Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Drone Package Delivery in North Carolina, 40525-40526 [2024-10232]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 92 / Friday, May 10, 2024 / Notices SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36771] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corporation—Change in Operator Exemption—in Grafton and Coos Counties, N.H., and Essex County, Vt. Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corporation (MGRC), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.41 to assume operations over the following railroad lines (the Lines), totaling approximately 52 route miles, owned by the State of New Hampshire through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT): (1) from milepost P 131.93 at North Stratford, N.H., to milepost P 145.21 at Colebrook, N.H.; (2) from milepost C 119.86 east of Wing Road in Bethlehem, N.H., to milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen Road in Whitefield, N.H.; (3) from milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen Road in Whitefield to milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster, N.H.; (4) from milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster to milepost C 145.76 (proximate to the Whistle Post located south of the West Street crossing at the connection with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Company) at Groveton, N.H.; and (5) from milepost P 100.91 at Whitefield to milepost P 111.57 at Lunenburg, Vt. The verified notice states that the Lines are currently operated by New Hampshire Central Railroad, Inc. (NHCR). According to the verified notice, MGRC, a subsidiary of Trans Rail Holding Company, has entered into an operating agreement with NHDOT to assume common carrier operations over the Lines. Upon consummation of the proposed transaction, MGRC will replace NHCR as the exclusive common carrier operator over the Lines. MGRC certifies that the documents governing the proposed transaction do not include terms that would limit future interchange with a third-party connecting carrier. MGRC also certifies that its projected annual revenues resulting from the transaction will not result in the creation of a Class I or II rail carrier and are not expected to exceed $5 million. Under 49 CFR 1150.42(b), a change in operator requires that notice be given to shippers. MGRC certifies that it has provided a copy of its verified notice to all customers on the Lines. The transaction may be consummated on or after May 26, 2024, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice was filed). If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 May 09, 2024 Jkt 262001 under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed no later than May 17, 2024 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36771, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board via efiling on the Board’s website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on MGRC’s representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606–3208. According to MGRC, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: May 7, 2024. By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–10285 Filed 5–9–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Drone Package Delivery in North Carolina Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public meeting; request for comments. AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Drone Package Delivery in North Carolina for public review and comment. DATES: Send comments on or before May 30, 2024. The FAA will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: Email comments to 9-FAADrone-Environmental@faa.gov or by mail to Federal Aviation Administration, Suite 802W, C/O AVS Environmental, 800 Independence Ave. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40525 SW, Washington, DC 20591. Members of the public may view the virtual meeting via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/ 84319168260. 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 public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action, contact Nicholas Baker, Environmental Protection Specialist, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, Safety & Integration Division, Strategic Programs Branch, AUS–430; telephone 1–202–267–4714; email 9-FAA-DroneEnvironmental@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft PEA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) package delivery operations in the state of North Carolina. The proposed action analyzed in the PEA is UAS operators conducting commercial drone package deliveries under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 135 in North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is the project proponent. The Draft PEA is submitted for review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Implementing Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 303), and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470). The draft PEA is available to view and download electronically at https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_ operations/nepa_and_drones/. The Draft PEA is available from any internet access, including from computers freely available at public libraries. Based on the analysis in the Draft PEA, including any mitigation measures that may be used to prevent significant noise impacts, the FAA has preliminarily determined there will not be significant impacts to the human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement has not been initiated. The FAA intends for this PEA to create efficiencies by establishing a framework that can be used for ‘‘tiering,’’ when appropriate, to E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 40526 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 92 / Friday, May 10, 2024 / Notices project-specific actions that require additional analysis. As decisions on specific applications are made, to the extent additional NEPA analysis is required, environmental review will be conducted to supplement the analysis set forth in this PEA. Public Meeting khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES The FAA will provide an overview of the project and potential environmental impacts at a virtual public meeting on May 21, 2024. There will be a questionand-answer session where the public will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project after the presentation. Following the questionand-answer session, the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the Draft PEA. The opportunity to provide oral comment will be given in the order that the requests are received. Comments should be limited to three minutes and must be reserved to the topic of the Draft PEA. Commenters who may need longer than three minutes are strongly encouraged to submit a written comment. The FAA will accept written comments until May 30, 2024. The FAA will not respond to oral comments during the virtual public meeting, but will review and respond to oral comments in the same fashion as written comments in preparing the Final PEA. The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, such as sign language, interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please contact the person listed in the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Open a Public Scoping Period, and Hold Public Scoping Meetings The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), Coast Guard (USCG), and Department of the Air Force (DAF). ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS, open a public scoping period, and hold public scoping meetings. AGENCY: This Notice provides information to Federal, State, and local agencies; Native American tribes; and other interested persons regarding the FAA’s intent to prepare an EIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a commercial launch Vehicle Operator License to SpaceX for the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle at Launch Complex 39A (LC– 39A) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. SpaceX proposes to construct launch, landing, and other associated infrastructure at and in proximity to LC–39A. The proposal would also include Starship-Super Heavy launches at LC–39A; recoverable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings at LC– 39A or on a droneship; and expendable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings in the ocean. The FAA will prepare the EIS in accordance with the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT National Environmental Policy Act of section. 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing Comments Invited the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and The FAA invites interested FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental stakeholders to submit comments on the Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as Draft PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES part of its licensing process. Additional section of this Notice. The most helpful information is available online at: comments reference a specific https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_ recommendation, explain the reason for engagement/spacex_starship_ksc. any recommended change, and include DATES: The FAA invites interested supporting information. The FAA will agencies, organizations, Native consider all comments received or post- American Tribes, and members of the marked on or before the closing date. public to submit comments to inform The FAA will also consider late filed the FAA on the significant issues to be comments if it is possible to do so analyzed in depth in the EIS (e.g., range without incurring expense or delay. of actions, alternatives, environmental Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2024. impacts). The public scoping period starts with the publication of this Notice Derek W. Hufty, in the Federal Register. To ensure Manager, General Aviation and Commercial sufficient time to consider issues Branch, Emerging Technologies Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards identified during the public scoping Service. period, comments should be submitted [FR Doc. 2024–10232 Filed 5–9–24; 8:45 am] by one of the methods listed under ADDRESSES no later than June 24, 2024. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 May 09, 2024 Jkt 262001 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 All comments will receive the same attention and consideration in the preparation of the EIS. ADDRESSES: Comments, statements, or questions concerning scoping issues must be identified with the Docket Number FAA–2024–1395 and may be provided to the FAA as follows: • Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Retrieve the docket by conducting a search for ‘‘FAA–2024–1395’’ and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Please note that the FAA will post all comments on the internet without changes, including any personal information provided. • By U.S. mail to Ms. Eva Long, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/ o Leidos, 2877 Guardian Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452. We encourage you to submit comments electronically through the Federal E-Rulemaking Portal. If you submit your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard copy. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment— including any personal identifying information you provide—may be publicly available at any time. While you can request in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background When fully operational, SpaceX proposes that the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle will offer a heavy lift platform that expands the company’s ability to execute the totality of its current and expected future customers’ requirements. By providing a reusable launch vehicle, SpaceX proposes that the Starship-Super Heavy would deliver efficient access to space and enable costeffective delivery of cargo and people to the moon and Mars. Currently, SpaceX is conducting flight tests of the StarshipSuper Heavy at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, an exclusive use launch site that serves as SpaceX’s primary research, development, and flight test launch facility for the vehicle. In September 2019, NASA completed the Final Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy Launch Vehicle at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) (‘‘2019 EA’’) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 92 (Friday, May 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40525-40526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice 
of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment for Drone Package Delivery in North Carolina

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public meeting; request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the 
availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) 
for Drone Package Delivery in North Carolina for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Send comments on or before May 30, 2024. The FAA will hold a 
virtual public meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Email comments to [email protected] or by 
mail to Federal Aviation Administration, Suite 802W, C/O AVS 
Environmental, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591. Members 
of the public may view the virtual meeting via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84319168260.
    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 public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action, 
contact Nicholas Baker, Environmental Protection Specialist, Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems Integration Office, Safety & Integration Division, 
Strategic Programs Branch, AUS-430; telephone 1-202-267-4714; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft PEA evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) package 
delivery operations in the state of North Carolina. The proposed action 
analyzed in the PEA is UAS operators conducting commercial drone 
package deliveries under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 135 
in North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is 
the project proponent.
    The Draft PEA is submitted for review pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et 
seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Implementing 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, section 4(f) of the Department of 
Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 303), and section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470). The draft PEA is available 
to view and download electronically at https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones/. The Draft PEA is available from 
any internet access, including from computers freely available at 
public libraries.
    Based on the analysis in the Draft PEA, including any mitigation 
measures that may be used to prevent significant noise impacts, the FAA 
has preliminarily determined there will not be significant impacts to 
the human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement 
has not been initiated. The FAA intends for this PEA to create 
efficiencies by establishing a framework that can be used for 
``tiering,'' when appropriate, to

[[Page 40526]]

project-specific actions that require additional analysis. As decisions 
on specific applications are made, to the extent additional NEPA 
analysis is required, environmental review will be conducted to 
supplement the analysis set forth in this PEA.

Public Meeting

    The FAA will provide an overview of the project and potential 
environmental impacts at a virtual public meeting on May 21, 2024. 
There will be a question-and-answer session where the public will have 
the opportunity to ask questions about the project after the 
presentation. Following the question-and-answer session, the public 
will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the Draft PEA. 
The opportunity to provide oral comment will be given in the order that 
the requests are received. Comments should be limited to three minutes 
and must be reserved to the topic of the Draft PEA. Commenters who may 
need longer than three minutes are strongly encouraged to submit a 
written comment. The FAA will accept written comments until May 30, 
2024. The FAA will not respond to oral comments during the virtual 
public meeting, but will review and respond to oral comments in the 
same fashion as written comments in preparing the Final PEA.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to providing 
equal access to this meeting for all participants. If you need 
alternative formats or services because of a disability, such as sign 
language, interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested stakeholders to submit comments on the 
Draft PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific recommendation, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting information. 
The FAA will consider all comments received or post-marked on or before 
the closing date. The FAA will also consider late filed comments if it 
is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2024.
Derek W. Hufty,
Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Branch, Emerging Technologies 
Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-10232 Filed 5-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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