Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 160 / Thursday, August 18, 2011 / Notices 51459 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Office of Commercial Space 

Transportation (AST); Notice of 

Availability of the Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/ 

AST To Issue, Renew, or Modify 

Launch Operator Licenses for Atlas V 

Launch Vehicles Covered Under the 

Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle 

(EELV) Program From Space Launch 

Complex-3 East (SLC–3E) at 

Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), 

California 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, Department of 

Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the 

FONSI. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code 

4321–4347 (as amended), Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA 

implementing regulations (40 Code of 

Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500– 

1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 

1, the FAA is announcing the 

availability of a FONSI for the FAA/AST 

action to issue, renew, or modify 

Launch Operator Licenses for Atlas V 

launch operations from SLC–3E at 

VAFB. The FONSI is based on the 

analysis and findings of the 2003 United 

States Air Force (USAF) Final 

Environmental Assessment for the Atlas 

V System at SLC–3E (2003 EA). 

In 1998, the USAF issued the 1998 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

for the EELV Program (1998 EIS) to 

evaluate the potential environmental 

impacts of the development, 

deployment, and operation of EELV 

systems (later known as the Atlas V and 

Delta IV launch vehicle families). In 

2000, the USAF prepared the 

Supplemental Environmental Impact 

Statement for the EELV Program (2000 

SEIS) to evaluate the potential 

environmental impacts of adding up to 

five solid-propellant strap-on rocket 

motors to the Atlas V launch vehicle 

and larger solid-propellant strap-on 

rocket motors on the Delta IV vehicle. 

The FAA participated as a cooperating 

agency in preparation of both the 1998 

FEIS and 2000 SEIS. 

In 2003, changes in USAF programs 

resulted in a need for SLC–3E at VAFB 

to be used for Atlas V launches rather 

than SLC–3W as originally planned, and 

therefore the USAF prepared the 2003 

EA. The EA supplemented and updated 

the previous NEPA evaluation of 

implementing the Atlas V program as 

analyzed in the 1998 FEIS and 2000 

SEIS. The 2003 EA analyzed the 

environmental impacts associated with 

the proposed action of modifying 

existing facilities and roadways and 

launching the Atlas V up to four times 

annually from SLC–3E at VAFB. The 

2003 EA tiered its analyses from the 

1998 FEIS and 2000 SEIS, and therefore 

both documents were incorporated by 

reference into the 2003 EA. The FAA 

did not participate as a cooperating 

agency with the USAF in preparation of 

the 2003 EA. Under the FAA’s Proposed 

Action as stated in the FONSI, FAA/ 

AST could issue, renew, or modify 

Launch Operator Licenses for Atlas V 

launch operations from SLC–3E at 

VAFB. A Launch Operator License 

would authorize launches of Atlas V 

vehicles over the five-year term of the 

license. 

In accordance with the requirements 

of FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, 

paragraph 410, the FAA has 

independently evaluated the 

information contained in the 2003 EA 

and has verified the continued validity 

of the analysis contained in the EA. The 

FAA has determined that the discussion 

of Atlas V launch operations in the 2003 

EA sufficiently addresses the concerns 

of the FAA and complies with FAA 

requirements for implementing NEPA as 

stated in FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1. 

The FAA has determined that there is 

no new information or analysis that 

would require preparation of a new or 

supplemental EA or EIS according to the 

CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). 

Therefore, the FAA issued the FONSI 

concurring with the analysis of impacts 

and findings in the 2003 EA and 

formally adopts the launch operations 

discussion in the EA in compliance 

with the requirements of 40 CFR 1506.3 

to support the issuance, renewal, or 

modification of Launch Operator 

Licenses for Atlas V launch operations 

from SLC–3E at VAFB. The 2003 EA is 

incorporated by reference and is 

summarized as necessary in the FONSI. 

The FAA has posted the FONSI on the 

Internet at http://www.faa.gov/about/ 

office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Daniel A. Czelusniak, Environmental 

Program Lead, Office of Commercial 

Space Transportation, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Ave., SW., Room 325, Washington, DC 

20591, telephone (202) 267–5924; Email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 

2011. 

Michael McElligott, 

Manager, Space Transportation Development 

Division. 

[FR Doc. 2011–21048 Filed 8–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Office of Commercial Space 

Transportation (AST); Notice of 

Availability of the Record of Decision 

(ROD) for the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA)/AST To Issue, 

Renew, or Modify Launch Operator 

Licenses for Launch Vehicles Covered 

Under the Evolved Expendable Launch 

Vehicle (EELV) Program, Which 

Include Atlas V and Delta IV Vehicles, 

From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

(CCAFS), Florida and Vandenberg Air 

Force Base (VAFB), California 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTIONS: Notice of Availability. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code 

U.S.C. 4321–4347 (as amended), 

Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations 

(40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR 

parts 1500–1508]), and FAA Order 

1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is 

announcing the availability of its ROD 

for the FAA/AST to issue, renew, or 

modify launch operator licenses for 

launch vehicles covered under the EELV 

Program from CCAFS and VAFB. The 

ROD was prepared to document FAA/ 

AST’s decision to issue, renew, or 

modify launch operator licenses for 

launch vehicles covered under the EELV 

Program from CCAFS and VAFB. 

The FAA participated as a 

cooperating agency with the U.S. Air 

Force (USAF) in the preparation of the 

1998 Final Environmental Impact 

Statement for the EELV Program (1998 

FEIS) and the 2000 Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement for the 

EELV Program (2000 SEIS). The 1998 

FEIS preferred alternative analyzed a 

maximum of 30 combined FAA/ASTlicensed launches and non-FAA/AST 

licensed launches of Atlas V and Delta 

IV in one year from VAFB and CCAFS, 

combined. The 2000 SEIS analyzed the 

environmental impacts of up to five 

solid-propellant strap-on rocket motors 

(SRMs) on the Atlas V medium lift 

vehicle and larger SRMs on the Delta IV 

vehicle. In addition, the 2000 SEIS 

considered a maximum of 33 combined 

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51460 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 160 / Thursday, August 18, 2011 / Notices 

FAA/AST-licensed launches and nonFAA/AST licensed launches of Atlas V 

and Delta IV occurring in one year from 

VAFB and CCAFS, combined. The 

USAF issued RODs based on the 

findings of the 1998 FEIS and the 2000 

SEIS. 

In 2003, changes in USAF programs 

resulted in a need for SLC–3E at VAFB 

to be used for Atlas V launches rather 

than SLC–3W as originally planned. In 

2003, the USAF prepared a Final 

Environmental Assessment for the Atlas 

V System at SLC–3E (2003 EA). The EA 

supplemented and updated the previous 

NEPA evaluation of implementing the 

Atlas V program as analyzed in the 1998 

FEIS and 2000 SEIS. The 2003 EA 

analyzed the environmental impacts 

associated with the proposed action of 

modifying existing facilities and 

roadways and launching the Atlas V up 

to four times annually from SLC–3E at 

VAFB. The FAA did not participate as 

a cooperating agency with the USAF in 

preparation of the 2003 EA, but has 

independently evaluated the 

information contained in the 2003 EA 

and has verified the continued validity 

of the analysis contained in the 

document. The FAA has therefore, 

adopted the 2003 EA and issued a 

Finding of No Significant Impact. The 

analysis from the 2003 EA and the 

FAA’s findings on that analysis are 

incorporated by reference in the ROD, 

and therefore references from the 1998 

FEIS and 2000 SEIS to SLC–3W at 

VAFB have been revised to read ‘‘SLC– 

3E’’ throughout the ROD. 

Under the FAA’s Proposed Action, 

FAA/AST could issue, renew, or modify 

launch operator licenses for Atlas V and 

Delta IV operations at CCAFS and 

VAFB. The 1998 FEIS and 2000 SEIS 

analyzed the full potential scope of the 

operations that could be covered under 

a launch operator license for Atlas V 

and Delta IV at CCAFS and VAFB. The 

FAA’s Proposed Action has been 

identified as the Preferred Alternative. 

Under the No Action Alternative, the 

FAA would not issue, renew, or modify 

launch operator licenses for Atlas V or 

Delta IV expendable launch vehicles at 

CCAFS and VAFB. Without a license, 

there could not be any FAA/ASTlicensed commercial launches of Atlas 

V or Delta IV vehicles from CCAFS or 

VAFB; however, non-FAA/AST licensed 

or government launches of these 

vehicles could continue from both 

locations. The ROD addresses the 

potential environmental impacts of the 

FAA’s Proposed Action and the FAA’s 

No Action Alternative. 

In accordance with the requirements 

of FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, 

paragraph 515, the FAA has 

independently evaluated the 

information contained in the 1998 FEIS 

and 2000 SEIS and has verified the 

continued validity of the analysis 

contained in both documents. Through 

this re-evaluation, the FAA has 

determined that the 1998 FEIS and 2000 

SEIS sufficiently address the concerns 

of the FAA and comply with FAA 

requirements for implementing NEPA as 

stated in FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1. 

The FAA has also determined that there 

is no new information or analysis that 

would require preparation of a new or 

supplemental EIS according to the CEQ 

Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). The 

FAA is therefore adopting the 1998 FEIS 

and 2000 SEIS, and is using these 

documents to support its decision as 

stated in the ROD. The FAA has posted 

the ROD on the FAA Office of 

Commercial Space Transportation Web 

site at http://www.faa.gov/about/ 

office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/. 

Additional Information: Under the 

Proposed Action, the FAA/AST could 

issue, renew, or modify launch operator 

licenses for Atlas V and Delta IV 

operations at CCAFS and VAFB. The 

1998 FEIS and 2000 SEIS analyzed the 

full potential scope of the operations 

that could be covered under a launch 

operator license for Atlas V and Delta IV 

at CCAFS and VAFB. The 1998 FEIS 

analyzed the operation of both medium 

and heavy lift expendable, orbital 

‘‘concept vehicles’’ (later known as the 

Atlas V and Delta IV families of 

vehicles) from CCAFS and VAFB. Delta 

IV launches would occur from Space 

Launch Complex-37 (SLC–37) at CCAFS 

and from SLC–6 at VAFB; the Atlas V 

launches would occur from SLC–41 at 

CCAFS and from SLC–3E at VAFB. 

Under the preferred alternative in the 

1998 FEIS, a maximum of 30 combined 

FAA/AST-licensed launches and nonFAA/AST licensed launches of Atlas V 

and Delta IV would occur in one year 

from VAFB and CCAFS, combined. 

Under the No Action Alternative, the 

USAF would not proceed with the 

development and deployment of the 

EELV program, and Atlas IIA, Delta II, 

and Titan IVB launch vehicles would 

continue to be used to support space 

launches to meet the requirements of 

the government. 

Under the Proposed Action in the 

2000 SEIS, up to five solid-propellant 

strap-on rocket motors (SRMs) would be 

added to the Atlas V medium lift 

vehicle and larger SRMs would be used 

on the Delta IV vehicle. The Atlas V 

vehicle would launch from SLC–41 at 

CCAFS and SLC–3E at VAFB, and the 

Delta IV vehicle would launch from 

SLC–37 at CCAFS and SLC–6 at VAFB. 

While use of SRM-assisted vehicles was 

considered in the 1998 FEIS, the 2000 

SEIS considered a higher proportion of 

vehicles using SRM-assisted vehicles 

than the 1998 FEIS. Under the Proposed 

Action in the 2000 SEIS, a maximum of 

33 combined FAA/AST-licensed 

launches and non-FAA/AST licensed 

launches of Atlas V and Delta IV would 

occur in one year from VAFB and 

CCAFS, combined. Under the No Action 

Alternative, the EELV program would 

continue, except that SRMs would not 

be added to the Atlas V launch vehicles 

and smaller SRMs would be used on 

Delta IV launch vehicles. 

The FAA has determined the analysis 

of impacts presented in the 1998 FEIS 

and 2000 SEIS represents the best 

available information regarding the 

potential impacts associated with the 

FAA’s regulatory responsibilities 

described in the ROD. The 1998 FEIS 

and 2000 SEIS are therefore 

incorporated by reference and 

summarized as necessary in the ROD. 

Resource areas were considered to 

provide a context for understanding and 

assessing the potential environmental 

effects of the FAA’s Proposed Action, 

with attention focused on key issues. 

The resource areas considered in the 

ROD include air quality; biological 

resources; cultural resources; geology 

and soils; land use and section 4(f) 

resources; noise; physical resources 

(Water Resources [Surface Water, 

Ground Water, Floodplains], Hazardous 

Materials, Pollution Prevention, and 

Solid Waste); and socioeconomics, 

environmental justice, and children’s 

environmental health and safety. 

Potential cumulative impacts of the 

Proposed Action are also addressed in 

the ROD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Daniel A. Czelusniak, Environmental 

Program Lead, Office of Commercial 

Space Transportation, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Ave., SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 

20591, by e-mail at 

Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov or by phone 

at (202) 267–5924. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 

2011. 

Michael McElligott, 

Manager, Space Transportation Development 

Division. 

[FR Doc. 2011–21045 Filed 8–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

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