Notice of availability of the Final Constellation Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)

NASA has prepared and issued the Final PEIS for the proposed Constellation Program to assist in the NASA decision making process. The Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative) is to continue preparations for and to implement the Constellation Program. The focus of the Constellation Program is the development of the flight systems and Earth-based ground infrastructure required to enable the United States to have continued access to space and to enable future human missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Constellation Program also would be responsible for developing and testing flight hardware, and performing mission operations once the infrastructure is sufficiently developed. The only alternative to the Proposed Action discussed in detail is the No Action Alternative where NASA would not continue preparations for nor implement the Constellation Program and therefore, would forego the opportunity for human exploration of space using U.S. space vehicles.
DATES: NASA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Constellation Program based on the Final PEIS no sooner than February 18, 2008, or 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's notice of availability of the Final PEIS, whichever is later.

NAEP NEPA WG member Lasantha Wedande is the contractor PM on this project. See more information at NASA's status report page: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=26759.