Environmental Assessment for Integration, Assembly, Test, and Checkout of National Missile Defense Components at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

The purpose of the IATC program is to provide facilities in which National Missile Defense NMD interceptor missiles can be integrated and assembled prior to their use in testing or their deployment as part of the NMD system. Boeing does not have suitable facilities at its Huntsville plant to assemble or store the missiles. There are no facilities at Redstone Arsenal currently configured to be able to assemble the NMD interceptors. Modification of existing government facilities would minimize the time and cost needed to obtain the required facilities. This is critical to DoDs goal of developing a deployable NMD system within 3 years to ensure that the United States has the capability to protect its people against ballistic missile threats. The proposed action consists of three activities. The first would be the rehabilitation or facility upgrade of an existing complex of buildings and construction of a remote operator test blockhouse to provide an interceptor missile integration and assembly facility. The second activity would be the actual integration and assembly of interceptor missiles at the rehabilitated facility. The third would be storage of interceptor components and completed interceptors that cannot be immediately shipped. Integration and assembly of the interceptor missile would include installing electronics, wiring, and ordnance in each of the stages mating the stages together mating the kill vehicle KV to the Flight Vehicle and containerizing the entire interceptor missile. Final acceptance tests and checks would be made and the sealed shipping canister charged with nitrogen. The assembled and containerized interceptor missile would then be roll transferred into a Missile Transporter, similar to a tractor- trailer. Final deployment sites have not been selected, but alternatives are being evaluated in an NMD Deployment Environmental Impact Statement currently being prepared.