Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, 11444 [2020-04039]

Download as PDF 11444 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 39 / Thursday, February 27, 2020 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Draft EA). DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 20, 2020. ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591. Comments may also be submitted by email to FAAFalconProgramEA@icf.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267–5924; email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SpaceX is applying to the FAA for launch licenses to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Launch Complex 39A (LC–39A) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s (CCAFS) Launch Complex 40 (LC–40). SpaceX is also applying to the FAA for reentry licenses for Dragon reentry operations. The FAA’s proposal to issue licenses to SpaceX is considered a major federal action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Due to SpaceX’s ability to launch more frequently at KSC and CCAFS, SpaceX’s launch manifest includes more annual Falcon launches and Dragon reentries than were considered in previous NEPA analyses. Also, SpaceX is proposing to add a new Falcon 9 southern launch trajectory from Florida for payloads requiring polar orbits. SpaceX is also proposing to lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Feb 26, 2020 Jkt 250001 construct a mobile service tower (MST) at LC–39A to support commercial launches and the U.S. Air Force’s National Security Space Launch program. NASA is responsible for approving the construction of the MST at LC–39A. The FAA has no federal action related to the construction of the MST. Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not modify existing SpaceX licenses or issue new licenses to SpaceX for Falcon launches or Dragon reentry operations at KSC and CCAFS. SpaceX would continue Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch operations at KSC and CCAFS, as well as Dragon reentry operations, as analyzed in previous NEPA and environmental reviews and in accordance with existing FAA licenses until the licenses expire. The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; biological resources; climate; coastal resources; Department of Transportation Act Section 4(f); farmlands; hazardous materials, solid waste, and pollution prevention; historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural resources; land use; natural resources and energy supply; noise and noise-compatible land use; socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children’s environmental health and safety risks; visual effects (including light emissions); and water resources. The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation website: https:// www.faa.gov/space/environmental/ nepa_docs/. The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 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 the FAA in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, the FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Issued in Washington, DC on: February 21, 2020. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2020–04039 Filed 2–26–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Summary Notice No. PE–2020–09] Petition for Exemption; Summary of Petition Received; The Boeing Company Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption received. AGENCY: This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public’s awareness of, and participation in, the FAA’s exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition. SUMMARY: Comments on this petition must identify the petition docket number and must be received on or before March 18, 2020. ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA–2020–0066 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. • Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202–493–2251. Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to https://www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.dot.gov/ privacy. Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at https://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket DATES: E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM 27FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 11444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04039]



[[Page 11444]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability 
and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air 
Force Station

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA 
implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of and 
requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX 
Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force 
Station (Draft EA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591. Comments 
may also be submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 
267-5924; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SpaceX is applying to the FAA for launch 
licenses to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space 
Center's (KSC) Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) and Cape Canaveral Air Force 
Station's (CCAFS) Launch Complex 40 (LC-40). SpaceX is also applying to 
the FAA for reentry licenses for Dragon reentry operations. The FAA's 
proposal to issue licenses to SpaceX is considered a major federal 
action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Due to SpaceX's 
ability to launch more frequently at KSC and CCAFS, SpaceX's launch 
manifest includes more annual Falcon launches and Dragon reentries than 
were considered in previous NEPA analyses. Also, SpaceX is proposing to 
add a new Falcon 9 southern launch trajectory from Florida for payloads 
requiring polar orbits. SpaceX is also proposing to construct a mobile 
service tower (MST) at LC-39A to support commercial launches and the 
U.S. Air Force's National Security Space Launch program. NASA is 
responsible for approving the construction of the MST at LC-39A. The 
FAA has no federal action related to the construction of the MST.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and 
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA 
would not modify existing SpaceX licenses or issue new licenses to 
SpaceX for Falcon launches or Dragon reentry operations at KSC and 
CCAFS. SpaceX would continue Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch 
operations at KSC and CCAFS, as well as Dragon reentry operations, as 
analyzed in previous NEPA and environmental reviews and in accordance 
with existing FAA licenses until the licenses expire.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; biological 
resources; climate; coastal resources; Department of Transportation Act 
Section 4(f); farmlands; hazardous materials, solid waste, and 
pollution prevention; historical, architectural, archeological, and 
cultural resources; land use; natural resources and energy supply; 
noise and noise-compatible land use; socioeconomics, environmental 
justice, and children's environmental health and safety risks; visual 
effects (including light emissions); and water resources.
    The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs/.
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 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 the FAA in your comment to 
withhold from public review your personal identifying information, the 
FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Issued in Washington, DC on: February 21, 2020.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-04039 Filed 2-26-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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