john f. kennedy space center brevard county, florida - Environmental ...

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 1-1
NASA Kennedy Space Center
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose
In response to President George W. Bush’s announcement in January 2004 that the Space
Shuttle Program (SSP) would end in 2010, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) has undertaken a historical survey and evaluation of all NASAowned
facilities and properties (real property assets) to determine their eligibility for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in the context of this program.
In February of 2006, a Shuttle Transition Historic Preservation Working Group (HPWG)
was formed which included the Historic Preservation Officers (HPOs) for all NASA
Centers. This group, tasked with implementation of the historic facilities survey, is
coordinating its efforts with the Shuttle Transition Environmental Support Team.
As an initial step, the HPWG drafted a set of standard criteria for the evaluation of
Shuttle program-related properties at all NASA Centers. These criteria were reviewed by
the National Park Service (NPS) and approved by NASA Headquarters in May of 2006.
The agency-wide historic eligibility survey of SSP facilities was approved in June of
2006. Ultimately, the survey findings for each center will be synthesized, resulting in a
list of all NASA-owned Space Shuttle Program-related NRHP-eligible facilities. In
addition, a summary report for each NASA Center will be prepared which provides the
relevant historic context and descriptions of significant historic properties.
This report was prepared on behalf of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in
Brevard County, Florida in compliance with Section 110 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), as amended; the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Public Law 91-190); Executive Order (EO)
11593: Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment; EO 13287, Preserve
America, and other relevant legislation.
1.2 Project Summary and Objectives
The historic values of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program are embodied in the facilities, i.e.,
the buildings, structures and objects, within the NASA Centers. The purpose of this study
is to identify the NASA-owned facilities at the KSC of local, state, and/or national
significance in the historic context of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program, ca. 1969 to 2010.
Such facilities may include, but are not necessarily limited to, those used for research,
development, design, testing, fabrication, and operations. The study also includes certain
types of resources that are not facilities but which are considered “personal property”
under federal regulations. These resources are typically large, and while they may be
mobile, are also usually associated with a geographical location.
October 2007
Archaeological Consultants, Inc.