14 CFR 1216.305 - Criteria for actions requiring environmental assessments.
§ 1216.305
Criteria for actions requiring environmental assessments.
(a)
Whether a proposed NASA action within the meaning of the CEQ Regulations ( 43 FR 55978) requires the preparation of an environmental assessment, an environmental impact statement, both, or neither, will depend upon the scope of the action and the context and intensity of any environmental effects expected to result. A NASA action shall require the preparation of an environmental assessment ( §§ 1501.3 and 1508.9 of the CEQ Regulations) provided the action is not one normally requiring an environmental impact statement (paragraph (c)) or it is not categorically excluded from the requirement for an environmental assessment and an environmental impact statement (paragraph (d)).
(3)
Specific experimental projects in aeronautics and space technology and energy technology applications.
(4)
Development and operation of new space transportation systems and advanced development of new space transportation and spacecraft systems.
(7)
Actions to alter ongoing operations at a NASA installation which could lead, either directly or indirectly, to natural or physical environmental effects.
(c)
NASA actions expected to have a significant effect upon the quality of the human environment shall require an environmental impact statement. For these actions an environmental assessment is not required. Criteria to be used in determining significance are given in § 1508.27 of the CEQ Regulations ( 43 FR 55978 ). Specific NASA actions requiring environmental impact statements, all in the R&D budget category, are as follows:
(2)
Development and operation of space vehicles likely to release substantial amounts of foreign materials into the earth's atmosphere, or into space.
(3)
Development and operation of nuclear systems, including reactors and thermal devices used for propulsion and/or power generation. Excluded are devices with millicurie quantities or less of radioactive materials used as instrument detectors and small radioisotope heaters used for local thermal control, provided they are properly contained and shielded.
(d)
NASA actions categorically excluded from the requirements to prepare either an environmental assessment or an EIS ( § 1508.4 of the CEQ Regulations) fit the following criteria: They are each sub-elements of an approved broadbased level-of-effort NASA science and technology program (basic research, applied research, development of technology, ongoing mission operations), facility program, or institutional program; and they are each managed relatively independently of other related sub-elements by means of separate task orders, Research and Technology Operating Plans, etc. Specific NASA actions fitting these criteria and thus categorically excluded from the requirements for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements are:
(1)
R&D (or SFCDC) activities in space science (e.g., Physics and Astronomy Research and Analysis, Planetary Exploration Mission Operations and Data Analysis) other than specific spacecraft development and flight projects.
(2)
R&D activities in space and terrestrial applications (e.g., Resource Observations Applied Research and Data Analysis, Technology Utilization) other than specific spacecraft development and flight projects.
(3)
R&D activities in aeronautics and space technology and energy technology applications (e.g., Research and Technology Base, Systems Technology Programs) other than experimental projects.
(4)
R&D (or SFCDC) activities in space transportation systems engineering and scientific and technical support operations, routine transportation operations, and advanced studies.
(8)
Continuing operations of a NASA installation at a level of effort, or altered operations, provided the alterations induce only social and/or economic effects but no natural or physical environmental effects.
(e)
Even though an action may be categorically excluded from the need for a formal environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, it is not excluded from the requirement for an environmental analysis conducted during the earliest planning phases. If that analysis shows that the action deviates from the criteria for exclusion and it is concluded that there may be significant environmental effects, an environmental assessment must be carried out. Based upon that assessment, a determination must then be made whether or not to prepare an environmental impact statement.
[44 FR 44485, July 30, 1979, as amended at 53 FR 9761, Mar. 25, 1988]
Title 14 published on 2012-01-01
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Title 14 published on 2012-01-01
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