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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12403-12404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5104]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Actions Related to 
the Renewal of a Launch Operator License for Pegasus Expendable Launch 
Vehicles at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the FONSI.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (as amended), Council on Environmental 
Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations 
[CFR] parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is 
announcing the availability of a FONSI, based on the analysis and 
findings of the January 2005 National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) Final Site-Wide Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia (hereafter referred to as the 2005 
EA). The 2005 EA evaluates the potential

[[Page 12404]]

environmental impacts of recurring activities and proposed future 
actions at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). Under the Proposed Action in 
the 2005 EA, NASA would construct new facilities, demolish old 
facilities, and improve existing facilities at WFF. In addition, NASA 
would expand operations at WFF while continuing existing operations. 
Operations activities considered in the 2005 EA included rocket 
launches of multiple vehicle types, including the Pegasus vehicle, 
among other flight-related activities. Under the FAA's Proposed Action 
as stated in the FONSI, the FAA would renew a Launch Operator License 
to Orbital Sciences Corporation for the continued operation of Pegasus 
expendable launch vehicles at WFF. A launch operator license would 
authorize launches of Pegasus vehicles over the 5-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 2005 EA and has verified the continued validity of the 
analysis contained in the EA. The FAA has determined that the 2005 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 
Environmental Impact Statement according to the CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 
1502.9(c)(1)). Therefore, the FAA issues the FONSI concurring with the 
analysis of impacts and findings in the 2005 EA and formally adopts the 
EA in compliance with the requirements 40 CFR 1506.3 to support 
renewing a Launch Operator License to Orbital Sciences Corporation for 
the continued operation of Pegasus expendable launch vehicles at WFF. 
The 2005 EA is incorporated by reference and is summarized as necessary 
in the FONSI. NASA has posted the 2005 EA on the internet at http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/docs/Final%20Site-Wide%20EA.pdf.
    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 Czelusniak, Environmental 
Program Lead, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Room 325, 
Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-5924; E-mail 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 1, 2011.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-5104 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-13-P
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