Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Adoption and Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Boost-back and Landing of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust First Stage at SLC-4 West at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and Offshore Landing Contingency Option, 78896 [2016-27092]

Download as PDF 78896 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 9, 2016 / Notices Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 28, 2016. Jason Ritchie, Acting Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region. [FR Doc. 2016–27095 Filed 11–8–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Adoption and Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Boostback and Landing of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust First Stage at SLC–4 West at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and Offshore Landing Contingency Option Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of availability of the FONSI. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the adoption of, and availability of a FONSI for, the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF’s) Environmental Assessment, Boost-Back and Landing of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust First Stage at SLC–4 West, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and Offshore Landing Contingency Option (EA). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Room 325, Washington, DC 20591; email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov; or phone (202) 267–5924. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF acted as the lead agency, and the FAA was a cooperating agency, in the preparation of the EA. The EA analyzed the potential environmental impacts of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) constructing a landing pad and improving infrastructure at Space Launch Complex 4 West (SLC–4W) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), as well as conducting boost-backs and landings of the Falcon 9 first stage booster at SLC–4W or on a specialpurpose barge, no less than 31 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean. The EA was prepared in accordance with NEPA, sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Nov 08, 2016 Jkt 241001 CEQ NEPA implementing regulations, the USAF’s Environmental Impact Analysis Process (32 CFR 989), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures. As the activities considered in the EA would require Federal actions (as defined in 40 CFR 1508.18) involving the USAF and FAA, the EA was prepared to satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. The FAA’s Federal action in this matter pertains to its role in issuing licenses for the operation of commercial launch and reentry vehicles at launch sites. The USAF issued a FONSI on April 26, 2016, which stated that implementing the Proposed Action would not have a significant effect on the human environment. Based upon its independent review and consideration of the EA, the FAA formally adopts the EA—concurring with the EA’s analysis of impacts and findings—and issues a FONSI to support the issuance of launch licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 boostback and landing operations at VAFB or in the Pacific Ocean. If, in their license application to the FAA, SpaceX makes changes to their operations which fall outside the scope of the EA, additional environmental review would be required prior to the FAA issuing a license associated with such an application. After reviewing and analyzing available data and information on existing conditions and potential impacts, the FAA has determined that issuing launch licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 boost-back and landing operations at VAFB or in the Pacific Ocean is a Federal action that would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. The FAA made this determination in accordance with all applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations. The FAA has posted the FONSI on the internet at https://www.faa.gov/about/ office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/ environmental/nepa_docs/review/ launch/. Issued in Washington, DC on: November 2, 2016. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2016–27092 Filed 11–8–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–13–P PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION [Docket No. NHTSA–2016–0114] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Meeting Notice National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Title: National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC); Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. ACTION: Meeting Notice—National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. AGENCY: The NHTSA announces meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the Metropolitan Washington, DC, area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meetings, which will be open to the public, as well as opportunities for public input to the NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC, a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services representatives and consumers, is to advise and consult with DOT and the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) on matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS). DATES: The NEMSAC meeting will be held on December 1, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST, and that afternoon from 4:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and on December 2, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. A public comment period will take place on December 1, 2016 between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. EST and on December 2, 2016 between 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. EDT. NEMSAC committees will meet in the same location on Thursday, December 1, 2016 from 1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Written comments for the NEMSAC from the public must be received no later than November 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20009. Attendees should plan to arrive 20 minutes early to check in for the meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan McHenry, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Emergency Medical Services, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., NTI–140, Washington, DC 20590, susan.mchenry@dot.gov or 202– 366–6540. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.). The NEMSAC is authorized under Section 31108 of the Moving SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09NON1.SGM 09NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 78896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27092]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Adoption and Notice of 
Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Boost-
back and Landing of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust First Stage at SLC-4 West 
at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and Offshore Landing 
Contingency Option

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the FONSI.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of 
Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing 
the adoption of, and availability of a FONSI for, the U.S. Air Force's 
(USAF's) Environmental Assessment, Boost-Back and Landing of the Falcon 
9 Full Thrust First Stage at SLC-4 West, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
California and Offshore Landing Contingency Option (EA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., 
Room 325, Washington, DC 20591; email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov; or 
phone (202) 267-5924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF acted as the lead agency, and the 
FAA was a cooperating agency, in the preparation of the EA. The EA 
analyzed the potential environmental impacts of Space Exploration 
Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) constructing a landing pad and improving 
infrastructure at Space Launch Complex 4 West (SLC-4W) at Vandenberg 
Air Force Base (VAFB), as well as conducting boost-backs and landings 
of the Falcon 9 first stage booster at SLC-4W or on a special-purpose 
barge, no less than 31 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean. The EA was 
prepared in accordance with NEPA, CEQ NEPA implementing regulations, 
the USAF's Environmental Impact Analysis Process (32 CFR 989), and FAA 
Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures.
    As the activities considered in the EA would require Federal 
actions (as defined in 40 CFR 1508.18) involving the USAF and FAA, the 
EA was prepared to satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. The 
FAA's Federal action in this matter pertains to its role in issuing 
licenses for the operation of commercial launch and reentry vehicles at 
launch sites. The USAF issued a FONSI on April 26, 2016, which stated 
that implementing the Proposed Action would not have a significant 
effect on the human environment. Based upon its independent review and 
consideration of the EA, the FAA formally adopts the EA--concurring 
with the EA's analysis of impacts and findings--and issues a FONSI to 
support the issuance of launch licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 boost-
back and landing operations at VAFB or in the Pacific Ocean. If, in 
their license application to the FAA, SpaceX makes changes to their 
operations which fall outside the scope of the EA, additional 
environmental review would be required prior to the FAA issuing a 
license associated with such an application.
    After reviewing and analyzing available data and information on 
existing conditions and potential impacts, the FAA has determined that 
issuing launch licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 boost-back and landing 
operations at VAFB or in the Pacific Ocean is a Federal action that 
would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment 
within the meaning of NEPA. The FAA made this determination in 
accordance with all applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
    The FAA has posted the FONSI on the internet at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC on: November 2, 2016.
 Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-27092 Filed 11-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-13-P
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