Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site, 23629-23630 [2013-09161]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 76 / Friday, April 19, 2013 / Notices
service data on aircraft component
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Frequency: Information is collected as
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Estimated Average Burden per
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Estimated Total Annual Burden: 613
hours.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the FAA
at the following address: Ms. Kathy
DePaepe, Room 126B, Federal Aviation
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73169.
Public Comments Invited: You are
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clearance of this information collection.
Issued in Washington, DC on April 15,
2013.
Albert R. Spence,
FAA Assistant Information Collection
Clearance Officer, IT Enterprises Business
Services Division, AES–200.
[FR Doc. 2013–09232 Filed 4–18–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space
Transportation; Notice of Availability
and Request for Comment on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the SpaceX Texas Launch Site
DOT, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), lead Federal
agency; and National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, National Park
Service, U.S. Army White Sands Missile
Range, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
cooperating agencies.
ACTION: Notice of Availability, Notice of
Public Comment Period, Notice of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Apr 18, 2013
Jkt 229001
Public Hearing, and Request for
Comment.
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United
States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.),
Council on Environmental Quality
NEPA implementing regulations (40
Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500
to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E,
Change 1, the FAA, Office of
Commercial Space Transportation (AST)
is announcing the availability of and
requesting comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the
SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Draft EIS).
This Draft EIS is also submitted for
review pursuant to the following public
law requirements: Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act (49
U.S.C. Section 303); Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (16
U.S.C. 470); Executive Order 11988,
Floodplain Management; DOT Order
5650.2, Floodplain Management and
Protection; Executive Order 11990,
Protection of Wetlands; and DOT Order
5660.1A, Preservation of the Nation’s
Wetlands.
An electronic version of the Draft EIS
is available on the FAA/AST Web site:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/
headquarters_offices/ast/
environmental/nepa_docs/review/
documents_progress/spacex_texas_
launch_site_environmental_impact_
statement/. In addition, copies of the
Draft EIS were sent to persons and
agencies on the distribution list (found
in Chapter 11 of the Draft EIS). A paper
copy and an electronic version of the
Draft EIS may be reviewed during
regular business hours at the following
Brownsville locations:
• Brownsville Public Library Main
Branch, 2600 Central Blvd.
• Southmost Branch Library, 4320
Southmost Blvd.
• University of Texas at Brownsville,
Oliveira Library, 80 Fort Brown St.
The FAA will hold a public hearing
to solicit comments from the public
concerning the scope and content of the
Draft EIS.
• May 7, 2013, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
at the International Technology,
Education, and Commerce (ITEC)
Center, located at 301 Mexico
Boulevard, Suite G–1, Brownsville, TX
78520.
The public hearing will include a
poster information session from 5:00
p.m. to 6:00 p.m., FAA presentation
from 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed by
a public statement period in which
members of the public may provide up
to a 3-minute statement. The FAA will
transcribe all oral comments. All
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
23629
comments received during the comment
period will be given equal weight and
be taken into consideration in the
preparation of the Final EIS.
DATES: The public comment period for
the Draft EIS begins with the issuance
of this Notice of Availability and last 45
days. The FAA encourages interested
agencies, organizations, Native
American tribes, and members of the
public to submit comments concerning
the scope and content of the Draft EIS
by June 3, 2013. Comments on the Draft
EIS should be as specific as possible and
address the analysis of potential
environmental impacts and the
adequacy of the Proposed Action or
merits of alternatives and the mitigation
being considered. Reviewers should
organize their participation so that it is
meaningful and makes the agency aware
of the reviewer’s interests and concerns
using quotations and other specific
references to the text of the Draft EIS
and related documents. Matters that
could have been raised with specificity
during the comment period on the Draft
EIS may not be considered if they are
raised for the first time later in the
decision process. This commenting
procedure is intended to ensure that
substantive comments and concerns are
made available to the FAA in a timely
manner so that the FAA has an
opportunity to address them.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or
questions regarding the Draft EIS to Ms.
Stacey M. Zee, FAA Environmental
Specialist, SpaceX EIS c/o Cardno TEC
Inc., 275 West Street, Suite 110,
Annapolis, MD 21401. Comments may
also be submitted via email to
faaspacexeis@cardnotec.com or by fax
to (410) 990–0455.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Stacey M. Zee, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC
20591; email Stacey.Zee@faa.gov; or
phone (202) 267–9305.
Additional Information
The Proposed Action is for the FAA
to issue launch licenses and/or
experimental permits to SpaceX that
would allow SpaceX to launch the
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital
vertical launch vehicles and a variety of
reusable suborbital launch vehicles from
a launch site on privately-owned
property in Cameron County, Texas. As
part of the Proposed Action, SpaceX
plans to construct facilities, structures,
and utility connections in order to
support the launch of the Falcon 9 and
Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The
facilities would be located in two areas:
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19APN1
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23630
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 76 / Friday, April 19, 2013 / Notices
vertical launch area and control center
area. The proposed vertical launch area
site is currently undeveloped and is
located directly adjacent to the eastern
terminus of Texas State Highway 4
(Boca Chica Boulevard) and
approximately 3 miles north of the
Mexican border on the Gulf Coast. It is
located approximately 5 miles south of
Port Isabel and South Padre Island. At
the vertical launch area, the new
facilities required would include an
integration and processing hangar, a
launch pad and stand with its
associated flame duct, a water tower, a
retention basic for deluge water,
propellant storage and handling areas, a
workshop and office area, and a
warehouse for parts storage.
The command and control functions
for a launch are required to be
conducted at a safe separation distance
from the actual launch pad. The control
center area would be located inland,
approximately 2 miles west of the
vertical launch area and would include
control center buildings, payload
processing facilities, a launch vehicle
processing hangar, generators and diesel
storage facilities, and a satellite fuels
storage facility. All facilities would be
constructed through private funding, on
currently undeveloped private property
that would be purchased or leased by
SpaceX. In addition, new underground
power lines would be installed in the
State Highway 4 Right-of-Way from the
control center area to the vertical launch
area.
Operations would consist of up to 12
launches per year with a maximum of
two Falcon Heavy launches. All Falcon
9 and Falcon Heavy launches would be
expected to have commercial payloads,
including satellites or experimental
payloads. In addition to standard
payloads, the Falcon 9 and Falcon
Heavy may also carry a capsule, such as
the SpaceX Dragon capsule. All launch
trajectories would be to the east over the
Gulf of Mexico.
Alternatives under consideration
include the Proposed Action and the No
Action Alternative. Under the No
Action Alternative, the FAA would not
issue a license or experimental permit to
SpaceX. The Draft EIS evaluates the
direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental impacts of the Proposed
Action and No Action Alternative on
several environmental impact
categories, including compatible land
use (including farmlands and coastal
resources); Section 4(f) properties;
noise; visual resources and light
emissions; historical, architectural,
archaeological, and cultural resources;
air quality; water resources (including
wetlands, floodplains, surface waters,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Apr 18, 2013
Jkt 229001
groundwater, and wild and scenic
rivers); biological resources (including
fish, wildlife, and plants); hazardous
materials, pollution prevention, and
solid waste; socioeconomics,
environmental justice, and children’s
environmental health risks and safety
risks; energy supply and natural
resources; and secondary (induced)
impacts. Additional resources were also
considered including airspace, health
and safety, and ground traffic and
transportation. The Proposed Action
would include a significant
encroachment on floodplains per DOT
Order 5650.2, Floodplain Management
Protection.
FHWA Texas Division Office’s normal
business hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
(central time) Monday through Friday.
You may also contact Mr. Carlos
Swonke, Environmental Affairs
Division, Texas Department of
Transportation, 118 E. Riverside Drive,
Austin, Texas 78704; telephone: (512)
416–2734; email:
Carlos.Swonke@txdot.gov. The Texas
Department of Transportation normal
business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(central time) Monday through Friday.
Notice is
hereby given that the FHWA and other
Federal agencies have taken final agency
actions by issuing licenses, permits, and
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11,
approvals for the following highway
2013.
project in the State of Texas: Grand
Daniel Murray,
Parkway (State Highway 99) Segment C
Deputy Manager, Space Transportation
from US 59 (S) to SH 288 in Fort Bend
Development Division.
and Brazoria Counties; FHWA Project
[FR Doc. 2013–09161 Filed 4–18–13; 8:45 am]
Reference Number: FHWA–TX–EIS–03–
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
03–F. The project will be a 41.8 km (26
mi) long, four-lane controlled access toll
road with intermittent frontage roads,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION grade-separated intersections with exit
and entrance ramps at eight
Federal Highway Administration
intersections, while the need for
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions elevated directional interchanges will be
determined during final design. It will
on State Highway 99 (Segment C) in
begin at SH 288 in Brazoria County and
Texas
then proceeds northwest through Fort
AGENCY: Federal Highway
Bend County and end at US 59. The
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
purpose of the project is to efficiently
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims
link the suburban communities and
for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA major roadways, enhance mobility and
and Other Federal Agencies.
safety, and respond to economic growth.
The actions by the Federal agencies, and
SUMMARY: This notice announces actions
the laws under which such actions were
taken by the FHWA and other Federal
taken, are described in the Final
agencies that are final within the
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The
for the project, approved on August 8,
actions relate to a proposed highway
2012, in the FHWA Record of Decision
project, Grand Parkway (State Highway
(ROD) issued on March 29, 2013, and in
99) Segment C, from US 59 (S) to SH
other documents in the FHWA
288 in Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties,
administrative record. The FEIS, ROD,
Texas. Those actions grant licenses,
and other documents in the FHWA
permits, and approvals for the project.
administrative record file are available
DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is
by contacting the FHWA or the Texas
advising the public of final agency
Department of Transportation at the
actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A
addresses provided above. The FHWA
claim seeking judicial review of the
FEIS and ROD can be viewed and
Federal agency actions on the highway
downloaded from the Grand Parkway
project will be barred unless the claim
Association Web site at https://
is filed on or before September 16, 2013. www.grandpky.com/segments/c/.
If the Federal law that authorizes
This notice applies to all Federal
judicial review of a claim provides a
agency decisions as of the issuance date
time period of less than 150 days for
filing such claim, then that shorter time of this notice and all laws under which
such actions were taken, including but
period still applies.
not limited to:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
1. General: National Environmental
Gregory Punske, P.E., District Engineer,
Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321–
District B (South), Federal Highway
4335]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23
Administration, 300 East 8th Street,
U.S.C. 109].
Room 826 Austin, Texas 78701;
2. Air: Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401–
telephone: (512) 536–5960; email:
7671(q).
gregory.punske@fhwa.dot.gov. The
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23629-23630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09161]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability
and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
the SpaceX Texas Launch Site
AGENCY: DOT, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), lead Federal
agency; and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National
Park Service, U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, cooperating agencies.
ACTION: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice
of Public Hearing, and Request for Comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.),
Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code
of Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E,
Change 1, the FAA, Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is
announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Draft
EIS). This Draft EIS is also submitted for review pursuant to the
following public law requirements: Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 303); Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470); Executive Order 11988,
Floodplain Management; DOT Order 5650.2, Floodplain Management and
Protection; Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands; and DOT
Order 5660.1A, Preservation of the Nation's Wetlands.
An electronic version of the Draft EIS is available on the FAA/AST
Web site: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/. In addition, copies of
the Draft EIS were sent to persons and agencies on the distribution
list (found in Chapter 11 of the Draft EIS). A paper copy and an
electronic version of the Draft EIS may be reviewed during regular
business hours at the following Brownsville locations:
Brownsville Public Library Main Branch, 2600 Central Blvd.
Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd.
University of Texas at Brownsville, Oliveira Library, 80
Fort Brown St.
The FAA will hold a public hearing to solicit comments from the
public concerning the scope and content of the Draft EIS.
May 7, 2013, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the International
Technology, Education, and Commerce (ITEC) Center, located at 301
Mexico Boulevard, Suite G-1, Brownsville, TX 78520.
The public hearing will include a poster information session from
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., FAA presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.,
followed by a public statement period in which members of the public
may provide up to a 3-minute statement. The FAA will transcribe all
oral comments. All comments received during the comment period will be
given equal weight and be taken into consideration in the preparation
of the Final EIS.
DATES: The public comment period for the Draft EIS begins with the
issuance of this Notice of Availability and last 45 days. The FAA
encourages interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes,
and members of the public to submit comments concerning the scope and
content of the Draft EIS by June 3, 2013. Comments on the Draft EIS
should be as specific as possible and address the analysis of potential
environmental impacts and the adequacy of the Proposed Action or merits
of alternatives and the mitigation being considered. Reviewers should
organize their participation so that it is meaningful and makes the
agency aware of the reviewer's interests and concerns using quotations
and other specific references to the text of the Draft EIS and related
documents. Matters that could have been raised with specificity during
the comment period on the Draft EIS may not be considered if they are
raised for the first time later in the decision process. This
commenting procedure is intended to ensure that substantive comments
and concerns are made available to the FAA in a timely manner so that
the FAA has an opportunity to address them.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft EIS
to Ms. Stacey M. Zee, FAA Environmental Specialist, SpaceX EIS c/o
Cardno TEC Inc., 275 West Street, Suite 110, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Comments may also be submitted via email to faaspacexeis@cardnotec.com
or by fax to (410) 990-0455.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue
SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email Stacey.Zee@faa.gov; or
phone (202) 267-9305.
Additional Information
The Proposed Action is for the FAA to issue launch licenses and/or
experimental permits to SpaceX that would allow SpaceX to launch the
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital vertical launch vehicles and a
variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles from a launch site on
privately-owned property in Cameron County, Texas. As part of the
Proposed Action, SpaceX plans to construct facilities, structures, and
utility connections in order to support the launch of the Falcon 9 and
Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The facilities would be located in two
areas:
[[Page 23630]]
vertical launch area and control center area. The proposed vertical
launch area site is currently undeveloped and is located directly
adjacent to the eastern terminus of Texas State Highway 4 (Boca Chica
Boulevard) and approximately 3 miles north of the Mexican border on the
Gulf Coast. It is located approximately 5 miles south of Port Isabel
and South Padre Island. At the vertical launch area, the new facilities
required would include an integration and processing hangar, a launch
pad and stand with its associated flame duct, a water tower, a
retention basic for deluge water, propellant storage and handling
areas, a workshop and office area, and a warehouse for parts storage.
The command and control functions for a launch are required to be
conducted at a safe separation distance from the actual launch pad. The
control center area would be located inland, approximately 2 miles west
of the vertical launch area and would include control center buildings,
payload processing facilities, a launch vehicle processing hangar,
generators and diesel storage facilities, and a satellite fuels storage
facility. All facilities would be constructed through private funding,
on currently undeveloped private property that would be purchased or
leased by SpaceX. In addition, new underground power lines would be
installed in the State Highway 4 Right-of-Way from the control center
area to the vertical launch area.
Operations would consist of up to 12 launches per year with a
maximum of two Falcon Heavy launches. All Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
launches would be expected to have commercial payloads, including
satellites or experimental payloads. In addition to standard payloads,
the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy may also carry a capsule, such as the
SpaceX Dragon capsule. All launch trajectories would be to the east
over the Gulf of Mexico.
Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA
would not issue a license or experimental permit to SpaceX. The Draft
EIS evaluates the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental
impacts of the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on several
environmental impact categories, including compatible land use
(including farmlands and coastal resources); Section 4(f) properties;
noise; visual resources and light emissions; historical, architectural,
archaeological, and cultural resources; air quality; water resources
(including wetlands, floodplains, surface waters, groundwater, and wild
and scenic rivers); biological resources (including fish, wildlife, and
plants); hazardous materials, pollution prevention, and solid waste;
socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children's environmental
health risks and safety risks; energy supply and natural resources; and
secondary (induced) impacts. Additional resources were also considered
including airspace, health and safety, and ground traffic and
transportation. The Proposed Action would include a significant
encroachment on floodplains per DOT Order 5650.2, Floodplain Management
Protection.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, 2013.
Daniel Murray,
Deputy Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-09161 Filed 4-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
