Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings, 3915-3917 [E6-757]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 2006 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review, Request for Comments; Approval of a New Information Collection Activity, International Survey of Human Factors in Maintenance Organizations Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Organizations that are approved to conduct aircraft maintenance are certified and regulated under CFR 14, Title 49, FAR part 145, or international equivalent (Henceforth referred to as part 145). The information collected will be used to assess what companies have done, are doing or are planning to do regarding the human factors elements of part 145. A partial list of subjects includes training, error management, fatigue management, and additional human factors metrics. Additionally, respondents will be asked to describe their organization’s support of their human factors program. This will involve collecting data from companies world-wide. The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval of this new information collection. A notice for public comment was published in the Federal Register on 7/6/2005, vol. 70, #128, page 39000. DATES: Please submit comments by February 23, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy Street on (202) 267–9895. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Title: International Survey of Human Factors in Maintenance Organizations. Type of Request:Approval of a new collection. OMB Control Number: 2120–xxxx. Form(s): Human Factors Survey Form. Affected Public: A total of 1,080 respondents. Frequency: Conducted on an asneeded basis. Estimated Average Burden Per Response: Approximately 30 minutes. Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 540 hours annually. Abstract: Part 145 organizations will receive an invitation via e-mail to complete a web-based survey. The information collected will be used to assess what companies have done, are doing or are planning to do regarding the human factors elements of part 145. VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:44 Jan 23, 2006 Jkt 208001 A partial list of subjects includes training, error management, fatigue management, and additional human factors metrics. Additionally, respondents will be asked to describe their organization’s support of their human factors program. This will involve collecting data from companies world-wide. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention FAA Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department’s estimates of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2006. Judith D. Street, FAA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Information Systems and Technology Services Staff, ABA–20. [FR Doc. 06–596 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Notice of Extension of the Public Comment Period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Modification to the Four Corner-Post Plan at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Extension of public comment period. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (DSEA) for the proposed modification to the Four Corner-Post Plan at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada is extended. DATES: The comment period of the DSEA, originally ending on December 30, 2005, and then extended to January PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3915 13, 2006, is now extended to March 14, 2006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 22,2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice of the availability of the DSEA for the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The notice published on December 5, 2005, FR Vol. 70, page 72497, also announced the schedule for public workshops regarding the DSEA, and advised that the public comment period would close Friday, December 30, 2005. The public workshops were held on November 12 and 13, 2005. A Notice of Extension of the Public Comment Period, published on December 16, 2006, FR Vol. 70, page 74864, extending the public comment period to January 13, 2006. The public comment period is further extended to March 14, 2006. All written comments are to be submitted to Ms. Sara Hassert, Landrum & Brown, Inc., 8755 W. Higgins Rd., Ste. 850, Chicago, IL 60631, fax: 773–628– 2901, E-mail: shassert@landrumbrown.com and the comments must be postmarked and e-mail/fax must be sent by no later than midnight, Tuesday, March 14, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kathryn Higgins, Environmental Specialist, Western Terminal Service Area Office, FAA Western Terminal Operations, 15000 Aviation Blvd., Lawndale, CA 90261, Ph. 310–725– 6597, E-mail: kathryn.higgins@faa.gov. Issued in Lawndale, California on January 12, 2006. Stephen Lloyd, Manager, Operations Support, Western Terminal Service Area. [FR Doc. 06–590 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is the lead Federal agency. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a cooperating agency. The FAA will ask the U.S. Department of the Army to participate as a cooperating agency. ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This Notice provides information to Federal, State, and local E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1 3916 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 2006 / Notices rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 agencies, affected Native American tribes, and other interested persons regarding the FAA’s intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s (NMEDD’s) proposal to develop and operate a commercial launch site near Upham, New Mexico. The FAA will prepare the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500–1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its licensing process for the proposed launch site. The BLM will participate in this NEPA process as a cooperating agency; the FAA will ask the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range to participate as a cooperating agency. Under the proposed action, the FAA would issue a launch site operator license to the NMEDD to operate a launch facility at the proposed site, termed the Southwest Regional Spaceport. The launch site operator license would authorize the NMEDD to operate a launch facility to support launches of horizontally and vertically launched, suborbital rockets.1 The vehicles proposed to be launched from the Southwest Regional Spaceport may carry space flight participants,2 scientific experiments or other payloads.3 The issuance of a launch site operator license does not permit the NMEDD to conduct launches, only to offer the facility and infrastructure to launch operators. All individual launch operators would be subject to separate FAA licensing or permitting. A license to operate a launch site authorizes a licensee to offer its launch site to a launch operator for each launch point for the type and weight class of launch vehicle identified in the license application and upon which the licensing determination is based. Issuance of a license to operate a launch 1 A suborbital rocket is a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the thrust of which is greater than its lift for the majority of the rocketpowered portion of its ascent. (49 U.S.C 70102(19)) Suborbital trajectory is the intentional flight path of a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or any portion thereof whose vacuum instantaneous impact point (IIP) does not leave the surface of the Earth. 2 ‘Space flight participant’ means an individual who is not crew, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. 3 Payload is the item that an aircraft or rocket carries over and above what is necessary for the operation of the vehicle in flight. VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:44 Jan 23, 2006 Jkt 208001 site does not relieve a licensee of its obligation to comply with any other laws or regulations; nor does it confer any proprietary, property, or exclusive right in the use of airspace or outer space. (14 CFR 420.41) A launch site operator license remains in effect for five years from the date of issuance unless surrendered, suspended, or revoked before the expiration of the term and is renewable upon application by the licensee. (14 CFR 420.43) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The FAA is preparing an EIS to analyze the environmental impacts of the NMEDD’s proposed operation of a launch facility near Upham, New Mexico. The proposed site is located approximately 45 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The EIS will consider the environmental impacts of the construction of facilities, ground activities (e.g., component testing, transportation and storage of propellants and explosives, etc.), pre-flight vehicle and payload preparation activities, launch, and landing/recovery operations. The successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA would issue a launch site operator license to the NMEDD. The project also must meet all FAA safety, risk, and indemnification requirements. A license to operate a launch site does not guarantee that a launch license or experimental permit would be granted for any particular launch proposed for the site. Proposed Action The proposed action is for the FAA to issue a launch site operator license to the NMEDD that would allow the NMEDD to operate the Southwest Regional Spaceport for both horizontal and vertical suborbital launches. Nominally, the rockets would return and land within the Southwest Regional Spaceport or adjacent areas. Contingency landings may occur on lands administered by BLM. As part of the proposed action, the NMEDD proposes to construct a vertical launch area, airfield, spectator area, landing and recovery area, and access road. The vertical launch area would include: Storage areas for explosives and propellants, three launch pads, two vehicle assembly areas, launch control building, and office areas. The airfield would include prevailing and cross wind runways, and a horizontal launch hangar. The spectator area would include parking and viewing areas. These facilities would be constructed on State property. Development of access PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and supporting utility infrastructure for the Southwest Regional Spaceport may occur on lands administered by the BLM. The impacts of all construction activities will be analyzed in this EIS. In order to address the range of launch vehicles that could be launched from the proposed facility, the EIS will consider three types of horizontally launched concept vehicles and three types of vertically launched concept vehicles. The horizontal concept vehicles include: • Concept H1 vehicles—These vehicles use jet-powered take off with subsequent rocket engine ignition and powered horizontal landing. • Concept H2 vehicles—These vehicles use rocket-powered take off and flight and unpowered horizontal landing. • Concept H3 vehicles—These vehicles are carried aloft via assist aircraft with subsequent rocket engine ignition and unpowered horizontal landing. The vertical concept vehicles include: • Concept V1 vehicles—These vehicles consist of a single-stage rocket in which the rocket stage and payload or crew/passenger modules return separately to Earth by parachute. • Concept V2 vehicles—These vehicles consist of a single-stage rocket in which the rocket stage returns to Earth by parachute and the crew/ passenger module returns with a powered or unpowered horizontal landing. • Concept V3 vehicles—These vehicles consist of a single-stage rocket with rocket-powered vertical landing. Alternatives Alternatives under consideration include issuance of a launch site operator license to the NMEDD for the operation of a launch site to support • Horizontal launch concept vehicles only, • Vertical launch concept vehicles only, or • A subset of the concept vehicles. Based on comments received during the scoping period, the FAA may propose additional alternatives. The EIS will also analyze the no action alternative. Scoping Meetings Two public scoping meetings will be held to solicit input from the public on potential issues that may need to be evaluated in the EIS. The first scoping meeting will be held on February 15 at 6:30 p.m., at the Truth or Consequences City Council Chambers, 405 West 3rd St. in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The second scoping meeting E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 2006 / Notices will be held on February 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the Physical Sciences Laboratory Auditorium, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. DATES: The FAA invites interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in identifying significant environmental issues and in determining the appropriate scope of the EIS. The public scoping period starts with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. To ensure sufficient time to consider issues identified during the public scoping period, comments should be submitted to Ms. Stacey M. Zee by one of the methods listed below no later than March 3, 2006. ADDRESSES: Comments, statements, or questions concerning scoping issues or the EIS process should be mailed to Ms. Stacey M. Zee, FAA Environmental Specialist, Southwest Regional Spaceport EIS c/o ICF Consulting, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to SRSEIS@icfconsulting.com or by fax to (703) 934–3951. Dated: January 13, 2006. Herbert Bachner, Manager, Space Systems Development Division. [FR Doc. E6–757 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] Comments on petitions received must identify the petition docket number involved and must be received on or before February 13, 2006. DATES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket Number FAA–200X–XXXXX] by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– 001. • Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL– 401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. ADDRESSES: Petitions for Exemption; Summary of Petitions Received Tim Adams (202) 267–8033, Sandy Buchanan-Sumter (202) 267–7271, or John Linsenmeyer (202) 267–5174, Office of Rulemaking (ARM–1), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. This notice is published pursuant to 14 CFR 11.85 and 11.91. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of petitions for exemption received. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 11, 2006. Anthony F. Fazio, Director, Office of Rulemaking. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Summary Notice No. PE–2006–01] AGENCY: Pursuant to FAA’s rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public’s awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA’s regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:44 Jan 23, 2006 Jkt 208001 Petitions for Exemption Docket No.: FAA–2005–23189. Petitioner: Brooks Air Transport d.b.a. Brooks Fuel, Inc. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 125.224. Description of Relief Sought: To allow Brooks Air Transport d.b.a. Brooks Fuel, Inc., to operate its Douglas C54G–DC without having a collision avoidance system that meets TSO C–118 installed on that aircraft. [FR Doc. E6–753 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3917 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Third Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 206: Aeronautical Information Services Data Link Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special Committee 206 meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 206: Aeronautical Information Services Data Link. DATES: The meeting will be held January 30–February 3, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at CASTOR Conference Room (Plenary) EUROCONTROL Headquarters, Rue de ´ la Fusee, 96 1130 Brussells, Belgium. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RTCA Secretariat, 1828 L Street, NW., Suite 805, Washington, DC, 20036– 5133; telephone (202) 833–9339; fax (202) 833–9434; Web site https:// www.rtca.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (P.L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice is hereby given for a Special Committee 206 meeting. The agenda will include: Monday, January 30: • Opening Session (Chairman’s Address, Welcome, Introductory and Administrative Remarks, Review Agenda, Approve minutes of the 2nd meeting,) • Formal announcement of EUROCAE participation • Working arrangements • Nomination of chairman and secretary • Status of Terms of Reference Overview and Discussions—Committee Chairmen • Review of actions and discussion • Presentations • Communications Strategy • Overview of the Cascade Program • Future data Link applications • Methodology and OSED development • Breakout into Weather Data Link and AIS Data Link Subgroups Tuesday, January 31–Thursday, February 2: • Continue in Weather Data Link and AIS Data Link Subgroups Friday, February 3: • Continue in Weather Data Link and AIS Data Link Subgroups • Chairman of Weather Subgroup Summary Presentation of Results and Meeting Outcome E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3915-3917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-757]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation; 
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and 
Conduct Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Associate 
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is the lead 
Federal agency. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a cooperating 
agency. The FAA will ask the U.S. Department of the Army to participate 
as a cooperating agency.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Notice provides information to Federal, State, and local

[[Page 3916]]

agencies, affected Native American tribes, and other interested persons 
regarding the FAA's intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for the New Mexico Economic Development Department's (NMEDD's) 
proposal to develop and operate a commercial launch site near Upham, 
New Mexico. The FAA will prepare the EIS in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code 
(U.S.C.) 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its 
licensing process for the proposed launch site. The BLM will 
participate in this NEPA process as a cooperating agency; the FAA will 
ask the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range to participate as a 
cooperating agency.
    Under the proposed action, the FAA would issue a launch site 
operator license to the NMEDD to operate a launch facility at the 
proposed site, termed the Southwest Regional Spaceport. The launch site 
operator license would authorize the NMEDD to operate a launch facility 
to support launches of horizontally and vertically launched, suborbital 
rockets.\1\ The vehicles proposed to be launched from the Southwest 
Regional Spaceport may carry space flight participants,\2\ scientific 
experiments or other payloads.\3\ The issuance of a launch site 
operator license does not permit the NMEDD to conduct launches, only to 
offer the facility and infrastructure to launch operators. All 
individual launch operators would be subject to separate FAA licensing 
or permitting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A suborbital rocket is a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole 
or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the 
thrust of which is greater than its lift for the majority of the 
rocket-powered portion of its ascent. (49 U.S.C 70102(19)) 
Suborbital trajectory is the intentional flight path of a launch 
vehicle, reentry vehicle, or any portion thereof whose vacuum 
instantaneous impact point (IIP) does not leave the surface of the 
Earth.
    \2\ `Space flight participant' means an individual who is not 
crew, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.
    \3\ Payload is the item that an aircraft or rocket carries over 
and above what is necessary for the operation of the vehicle in 
flight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A license to operate a launch site authorizes a licensee to offer 
its launch site to a launch operator for each launch point for the type 
and weight class of launch vehicle identified in the license 
application and upon which the licensing determination is based. 
Issuance of a license to operate a launch site does not relieve a 
licensee of its obligation to comply with any other laws or 
regulations; nor does it confer any proprietary, property, or exclusive 
right in the use of airspace or outer space. (14 CFR 420.41) A launch 
site operator license remains in effect for five years from the date of 
issuance unless surrendered, suspended, or revoked before the 
expiration of the term and is renewable upon application by the 
licensee. (14 CFR 420.43)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA is preparing an EIS to analyze the environmental impacts of 
the NMEDD's proposed operation of a launch facility near Upham, New 
Mexico. The proposed site is located approximately 45 miles north of 
Las Cruces, New Mexico. The EIS will consider the environmental impacts 
of the construction of facilities, ground activities (e.g., component 
testing, transportation and storage of propellants and explosives, 
etc.), pre-flight vehicle and payload preparation activities, launch, 
and landing/recovery operations.
    The successful completion of the environmental review process does 
not guarantee that the FAA would issue a launch site operator license 
to the NMEDD. The project also must meet all FAA safety, risk, and 
indemnification requirements. A license to operate a launch site does 
not guarantee that a launch license or experimental permit would be 
granted for any particular launch proposed for the site.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is for the FAA to issue a launch site operator 
license to the NMEDD that would allow the NMEDD to operate the 
Southwest Regional Spaceport for both horizontal and vertical 
suborbital launches. Nominally, the rockets would return and land 
within the Southwest Regional Spaceport or adjacent areas. Contingency 
landings may occur on lands administered by BLM.
    As part of the proposed action, the NMEDD proposes to construct a 
vertical launch area, airfield, spectator area, landing and recovery 
area, and access road. The vertical launch area would include: Storage 
areas for explosives and propellants, three launch pads, two vehicle 
assembly areas, launch control building, and office areas. The airfield 
would include prevailing and cross wind runways, and a horizontal 
launch hangar. The spectator area would include parking and viewing 
areas. These facilities would be constructed on State property. 
Development of access and supporting utility infrastructure for the 
Southwest Regional Spaceport may occur on lands administered by the 
BLM. The impacts of all construction activities will be analyzed in 
this EIS.
    In order to address the range of launch vehicles that could be 
launched from the proposed facility, the EIS will consider three types 
of horizontally launched concept vehicles and three types of vertically 
launched concept vehicles. The horizontal concept vehicles include:
     Concept H1 vehicles--These vehicles use jet-powered take 
off with subsequent rocket engine ignition and powered horizontal 
landing.
     Concept H2 vehicles--These vehicles use rocket-powered 
take off and flight and unpowered horizontal landing.
     Concept H3 vehicles--These vehicles are carried aloft via 
assist aircraft with subsequent rocket engine ignition and unpowered 
horizontal landing.
    The vertical concept vehicles include:
     Concept V1 vehicles--These vehicles consist of a single-
stage rocket in which the rocket stage and payload or crew/passenger 
modules return separately to Earth by parachute.
     Concept V2 vehicles--These vehicles consist of a single-
stage rocket in which the rocket stage returns to Earth by parachute 
and the crew/passenger module returns with a powered or unpowered 
horizontal landing.
     Concept V3 vehicles--These vehicles consist of a single-
stage rocket with rocket-powered vertical landing.

Alternatives

    Alternatives under consideration include issuance of a launch site 
operator license to the NMEDD for the operation of a launch site to 
support
     Horizontal launch concept vehicles only,
     Vertical launch concept vehicles only, or
     A subset of the concept vehicles.
    Based on comments received during the scoping period, the FAA may 
propose additional alternatives. The EIS will also analyze the no 
action alternative.

Scoping Meetings

    Two public scoping meetings will be held to solicit input from the 
public on potential issues that may need to be evaluated in the EIS. 
The first scoping meeting will be held on February 15 at 6:30 p.m., at 
the Truth or Consequences City Council Chambers, 405 West 3rd St. in 
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The second scoping meeting

[[Page 3917]]

will be held on February 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the Physical Sciences 
Laboratory Auditorium, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New 
Mexico.

DATES: The FAA invites interested agencies, organizations, Native 
American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments or 
suggestions to assist in identifying significant environmental issues 
and in determining the appropriate scope of the EIS. The public scoping 
period starts with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. To ensure sufficient time to consider issues identified 
during the public scoping period, comments should be submitted to Ms. 
Stacey M. Zee by one of the methods listed below no later than March 3, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments, statements, or questions concerning scoping issues 
or the EIS process should be mailed to Ms. Stacey M. Zee, FAA 
Environmental Specialist, Southwest Regional Spaceport EIS c/o ICF 
Consulting, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments can also be 
sent by e-mail to SRSEIS@icfconsulting.com or by fax to (703) 934-3951.

    Dated: January 13, 2006.
Herbert Bachner,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
 [FR Doc. E6-757 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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