[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20973-20974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10459]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (FPEIS) for the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
Program
AGENCY: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).
SUMMARY: On April 23, 1995, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
(BMDO) signed the Record of Decision (ROD) on research, development,
and testing of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability. The decision
included in this ROD has been made in consideration of, but not limited
to, the information contained in the Ballistic Missile Defense Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) filed with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on November 18, 1994. Other
factors considered in this decision include the present and projected
threat, cost, and administrative and congressional directives.
The BMD programmatic alternatives arose from existing and potential
national security needs. The need for further research and development
of BMD capability comes from the threat posed by the global
proliferation of missile technology, and the accompanying production
and development of weapons of mass destruction. This threat is
compounded by improvements to missile performance and weapon design by
other nations, as well as increases in the number of missile-armed
nations. The ROD documents the BMDO decision between the programmatic
alternatives.
The BMD program includes both National Missile Defense (NMD) and
Theater Missile Defense (TMD) segments under the direction of BMDO. The
NMD segment of the program considers developing ground and space-based
elements, including Ground-Based Sensor (GBS), Ground-Based Interceptor
(GBI), Space-Based Sensor (SBS), and Battle Management/Command,
Control, and Communications (BM/C3) elements, to defend the United
States against long-range missiles. The TMD segment
[[Page 20974]] considers developing transportable systems to defend
elements of the armed forces of the United States deployed abroad, and
United States' allies, against short- and medium-range missiles. The
TMD segment was analyzed separately in the TMD Programmatic EIS, due to
the distinct functions and independent utility of the TMD and NMD
segments.
The decision conveyed by the ROD is to continue research,
development, and testing of NMD capabilities. The decision includes
continuing the NMD Technology Readiness Program but does not include
the procurement or acquisition of an operational NMD system. Only
limited NMD research, development, and testing is to continue. The
acquisition of TMD system capabilities will continue as described in
the TMD ROD published in the Federal Register on August 11, 1994 (59 FR
41277).
The specific decision with respect to NMD is to continue a focused
approach to technology development in the form of the Technology
Readiness Program (the Preferred Action in the Final PEIS). The program
involves the development of existing and new technologies and test
systems for BM/C3, GBS, GBI, and SBS elements. Research is to be
focused to ensure the capability to deploy a limited NMD system in the
next decade. Basic technology efforts will continue to infuse new
advances as the program proceeds. Contingency planning and options
development will continue to be conducted to meet unexpected threats.
Three NMD System Acquisition Alternatives were also evaluated.
These alternatives consisted of proceeding with system acquisition and
design of NMD elements through the Engineering and Manufacturing
Development (EMD) phase of the DoD System Acquisition Life-cycle.
Activities included in the EMD phase involve development and testing of
elements up to, but not including, element and/or system production and
basing. The System Acquisition Alternatives evaluated were:
1. Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground- and Space-Based
Interceptors System Acquisition Alternative (which consists of
Engineering and Manufacturing Development of GBS, SBS, GBI, SBI, and
BM/C3);
2. All Ground-Based System Acquisition Alternative (which consists
of Engineering and Manufacturing Development of GBS, GBI, and BM/C3);
and
3. Ground- and Space-Based Sensors and Ground-Based Interceptors
System Acquisition Alternative (which consists of Engineering and
Manufacturing Development of GBS, SBS, GBI, and BM/C3).
The Final PEIS analyses determined that environmental impacts for
the Preferred Action (No Action Alternative) or any of the three System
Acquisition Alternatives would be minimal. The Final PEIS analyses
found no significant and unavoidable environmental impacts for the
Preferred Action or any of the three alternatives. The Preferred Action
would be termed the environmentally preferred alternative since there
would be fewer activities associated with its implementation, and
therefore fewer impacts. The other alternatives would generally create
greater areas of disturbance, require more resources, and create more
and greater hazards than the Preferred Action although the
environmental impact of all options would be minimal.
Therefore, the implementation of BMD research, development, and
testing activities and associated mitigation measures will proceed with
minimal adverse impact to the environment. BMDO Deputies and Program
Executive Officers are tasked to monitor these activities to ensure
that the required environmental standards and controls described in the
Final PEIS are followed. BMDO activities will conform with all
applicable Federal, state, and local statutes and regulations.
Additionally, all reasonable and practical efforts and appropriate
safeguards will be implemented to minimize harm to the public and the
environment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Lehner, BMDO/SRE,
Washington, DC 20301-7100, (703) 695-8743.
Dated: April 25, 1995.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 95-10459 Filed 4-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M
