NEPA – Mars 2020 Mission
March 5, 2020 – NASA’s Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Headquarters, has issued a Supplemental Record of Decision (ROD) for the Mars 2020 Mission Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). In the Supplemental ROD, Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen approved the decision to continue preparations for and implement the proposed action (Alternative 1) for the Mars 2020 Mission, as previously approved in the 2015 ROD, and as amended in the 2020 Final SEIS. The proposed action (Alternative 1) involved deployment of a rover using a radioisotope power system [a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG)] to conduct scientific work on the Mars surface. The Supplemental ROD for the Mars 2020 Mission Final SEIS (PDF) is available to view.
January 24, 2020 – NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Headquarters, has completed the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Mars 2020 Mission. The Notice of Availability (NOA) was published on January 24, 2020 in the Federal Register. Both the Final SEIS and the NOA are available to view below. The Record of Decision (ROD) will not be issued before February 24, 2020, and will be posted on this site once issued.
October 25, 2019 – NASA published the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the November 2014 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Mars 2020 Mission. The documents and additional information can be downloaded from the links below:
- Mars 2020 Mission Draft SEIS with Appendices
- NASA’s NOA for the Draft SEIS
- Mission information on the Mars 2020 Mission
- Additional NEPA information on the Mars 2020 Mission
- Replay of Virtual Public Meeting for Mars 2020 Mission Draft SEIS
January 28, 2015 – NASA’s Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, Headquarters, has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Mars 2020 Mission Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). In the ROD, Dr. John Grunsfeld approved the Proposed Action (Alternative 1) from the Mars 2020 Final Environmental Impact Statement: a rover powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). The Mars 2020 ROD states, “The Proposed Action enables the best return of scientific and technical information, and makes most effective use of fiscal, human, and material resources.” The ROD for the Mars 2020 Mission FEIS is available to view.
November 6, 2014 – NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Headquarters, has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Mars 2020 Mission. The EPA’s NOA was published on November 14, 2014 in the Federal Register and NASA’s NOA was published on November 18, 2014 (both are available below). The Record of Decision (ROD) will not be issued before December 15, 2014, and will be posted on this site once issued.
