Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD) for Actions Related to Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range, 50036 [2010-19994]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 157 / Monday, August 16, 2010 / Notices
The total burden resulting from the
collection of information is 4,608 hours.
For the respondents that participate in
the initial screening survey only, the
annual estimated burden is 3,687.5
hours. For the 1,250 respondents
matched from the screening survey, the
estimated annual burden is 542 hours
(812.5 hours total over a period of 18
months). For the riders that will
participate in the on-motorcycle skills
test, the estimated annual burden from
information collection is 108 hours.
Therefore, the total estimated annual
burden is 4,337.5 hours. The
respondents would not incur any
recordkeeping burden or recordkeeping
cost from the information collection.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and
Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2010–20162 Filed 8–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space
Transportation; Availability of Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and
Record of Decision (ROD) for Actions
Related to Environmental Assessment
for the Expansion of the Wallops Flight
Facility Launch Range
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347 (as
amended), Council on Environmental
Quality NEPA implementing regulations
(40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order
1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is
announcing the availability of a FONSI/
ROD, based on the analysis and findings
of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s (NASA) August 2009
Environmental Assessment for the
Expansion of the Wallops Flight Facility
Launch Range (the EA). The FAA
(Office of Commercial Space
Transportation) participated as a
cooperating agency with NASA in the
preparation of the EA, which evaluates
the potential environmental impacts of
the proposed expansion of the MidAtlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). As the
MARS expansion would require Federal
actions (as defined in 40 CFR Section
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:51 Aug 13, 2010
Jkt 220001
1508.18) involving both NASA and the
FAA, the EA was prepared to satisfy the
NEPA obligations of both agencies.
NASA, as the WFF property owner and
lead agency, is responsible for ensuring
overall compliance with applicable
environmental statutes, including
NEPA. The FAA served as a cooperating
agency in the preparation of the EA
because of its role in (1) licensing the
Virginia Commercial Space Flight
Authority (VCSFA) which operates
MARS as a commercial launch site and
(2) issuing licenses or permits to operate
commercial launch and reentry vehicles
at MARS. The FAA has formally
adopted the EA and is using the FONSI/
ROD to support the modification or
renewal of VCSFA’s Launch Site
Operator License and issuance of
licenses or experimental permits for
commercial launch and reentry vehicles
at MARS.
Under the Proposed Action in the EA,
NASA and MARS facilities would be
upgraded to support up to and
including medium large class suborbital
and orbital expendable launch vehicle
(ELV) launch activities from WFF.
NASA’s Preferred Alternative includes
site improvements required to support
launch operations (such as facility
construction and infrastructure
improvements); testing, fueling, and
processing operations; up to two static
fire tests per year; launching up to six
orbital-class vehicles per year from Pad
0–A; and the reentry of associated crew
or cargo capsules. Implementation of
NASA’s Preferred Alternative would
result in a maximum of 18 orbital-class
vehicle launches from MARS Launch
Complex 0 (twelve existing launches
from Pad 0–B and six additional
launches from Pad 0–A). As several
different launch and reentry vehicles
could launch from MARS Pad 0–A, the
largest launch vehicle and payload
(which could include a reentry vehicle),
in terms of size, weight, and dimension,
was chosen as the demonstration, or
‘‘envelope,’’ vehicle and payload to
provide a benchmark for assessing
impacts on resources at WFF and the
surrounding environment. Orbital
Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II would
be the largest ELV expected to be
launched from MARS Pad 0–A under
the Proposed Action. Therefore, the
Taurus II was selected as the envelope
launch vehicle for purposes of the EA.
Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Cygnus
Capsule and Space Exploration
Technologies Corporation’s Dragon
Capsule were evaluated as potential
reentry vehicles. The EA addresses the
potential environmental impacts of
implementing the EA’s Proposed Action
PO 00000
Frm 00151
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and the No Action Alternative. Under
the No Action Alternative, NASA and
MARS would not proceed with
expansion activities at Pad 0–A.
Based on its independent review and
consideration, the FAA issued a FONSI/
ROD concurring with the analysis of
impacts and findings in the EA and
formally adopting the EA to support the
modification or renewal of VCSFA’s
Launch Site Operator License and
issuance of launch and reentry licenses
or experimental permits to operate
commercial vehicles at MARS. After
reviewing and analyzing available data
and information on existing conditions,
potential impacts, and measures to
mitigate those impacts, the FAA has
determined that neither modification or
renewal of VCSFA’s Launch Site
Operator License nor issuance of launch
and reentry licenses or experimental
permits to operate commercial vehicles
at MARS are Federal actions that would
significantly affect the quality of the
human environment within the meaning
of NEPA. Therefore, the preparation of
an EIS is not required, and the FAA has
issued a FONSI/ROD. The FAA made
this determination in accordance with
all applicable environmental laws and
FAA regulations.
NASA has posted the EA on the
Internet at https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/
code250/expansion_ea.html. The FAA
has posted the FONSI/ROD on the
Internet at https://www.faa.gov/about/
office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/.
Mr.
Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental
Specialist, Office of Commercial Space
Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 331, Washington,
DC 20591, telephone (202) 267–5924;
E-mail daniel.czelusniak@faa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 4,
2010.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development
Division.
[FR Doc. 2010–19994 Filed 8–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
Petition To Modify an Exemption of a
Previously Approved Antitheft Device;
Ford Motor Company
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA);
Department of Transportation (DOT).
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\16AUN1.SGM
16AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 50036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Availability of
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD)
for Actions Related to Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of
the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (as amended), Council on Environmental
Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is
announcing the availability of a FONSI/ROD, based on the analysis and
findings of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)
August 2009 Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of the Wallops
Flight Facility Launch Range (the EA). The FAA (Office of Commercial
Space Transportation) participated as a cooperating agency with NASA in
the preparation of the EA, which evaluates the potential environmental
impacts of the proposed expansion of the Mid-Atlantic Regional
Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Flight
Facility (WFF). As the MARS expansion would require Federal actions (as
defined in 40 CFR Section 1508.18) involving both NASA and the FAA, the
EA was prepared to satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. NASA,
as the WFF property owner and lead agency, is responsible for ensuring
overall compliance with applicable environmental statutes, including
NEPA. The FAA served as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the
EA because of its role in (1) licensing the Virginia Commercial Space
Flight Authority (VCSFA) which operates MARS as a commercial launch
site and (2) issuing licenses or permits to operate commercial launch
and reentry vehicles at MARS. The FAA has formally adopted the EA and
is using the FONSI/ROD to support the modification or renewal of
VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License and issuance of licenses or
experimental permits for commercial launch and reentry vehicles at
MARS.
Under the Proposed Action in the EA, NASA and MARS facilities would
be upgraded to support up to and including medium large class
suborbital and orbital expendable launch vehicle (ELV) launch
activities from WFF. NASA's Preferred Alternative includes site
improvements required to support launch operations (such as facility
construction and infrastructure improvements); testing, fueling, and
processing operations; up to two static fire tests per year; launching
up to six orbital-class vehicles per year from Pad 0-A; and the reentry
of associated crew or cargo capsules. Implementation of NASA's
Preferred Alternative would result in a maximum of 18 orbital-class
vehicle launches from MARS Launch Complex 0 (twelve existing launches
from Pad 0-B and six additional launches from Pad 0-A). As several
different launch and reentry vehicles could launch from MARS Pad 0-A,
the largest launch vehicle and payload (which could include a reentry
vehicle), in terms of size, weight, and dimension, was chosen as the
demonstration, or ``envelope,'' vehicle and payload to provide a
benchmark for assessing impacts on resources at WFF and the surrounding
environment. Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II would be the
largest ELV expected to be launched from MARS Pad 0-A under the
Proposed Action. Therefore, the Taurus II was selected as the envelope
launch vehicle for purposes of the EA. Orbital Sciences Corporation's
Cygnus Capsule and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation's Dragon
Capsule were evaluated as potential reentry vehicles. The EA addresses
the potential environmental impacts of implementing the EA's Proposed
Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative,
NASA and MARS would not proceed with expansion activities at Pad 0-A.
Based on its independent review and consideration, the FAA issued a
FONSI/ROD concurring with the analysis of impacts and findings in the
EA and formally adopting the EA to support the modification or renewal
of VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License and issuance of launch and
reentry licenses or experimental permits to operate commercial vehicles
at MARS. After reviewing and analyzing available data and information
on existing conditions, potential impacts, and measures to mitigate
those impacts, the FAA has determined that neither modification or
renewal of VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License nor issuance of launch
and reentry licenses or experimental permits to operate commercial
vehicles at MARS are Federal actions that would significantly affect
the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA.
Therefore, the preparation of an EIS is not required, and the FAA has
issued a FONSI/ROD. The FAA made this determination in accordance with
all applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
NASA has posted the EA on the Internet at https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/expansion_ea.html. The FAA has posted the
FONSI/ROD on the Internet at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental
Specialist, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 331, Washington, DC
20591, telephone (202) 267-5924; E-mail daniel.czelusniak@faa.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2010.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-19994 Filed 8-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
