employment ................................ ................................ .............. 3 - 81
7.3 QualityWater andH ydrology ................................ ................................ 3 - 91
1.7.3 Hydrology ................................ ................................ .................. 3 - 91
2.7.3 ytilauQ retaW ................................ ................................ ............. 3 - 91
8.3 ResourceNsatural ....... ......................... ................................ ................... 3 - 02
9.3 ygrenE ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 3 - 02
01.3 secruoseR lausiV ................................ ................................ ..................... 3 - 12
4 NOITCES SECNEUQESNOC LATNEMNORIVNE
1.4 evitanretlA noitcA oN ................................ ................................ .............. 4 - 1
2.4 ProposeAdc tion ................................ ................................ ....................... 4 - 1
1.2.4 ytilauQ riA ................................ ................................ .................... 4 - 1
2.2.4 noitelpeD enozO cirehpsotartS dna egnahC etamilC labolG .... 4 - 3
3.2.4 WaMsatnea gement ................................ ................................ ..... 4 - 8
4.2.4 esioN ................................ ................................ ........................... 4 - 01
5.2.4 noitatropsnarT dna seitilitU ,secivreS cilbuP ............................ 4 - 01
6.2.4 Socioeconomics ................................ ................................ ......... 4 - 11
7.2.4 QualityWater andH ydrology ................................ .................. 4 - 11
8.2.4 ResourceNsatural ....... ......................... ................................ ..... 4 - 31
9.2.4 ygrenE ................................ ................................ ........................ 4 - 31
01.2.4 secruoseR lausiV ................................ ................................ ....... 4 - 31
5 NOITCES SISYLANA KSIR DNA YTEFAS
1.5 Safety ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 5 - 1
1.1.5 gnissecorP ................................ ................................ .................... 5 - 1
2.1.5 sirbeD ecapS ................................ ................................ ................ 5 - 2
2.5 soiranecS ksiR ....... ......................... ................................ ........................... 5 - 4
1.2.5 InjuPtreoyr sonnel ................................ ................................ ..... 5 - 5
2.2.5 SpacDteaom age elciheV ................................ .......................... 5 - 6
vi