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The KSC Environmental Checklist should be completed for every project and action implemented on KSC. It begins the process of environmental review and results in a Record of Consideration which is sent to the project proponent. It provides a list of potential environmental requirements associated with the project or action that must be completed to assure compliance with all environmental laws and regulations.
Download the electronic Form filler by following this link:
KSC Environmental Checklist (PDF) or KSC Environmental Checklist (WORD format). Please remember to provide maps, project scopes and descriptions when submitting your checklist to the Environmental Program Branch (TA-C3).
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Under the NEPA regulations, agencies may “exclude” certain classes of action from detailed review. These classes of projects are referred to as “Categorical Exclusions” (CatEX). This classification is for projects which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and for which neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.
However, even categorically excluded projects should receive some study because the regulations require finding out whether “extraordinary circumstances” may require such a project to be analyzed in more detail.
The Record of Consideration (REC) will be provided in response to a KSC Environmental Checklist (PDF) or KSC Environmental Checklist (WORD format) will indicate whether the project or action is categorically excluded.
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The primary purpose of an Environmental Assessment (EA) is to determine if a proposal might have significant impact. Significantly as used in NEPA requires considerations on both context and intensity. Context means that the significance of an action must be analyzed in several contexts such as society as a whole (human, national), the affected region, the affected interests, and the locality. Significance varies with the setting of the proposed action. For instance, in the case of a site-specific action, significance would usually depend upon the effects in the local rather than in the world as a whole. Both short- and long-term effects are relevant. Intensity refers to the severity of impact. Responsible officials must bear in mind that more than one agency may make decisions about partial aspects of a major action. Impacts may be both beneficial and adverse, public health or safety, historical or cultural resources, highly controversial, uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks, future consideration, cumulatively, endangered or threatened species or its habitat, social, etc.
An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a concise public document for which a Federal agency is responsible that serves to: (1) Briefing provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); (2) Aid an agency’s compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act when no EIS is necessary; and (3) Facilitate preparation of an EIS when one is necessary.
The FONSI reduces excessive paperwork and delay (ref: 40 CFR Subsections 1400.4(q) and 1500.5(l), respectively) and documents the results of the analyses preformed in the EA as well as the decision made by the agency regarding the implementation of the project. It is used when the determination has been made that the project can be implemented without causing significant impacts to the environment.
All environmental reviews on KSC begin with the KSC Environmental Checklist (PDF) or KSC Environmental Checklist (WORD format).
KSC specific EA’s and associated FONSI’s can be found on the KSC Environmental Management System home page, http://kems.ksc.nasa.gov/default.aspx.
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The primary purpose of an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) is to serve as an action-forcing device to insure that the policies and goals defined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are infused into the ongoing programs and actions of the Federal Government. It shall provide full and fair discussion, very detailed analysis and documentation, of significant environmental impacts and shall inform decision makers and the public of the reasonable alternatives which would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the human environment.
An EIS is prepared per 40 CFR Subsection 1508.9 when a major Federal action significantly affects the quality of the human environment. The definition of action is so broad that nothing is exempted from NEPA except emergency actions. The meaning of major depends on the decision maker’s judgment, his/her personal interpretation of the potential impacts of the proposed action. In determining whether to prepare an EIS the Federal agency shall determine under its procedures supplementing these regulations, 40 CFR, Subsection 1507.3, whether the proposal is one which normally requires an EIS, normally does not require either an EIS or an EA (categorical exclusion), or based on the EA makes its determination to prepare an EIS. Continue the scoping process per 40 CFR Subsection 1501.7 if the agency prepares an EIS.
Significantly, as used in NEPA, requires consideration on both context and intensity. Context means that the significant of an action must be analyzed in several contexts such as society as a whole (human, national), the affected region, the affected interests, and the locality. Significance varies with the setting of the proposed action. For instance, in the case of a site-specific action, significance would usually depend upon the effects in the local rather than in the world as a whole. Both short- and long-term effects are relevant. Intensity refers to the severity of impact.
The EIS process is, by design, a public involvement process and very specific timelines for pubic review and comment are required.
A Record of Decision (ROD) (40 CFR Subsection 1505.2) is prepared at the end of the process. It is a concise public document stating what an agency’s decision is on a specific action. A decision on a course of action may not be made until 30 days after publication of the Notice of Action (NOA) of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.
All environmental reviews on KSC begin with the KSC
Environmental Checklist (PDF) or KSC Environmental Checklist (WORD format).
KSC specific EIS’s and associated ROD’s can be found on the KSC Environmental Management System home page: http://kems.ksc.nasa.gov/default.aspx.
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KSC has developed this plan to comply with the Executive Order and NASA’s agency wide strategy by: (1) defining the terms “low-income populations,” “minority,” “minority population,” “disproportionately highly adverse human health effects,” and “disproportionately high adverse environmental effects;” (2) identifying low-income and minority populations in the surrounding KSC community; (3) identifying the possible off-site environmental impacts; (4) identifying KSC continued commitment to environmental justice; and (5) identifying and implementing action items which ensure that the goals of the Executive Order and NASA’s Environmental Justice Strategy are met.
View or download the Environmental Justice Plan in PDF format here.
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The Environmental Resources Document (ERD) provides a summary of the types of activities that occur on KSC and a description of the type of natural environments that exist here. This covers all the natural resources media and provides a “state of the environment” view of the Center. The ERD is updated every five years.
View or download the ERD in PDF format here.
Point of Contact: Mario
Busacca at 321.867.8456, email: Mario.Busacca-1@nasa.gov
Back to the National Environmental Policy Act page |
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