Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Shuttle Landing Facility Launch Site Operator License, 42756-42757 [2018-18252]

Download as PDF daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 42756 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Notices Operator License, Spaceport Colorado (Final PEA and FONSI/ROD). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267–9305; email Spaceport_Colorado_PEA@icf.com. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board of County Commissioners (the BOCC) of Adams County, Colorado proposes to operate a commercial space launch site, called ‘‘Spaceport Colorado,’’ at the Front Range Airport (FTG), in Watkins, Colorado. This would require the FAA to issue a launch site operator license to the BOCC. FTG is a 3,200-acre general aviation airport located in the northeast quadrant of the Denver metropolitan area, approximately 5 miles southeast of the Denver International Airport in Adams County, Colorado. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a launch site operator license to the BOCC, which would authorize the BOCC to offer Spaceport Colorado to commercial launch providers to conduct launch operations of horizontal take-off and horizontal landing reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). The FAA would also conditionally approve FTG’s modified Airport Layout Plan (ALP) showing the launch site boundary. The Proposed Action does not include the approval of any launches. Any future application for a launch license would be subject to a separate environmental review, as explained in the Final PEA. The Final PEA evaluated the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue a launch site operator license to the BOCC for the operation of Spaceport Colorado, FTG would not be available to potential RLV launch operators, and there would be no need for conditional approval of the FTG ALP. The FAA published a Draft PEA for public comment on April 18, 2018. In response to preliminary comments received on the Draft PEA, the FAA extended the comment period from May 25, 2018 to June 15, 2018. As a result of the comments received, the FAA made minor revisions to the PEA and developed three new appendices. Appendix I provides a summary of the comments received and FAA’s responses. Appendix J provides a copy of correspondence with Congressional representatives and the FAA. Appendix K includes copies of the comments received from the public. The FAA has posted the Final PEA and FONSI/ROD on the FAA Office of Commercial Space VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 Transportation website: https:// www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ headquarters_offices/ast/ environmental/nepa_docs/review/ documents_progress/front_range/. Issued in Washington, DC on: August 16, 2018. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2018–18251 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Shuttle Landing Facility Launch Site Operator License The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Park Service (NPS) are cooperating agencies for this Environmental Assessment (EA) due to their special expertise and jurisdictions (40 CFR 1508.15 and 1508.26). ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, and request for comment. AGENCY: The FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft EA for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Launch Site Operator License. The FAA has prepared the Draft EA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial space launch site at the SLF. Under the proposed action, Space Florida would construct facilities related to the proposed launch site and operate a commercial space launch site at the SLF to conduct launches of horizontal takeoff and horizontal landing launch vehicles from the SLF. The Draft EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft EA to Shuttle Launching Facility Environmental Assessment, Attn. Pete Eggert, 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Exploration Park, FL 32953. Comments SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 may also be submitted by email to PEggert@spaceflorida.gov. Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email Stacey.Zee@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has prepared the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500–1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its licensing process. Concurrent with the NEPA process and to determine the potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic and cultural properties, the FAA has initiated Section 106 Consultation with the Florida State Historic Preservation Office and the following Native America tribes: Catawba Indian Nation, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Muscogge (Creek) Nation, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The FAA has also consulted with the USFWS under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act regarding potential impacts on federally-listed threatened and endangered species. Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, this EA will comply with the requirements of Section 4(f) of the Act. An electronic version of the Draft EA is available on the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/ office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/ environmental/nepa_docs/review/ documents_progress/space_florida/. The FAA encourages all interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments concerning the analysis presented in the Draft EA by September 17, 2018. Comments should be as specific as possible and address the analysis of potential environmental impacts. Reviewers should organize their participation so that it is meaningful and makes the agency aware of the viewer’s interests and concerns using quotations and other specific references to the text of the Draft EA and related documents. Matters that could have been raised with specificity during the comment FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Notices period on the Draft EA may not be considered if they are raised for the first time later in the decision process. This comment 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. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from the public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The FAA has prepared the Draft EA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the SLF as a launch location for horizontally launched and landed launch vehicles and issuing a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida at the SLF. The EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation would issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida. The project must also meet all FAA requirements of a Launch Site Operator License. Individual launch operators proposing to launch from the site would be required to obtain a separate launch operator license. The Proposed Action is for Space Florida to construct facilities related to the proposed launch site and for the FAA to issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial space launch site at the SLF. The Proposed Action would also allow Space Florida to offer the commercial space launch site at the SLF to commercial space operators to support their application to acquire a launch license or experimental permit (when their operations match those described and assessed within this EA) to allow them to conduct horizontal launches and horizontal landings of launch vehicles at the SLF. The alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 Issued in Washington, DC, on August 17, 2018. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2018–18252 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee—Open Meeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee meeting. AGENCY: Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). DATES: The meeting will take place on October 31, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and November 1, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC. Guests should allow time for security screening when entering the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Di Reimold, COMSTAC Executive Director; (202) 267–0427, email COMSTAC@ faa.gov, FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 331, Washington, DC 20591. Complete information regarding COMSTAC is available on the FAA website at: https:// www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ headquarters_offices/ast/advisory_ committee/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preliminary schedule for the COMSTAC meetings on October 31st is below: —Industry Update —DOT & AST Updates —Infrastructure Working Group Discussion —Safety Working Group Discussion —Legal and Regulatory Working Group Discussion —Competitiveness and Innovation Working Group Discussion —Public Comments The proposed schedule for the COMSTAC meeting on November 1, 2018 is below: —Infrastructure Working Group Report —Safety Working Group Report SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 42757 —Legal and Regulatory Working Group Report —Competitiveness and Innovation Working Group Report —Discussion of Future Tasks —Public Comments Attendance is open to the public but limited to the space available. Please confirm your attendance with the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section no later than October 12, 2018. Please provide the following information: Full legal name, country of citizenship, email address, and name of your industry association, or applicable affiliation. If you are attending as a public citizen, please indicate so. For persons participating by telephone, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by email no later than October 12, 2018 for the teleconference call-in number and passcode. Callers are responsible for paying long-distance charges. If you are in need of assistance or require a reasonable accommodation for this meeting, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at least 10 calendar days before the meeting. Sign and oral interpretation can be made available if requested 10 calendar days before the meeting. Interested members of the public may submit relevant written statements for the COMSTAC members to consider under the advisory process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned above and/or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit written statements should contact the person listed below in writing (mail or email) 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING so that the information can be made available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the meeting. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature and/or one electronic copy via email. Portable Document Format (PDF) attachments are preferred for email submissions. A detailed agenda will be posted on the FAA website at www.faa.gov/go/ast. Issued in Washington, DC, August 20, 2018. Kelvin Coleman, Acting Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation. [FR Doc. 2018–18236 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42756-42757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18252]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of 
Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment 
on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Shuttle Landing Facility 
Launch Site Operator License

AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency. The National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), and National Park Service (NPS) are cooperating 
agencies for this Environmental Assessment (EA) due to their special 
expertise and jurisdictions (40 CFR 1508.15 and 1508.26).

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, and 
request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting 
comments on the Draft EA for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Launch 
Site Operator License. The FAA has prepared the Draft EA to evaluate 
the potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Launch Site 
Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial 
space launch site at the SLF. Under the proposed action, Space Florida 
would construct facilities related to the proposed launch site and 
operate a commercial space launch site at the SLF to conduct launches 
of horizontal takeoff and horizontal landing launch vehicles from the 
SLF. The Draft EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the 
Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft EA 
to Shuttle Launching Facility Environmental Assessment, Attn. Pete 
Eggert, 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Exploration Park, FL 32953. 
Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has prepared the Draft EA in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 
United States Code 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code 
of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its 
licensing process. Concurrent with the NEPA process and to determine 
the potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic and cultural 
properties, the FAA has initiated Section 106 Consultation with the 
Florida State Historic Preservation Office and the following Native 
America tribes: Catawba Indian Nation, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, 
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Jena 
Band of Choctaw Indians, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, 
Muscogge (Creek) Nation, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Nation 
of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The FAA has also consulted 
with the USFWS under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act regarding 
potential impacts on federally-listed threatened and endangered 
species. Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, 
this EA will comply with the requirements of Section 4(f) of the Act.
    An electronic version of the Draft EA is available on the FAA 
Office of Commercial Space Transportation website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/space_florida/.
    The FAA encourages all interested agencies, organizations, Native 
American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments 
concerning the analysis presented in the Draft EA by September 17, 
2018. Comments should be as specific as possible and address the 
analysis of potential environmental impacts. Reviewers should organize 
their participation so that it is meaningful and makes the agency aware 
of the viewer's interests and concerns using quotations and other 
specific references to the text of the Draft EA and related documents. 
Matters that could have been raised with specificity during the comment

[[Page 42757]]

period on the Draft EA may not be considered if they are raised for the 
first time later in the decision process. This comment 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.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in 
your comment to withhold from the public review your personal 
identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.
    The FAA has prepared the Draft EA to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the SLF as a 
launch location for horizontally launched and landed launch vehicles 
and issuing a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida at the SLF. 
The EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed 
Action and the No Action Alternative. The successful completion of the 
environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation would issue a Launch Site Operator 
License to Space Florida. The project must also meet all FAA 
requirements of a Launch Site Operator License. Individual launch 
operators proposing to launch from the site would be required to obtain 
a separate launch operator license.
    The Proposed Action is for Space Florida to construct facilities 
related to the proposed launch site and for the FAA to issue a Launch 
Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a 
commercial space launch site at the SLF. The Proposed Action would also 
allow Space Florida to offer the commercial space launch site at the 
SLF to commercial space operators to support their application to 
acquire a launch license or experimental permit (when their operations 
match those described and assessed within this EA) to allow them to 
conduct horizontal launches and horizontal landings of launch vehicles 
at the SLF. The alternatives under consideration include the Proposed 
Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, 
the FAA would not issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space 
Florida.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 17, 2018.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-18252 Filed 8-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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