Kauai Test Facility (KTF) Environmental Assessment. Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, New Mexico.

摘要

The Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the proposed continued launching of rockets with experimental payloads at the Sandia National Laboratories' (SNL's) Kauai Test Facility (KTF) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The KTF project includes (1) continuing the existing KTF facility and program, (2) constructing new roadways, fencing, fuel handling, and launch pad facilities, and (3) launching of vertical-launch as well as rail-launch vehicles. The facilities are needed to enable SNL to continue experimental rocket launches as mandated by Safeguard C of the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Vertical-launch programs to be conducted at the KTF include the U.S. Army's Strategic Target Systems (STARS) and Exoatmospheric Discrimination Experiment (EDX). Environmental assessments for each of these programs are incorporated by reference in the KTF EA. The Army has published a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for each program. The EA examined the environmental impacts of existing and proposed KTF activities and discussed potential alternatives. Based on the analyses in the EA, the DOE has determined that the proposed action is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required and the Department is issuing this FONSI.