Phase III of the California Science Center Project / Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Project

Phase III of the California Science Center Project / Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Project

The proposed project is the implementation of Phase III of the previously approved CA Museum of Science and Industry Exposition Park Master Plan (1993 Master Plan) and would involve the construction and operation of a new exhibition hall called the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. The structure would serve as the permanent home for the space shuttle Endeavour on the eastern wing of the CA Science Center. The addition would be attached to the eastern side of the existing Science Center building and west of the CA African American Museum (CAAM) and its planned expansion. Although the contemplated construction is generally consistent with the plans included in the 1993 Master Plan, there have been modifications made, as indicated below, to accommodate the specific circumstances of incorporating the space shuttle Endeavour. In 1993, the California Museum of Science and Industry (now known as the California Science Center) approved the California Museum of Science and Industry/Exposition Park Master Plan and certified the Program EIR for the Master Plan. The 1993 Program EIR evaluated the environmental impacts of proposed new and expanded museum facilities. As described in the 1993 Program EIR, the proposed CA Museum of Science and Industry facilities would be constructed in phases. Phase I, which involved construction of the central segment containing approximately 235,000 sq. ft. of space, was completed in 1998. An Addendum to the 1993 EIR was prepared in Nov. of 2001 for the proposed Phase II Expansion, which proposed construction of a west wing to the Museum containing approximately 160,000 sq. ft. of space (Phase II opened in 2010). A new Addendum (July 2014), was prepared that addresses the environmental consequences of implementation of proposed changes to Phase III of the CA Science Center Project as compared to the previously approved Master Plan. The Addendum discloses that changes to the proposed Phase III expansion (now known as the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Project) would not result in new significant impacts or substantially more severe significant impacts to the environment than the impacts described in 1993 Program EIR.

Los Angeles