1

[4310-13]

Department of Transportation 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT) 

 

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact 

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepared an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the proposal from Blue 

Origin, LLC (Blue Origin) to construct and operate a commercial 

space launch site to be located on privately-owned property in 

Culberson County, Texas. Blue Origin proposes to develop this 

commercial space launch site to launch vertical reusable launch 

vehicles (RLVs) carrying space flight participants1

 on 

suborbital, ballistic trajectories to altitudes in excess of 

99,060 meters (325,000 feet) above sea level. The EA evaluated 

the potential environmental impacts of issuing experimental 

 

1

 Space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle. 

49 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 70102(17) Flight crew means any employee of a licensee or transferee, or of a 

contractor or subcontractor of a licensee or transferee, who is on board a launch or reentry vehicle and performs 

activities in the course of that employment directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch 

vehicle or reentry vehicle. See 49 U.S.C. § 70102(2) (defining crew). 
2

permits and/or licenses to Blue Origin authorizing vertical 

launches and landings of RLVs and/or operation of a launch site 

for same. Blue Origin may seek experimental permits to conduct 

early developmental and test flights. Blue Origin may also seek 

a launch site operator license, RLV mission-specific licenses, 

and RLV operator licenses, as appropriate. After reviewing and 

analyzing currently available data and information on existing 

conditions, project impacts, and measures to mitigate those 

impacts, the FAA, Office of Commercial Space Transportation 

(AST) has determined that issuing the experimental permits 

and/or licenses analyzed in the EA to Blue Origin would not 

significantly affect the quality of the human environment within 

the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

Therefore the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) is not required and AST is issuing a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI). The FAA made this determination in 

accordance with all applicable environmental laws. 

FOR A COPY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Visit the following 

internet address: http://ast.faa.gov or contact Mr. Doug Graham, 

FAA Environmental Specialist, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 

331, Washington, D.C. 20591. You may also send requests via 

e-mail to doug.graham@faa.gov or by telephone at (202) 267-8568. 
3

DATES: The Draft EA was released for public comment on 

June 28, 2006. The FAA held a public meeting on the Draft EA on 

July 25, 2006 in Van Horn, Texas to collect comments from the 

public. All comments received before July 27, 2006 were 

considered in the preparation of the Final EA. 

PROPOSED ACTION: Under Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), 

Subtitle IX, Sections 70101-70121, Commercial Space Launch Act, 

the FAA regulates launches and reentries of launch and reentry 

vehicles, and the operation of launch and reentry sites when 

carried out by U.S. citizens or within the United States. (49 

U.S.C. 70104, 70105) Chapter 701 directs the FAA to exercise 

this responsibility consistent with public health and safety, 

safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy 

interests of the United States, and to encourage, facilitate, 

and promote commercial space launch and reentry by the private 

sector. 

(49 U.S.C. 70103, 70105) 

The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (CSLAA) 

promotes the development of the emerging commercial/human space 

flight industry and establishes an experimental permit regime 

for developmental reusable suborbital rockets. This newly 

established experiment permit regime provides an alternative 
4

mechanism to regulate the launch and reentry of reusable 

suborbital rockets (49 U.S.C. 70105a). To conduct commercial 

launch operations, Blue Origin must obtain the required 

experimental permit(s) and/or license(s) from the FAA. Under 

the proposed action the FAA would issue experimental permits, a 

launch site operator license, RLV mission-specific licenses, 

and/or RLV operator licenses, as appropriate. 

Experimental permits differ from launch licenses in a number of 

ways. 

 Unlike a licensed operator, no person may launch a reusable 

suborbital rocket under an experimental permit for carrying 

any property or human being for compensation or hire. 

 A permit is not transferable. A license is transferable 

from one entity to another, which could occur after a 

merger or acquisition. 

 Damages arising out of a permitted launch or reentry are 

not eligible for “indemnification,” the provisional payment 

of claims under 49 U.S.C. 70113. To the extent provided in 

an appropriation law or other legislative authority, 

damages caused by licensed activities are eligible for the 

provisional payment of claims. 
5

 A permit must authorize an unlimited number of launch and 

reentries for a particular reusable suborbital rocket 

design operating from a site during a one-year period. 

An experimental permit would allow Blue Origin to conduct 

testing of reusable suborbital rockets that would be launched 

and landed solely for the purposes of (1) research and 

development to test new design concepts, new equipment, or new 

operating techniques; (2) showing compliance with requirements 

as part of the process for obtaining a license; and/or (3) crew 

training prior to obtaining a license for a launch or reentry 

using the design of the rocket for which the permit would be 

issued. The FAA would issue a separate permit for each rocket 

design. 

An RLV mission-specific license authorizing an RLV mission would 

allow Blue Origin to launch and reenter, or otherwise land, one 

model or type of RLV from a launch site approved for the mission 

to a reentry site or other location approved for the mission. A 

mission-specific license authorizing an RLV mission may 

authorize more than one RLV mission and identifies each flight 

of an RLV authorized under the license. An RLV operator license 

would allow Blue Origin to launch and reenter, or otherwise 

land, any of a designated family of RLVs within authorized 
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parameters. A licensee’s authorization to conduct RLV missions 

terminates upon completion of all activities authorized by the 

license, or the expiration date stated in the reentry license, 

whichever comes first. 

The FAA is the lead Federal agency responsible for authorizing 

the proposed launch activities at the proposed Blue Origin 

facility. Issuing permits and licenses are Federal actions and 

are subject to review as required by the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et. 

seq. The EA was prepared to describe the proposed action and 

alternatives considered, the affected environment, the potential 

effects of the proposed action on that environment, and measures 

to be taken to mitigate those potential effects. The FAA is 

using the analysis in the EA as the basis for an environmental 

determination of the potential impacts of these proposed 

actions. 

Upon receipt of complete permit or license applications, the 

Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation must 

determine whether to issue experimental permits or licenses to 

Blue Origin to launch reusable suborbital rockets on privatelyowned property in Culberson County, Texas. Environmental 
7

findings are required for the evaluation of license and permit 

applications. 

The proposed action is for the FAA to issue one or more 

experimental permits and/or licenses to Blue Origin. Blue 

Origin proposes to launch RLVs on suborbital, ballistic 

trajectories to altitudes in excess of 99,060 meters (325,000 

feet). To conduct these operations, Blue Origin would construct 

a private launch site, which would include a vehicle processing 

facility, launch complex, vehicle landing and recovery area, 

space flight participant training facility, and other minor 

support facilities. The proposed Blue Origin launch site is 

approximately 40.2 kilometers (25 miles) north of Van Horn, 

Texas. It lies within a larger, privately-owned property known 

as the Corn Ranch. 

The proposed action would include the operation of a launch site 

to support launches of the Blue Origin New Shepard RLV and New 

Shepard prototype test vehicles. The New Shepard RLV system 

would be comprised of a propulsion module and a crew capsule 

capable of carrying three or more space flight participants to 

space. The crew capsule is stacked on top of the propulsion 

module, so the RLV would be vertically-oriented during flight. 

The stacked vehicle would have a roughly conical shape with a 
8

base diameter of approximately 7 meters (22 feet) and a height 

of approximately 15 meters (50 feet). The propulsion module 

would be fully reusable, would carry its own avionics, and would 

operate autonomously under the control of on-board computers. 

The propulsion module would use 90 percent concentration 

hydrogen peroxide, called high test peroxide, and rocket 

propellant grade kerosene as the propellants. Before flying the 

human-carrying operational New Shepard RLV for commercial 

operation, Blue Origin also proposes to develop and flight test 

a series of unmanned prototypes at the West Texas launch site. 

The activities analyzed in the proposed action include clearing 

and grading the land where construction activities are proposed 

to occur; constructing the launch site facilities; transporting 

the vehicle, vehicle components, and propellants to the proposed 

site; assembling the various vehicle components; conducting 

ground-based tests; moving the launch vehicle to the test pad; 

loading the space flight participants or other payload; loading 

propellants into the launch vehicle; igniting the rocket motors; 

collecting any debris from the test pad; and landing, 

recovering, and transporting the RLV from the landing pad. 

PURPOSE AND NEED: The proposed Blue Origin launch facility 

would provide Blue Origin with an alternative to launching the 
9

New Shepard vehicle from a Federal or other FAA-licensed launch 

facility. The proposed facility would provide a location from 

which to transport space flight participants to the edge of 

space and return them to the same launch area after a short 

flight. These activities are consistent with the purposes of 

the CSLAA. Given the infrastructure and development costs 

associated with constructing launch facilities, the Federal 

government has been the owner/operator of, has leased/sold 

unused or excess infrastructure, and has provided expertise to 

commercial launch operators for the majority of commercial 

launches. However, with increasing demand for access to space, 

commercial launch site operators have begun to develop proposals 

to offer launch sites, not collocated with Federal facilities or 

operated by the Department of Defense or the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration, to meet the demand for 

lower cost access to space. 

The proposed Blue Origin launch site would provide the 

infrastructure necessary to support testing and operation of 

Blue Origin’s New Shepard RLV. Accordingly, the proposed action 

would permit Blue Origin to pursue its objective of developing 

safe, inexpensive, and reliable human access to space. 
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ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: Alternatives analyzed in the EA 

included (1) the proposed action, issuing experimental permits, 

a launch site operator license, RLV mission-specific licenses, 

and/or RLV operator licenses, as appropriate, to Blue Origin for 

the launch and landing of vertical launch/vertical landing 

reusable suborbital rockets on privately-owned property in 

Culberson County, Texas; and (2) the no action alternative. The 

activities included in this analysis are launching and landing 

the New Shepard RLV and prototype test vehicles at the proposed 

site. The EA conservatively assumes that all tests and launches 

would be conducted using the final operational New Shepard RLV. 

Therefore, the FAA did not specifically analyze the impacts 

associated with issuing a subset of experimental permits or 

licenses for a mix of vehicles because the impacts would be 

within the range analyzed. 

Under the no action alternative, the FAA would not issue permits 

or licenses to Blue Origin for the purposes of conducting launch 

operations in Culberson County, Texas. Blue Origin would not 

conduct RLV testing or launch operations, and the goals set 

forth by the CSLA would not be advanced. As part of the no 

action alternative, the proposed site in Culberson County would 

remain private property. Blue Origin would be forced to 

identify other private property options or to reconsider 
11

association with state-sponsored spaceport facilities. For Blue 

Origin, these decisions could result in higher RLV development 

and operational costs, decreased operational capabilities, and 

delays to Blue Origin’s proposed development schedules. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 

Air Resources 

The proposed project area is currently in attainment under the 

National Clean Air Act. Impacts on air quality would occur 

during the construction and operation of the launch site. The 

estimated increases in emission concentrations from planned 

construction activities would be small fractions of either state 

or Federal ambient air quality standards. Construction impacts 

are expected to be localized and short-term. The estimated 

increases in ambient background concentrations from operations 

would be negligible. No significant impacts on air resources 

would be anticipated. 

Ecological Resources 

Construction activities would result in the clearing, grading, 

or disturbance of approximately 308 hectares (760 acres), which 

is approximately 4.1 percent of the 7,527 hectares (18,600 

acres) within the launch site perimeter fence line. Almost all 
12

construction activity would be in vegetation characterized as 

creosote bush community, which comprises approximately 5,595 

hectares (13,825 acres) of the launch site. Because this plant 

community type is common on the launch site and throughout the 

Chihuahuan Desert, the anticipated loss would represent only a 

small portion of this habitat type and would not adversely 

affect local or regional diversity of plants and plant 

communities. 

Construction activities would cause impacts on wildlife through 

elimination of vegetation communities (i.e., habitats) and their 

associated fauna. Small numbers of animals inhabiting the 

construction area could be displaced by construction activity 

while others would be expected to disperse to less disturbed 

areas of the proposed launch site or off site. 

Launch and landing noise and sonic booms would have potential 

for disturbing wildlife; however, the disturbance would be short 

lived and would have no more effect on local wildlife than 

military aircraft that routinely fly over the Corn Ranch 

property on low-level training missions. 

No state or federally listed species were observed in surveys of 

the proposed Blue Origin site conducted in January and April 
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2005. Based on the habitats present, three state-listed species 

(Chihuahuan Desert lyre snake, Trans-Pecos black-headed snake, 

Texas horned lizard) and one federally-listed species (Northern 

aplomado falcon) could occur in limited numbers in the vicinity 

of the site. It is conceivable that small numbers of these 

state-listed reptiles or Northern aplomado falcons could be 

disturbed by construction activities, launch noise or sonic 

booms. Any disturbance from launch activities would be brief 

(less than approximately one minute) and create impacts at the 

proposed launch site similar to those currently experienced as a 

result of military aircraft operations. 

The FAA conducted informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding potential impacts to 

threatened or endangered species. The USFWS concurred with the 

FAA’s determination that the proposed action would not adversely 

affect listed or candidate species or critical habitat. 

Cultural/Native American Resources 

The proposed locations where construction activities would occur 

for the launch site contain two archaeological sites determined 

to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. 

Mitigation measures have been proposed to protect these sites 

during construction. If previously unknown cultural deposits 
14

are discovered, construction activities in the area would halt, 

and a qualified archaeologist would evaluate the discovery. 

Appropriate treatment activities would be determined, if 

necessary, in consultation with the Texas State Historic 

Preservation Officer (SHPO). Direct impacts to cultural 

resources from maintenance or operating activities would be 

unlikely since these activities would take place within areas 

already disturbed by construction. The FAA, SHPO, and Blue 

Origin signed a Memorandum of Agreement regarding avoidance of 

adverse effects to site 41CU695 and mitigation of adverse 

effects to site 41CU696, Culberson County, Texas. 

Hazardous Materials/Waste Management 

The construction activities would use small quantities of 

hazardous materials, which would result in generation of small 

volumes of hazardous wastes. The hazardous materials that are 

expected to be used are common to construction activities and 

include diesel fuel, gasoline, and liquefied natural gas to fuel 

the construction equipment, hydraulic fluids, oils and 

lubricants, welding gases, paints, solvents, adhesives, and 

batteries. Appropriate hazardous material management techniques 

would be followed to minimize their use and ensure safe 

disposal. 
15

Non-hazardous and hazardous waste generated during construction 

of the launch site would include construction debris, empty 

containers, spent solvents, waste oil, spill cleanup materials 

(if used), and lead-acid batteries from construction equipment. 

Blue Origin would ensure that construction contractors safely 

remove these wastes from the site for recycling or disposal in 

accordance with applicable federal, state, and local 

requirements. 

The hazardous material management practices described above for 

construction would also be followed during launch site 

operations. The majority of the hazardous materials used in 

launch operations are the propellants for the launch vehicle and 

compressed gases. Other hazardous materials would be used in 

much smaller amounts with on site storage limited to less than 

379 liters (100 gallons). Substantial impacts to the 

environment are not expected from the presence of hazardous 

materials and wastes during launch site operations. 

Land Use (including Farmland and Section 4(f) Resources) 

Construction of the launch site would permanently cover about 

90.3 hectares (223 acres) of desert scrubland with impermeable 

surfaces, such as building foundations, test pad, parking lots, 

etc. This relatively small area represents 1.2 percent of the 
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launch site. Operation of the launch site would necessitate the 

fencing and enclosure of approximately 7,527 hectares (18,600 

acres) of desert scrubland and grassland that are currently used 

as a private wildlife management area. This acreage will 

continue to provide habitat for wildlife and land use would be 

essentially unchanged; only the core facility areas would be 

converted to industrial use. 

No prime farmland, unique farmland, farmland of state 

importance, or general farmland would be converted to a nonagricultural use as a result of the proposed action. No 

conflicts with existing agricultural uses would occur as a 

result of the proposed action. Section 4(f) properties would 

not be significantly impacted by the proposed action because it 

does not require the use of any section 4(f) properties, and it 

does not create a constructive use that substantially impairs 

the property. 

Visual Resources 

During construction, the visual landscape would be impacted 

primarily by construction activities associated with the two 

launch site access road improvements that would intersect State 

Highway 54 and the associated vehicle traffic traveling to and 

from the launch site. A visual impact from construction 
17

activities would result because the launch site facilities would 

be built 8 kilometers (5 miles) to the east of State Highway 54. 

Facilities and infrastructure including buildings, storage 

tanks, launch and landing pads, access roads, parking areas, 

fencing, and lighting would be constructed. A fire break would 

be cleared along the perimeter fence to prevent the spread of 

fire on or off the launch site. The tallest building would be 

approximately 26 meters (84 feet) high, and would be located 8 

kilometers (5 miles) to the east of State Highway 54. Portions 

of the facility may be visible to motorists traveling on Highway 

54, but the proposed construction and operation of the facility 

would not result in a significant impact on visual resources. 

Noise 

Construction activities and traffic noise would temporarily 

increase the ambient noise levels at the proposed launch site. 

Such activities could potentially create individual noise 

sources ranging from 70 to 100 A-weighted decibels (dBA) at 30.5 

meters (100 feet) from the activities. The construction-related 

noise could last approximately 12 months but would not be 

appreciable off site given the size of the property and the 

distance of the construction activities from the surrounding 

population. 
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The nearest public access to the launch and landing platforms 

would be approximately 8.5 kilometers (5.3 miles) away on 

Highway 54. Launch noise at that location would be 

approximately 85 dBA. The nearest residence is approximately 

10.9 kilometers (6.8 miles) away and would experience slightly 

less than 85 dBA. The duration of launch noise would be 

approximately one minute, with the peak noise lasting from 5 to 

15 seconds after launch. The nearest population center, Van 

Horn, is approximately 40.2 kilometers (25 miles) away. At this 

distance, the launch noise would be less than 65 dBA, the 

threshold of significance. 

Because Blue Origin’s launch vehicle would ascend and descend 

vertically, sonic booms would propagate away from the Earth's 

surface during launch and towards the Earth's surface during 

descent. The peak overpressure, 7.8 kilograms per square meter 

(1.6 pounds per square foot), would occur at approximately 1.3 

kilometers (0.8 mile) from the landing pad. At the closest 

location that would be occupied by workers or visitors, the 

overpressure would be 4.9 kilograms per square meter (1.0 pound 

per square foot), which approximates 85 dBA. At 12.9 kilometers 

(8 miles) the sonic boom sound level would drop to about 80 dBA, 

and at 37 kilometers (23 miles) the sonic boom would probably be 

indiscernible. 
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Geology and Soils (including Floodplains) 

Construction activities have the potential to disturb 

approximately 308 hectares (760 acres) of soil. Of this total, 

approximately 90.3 hectares (223 acres) are expected to be 

permanently covered with impermeable surfaces such as buildings 

and parking areas. Because of the clay content of the site 

soils, it may be necessary to strip 0.3 to 1.2 meters (1 to 4 

feet) below existing grade prior to construction of the 

facilities. Depending on the depth of excavation, the volume of 

soil excavated would range from approximately 10,930 to 43,800 

cubic meters (14,300 to 57,300 cubic yards). 

Soil erosion due to runoff and wind would be of concern during 

construction. Best construction management practices would be 

employed to limit soil loss below significant levels. The 

proposed site would not be located in the 100-year floodplain. 

Socioeconomics (including Natural Resources and Energy Supply) 

Construction would require a monthly average of approximately 45 

workers, which would help to stimulate the local economy and 

would create a small number of additional indirect jobs. The 

economic benefit would be small; however, because the bulk of 

the construction-generated wages would be spent outside the area 
20

of the proposed launch site. Operations would require 

approximately 20 to 35 personnel. The additional employment 

opportunities created by the proposed action would represent an 

increase of less than one percent in the region’s labor force. 

The proposed action does not create any major changes that would 

have a measurable effect on local supplies of energy or natural 

resources. The proposed action does not require the use of 

unusual materials or materials in short supply. 

Traffic and Transportation 

State Highway 54 would be the road most impacted by construction 

activities. It is the only access to the construction site and 

is an infrequently used highway. During the peak period of 

construction, approximately 70 construction workers would be 

commuting to the site. The monthly average construction 

workforce is expected to be approximately 45. In addition there 

would be deliveries of equipment, supplies, and building 

materials on a daily basis. Highway 54 is expected to undergo 

improvements at the beginning of 2006; therefore, no 

deterioration of the highway should occur. 

During facility operations, the commuting workforce would be 

approximately 20 to 35 workers. During launches, customers and 
21

other visitors would be visiting the site. Shipments of rocket 

propellants would be needed to fuel the launch vehicles. There 

would also be shipments of gaseous helium and nitrogen. Diesel 

fuel would be needed for diesel generators. There would be 

other shipments of supplies and materials. However, the traffic 

from operations is expected to be less than that for 

construction. Existing roads would be well able to handle the 

traffic without congestion. 

Water Resources (including Wetlands and Wild and Scenic Rivers) 

It is expected that two new on site wells would be used to 

supply construction activities, if necessary. Salt Bolson 

aquifer drawdown for the construction withdrawal would be 3.6 

centimeters (1.4 inches) at 9.1 meters (30 feet) from the 

withdrawal well (conservatively assuming withdrawal from a 

single well) after one year of pumping; the drawdown would 

decrease to 0.083 centimeter (0.033 inch) at 1,609 meters (1 

mile) from the well. If it is necessary to screen new wells in 

the more productive Capitan aquifer, then the drawdown for 

construction withdrawal would be 0.57 centimeter (0.22 inch) at 

9.1 meters (30 feet), decreasing to 0.087 centimeter (0.034 

inch) at 1,609 meters (1 mile) from the well. Impacts of this 

water withdrawal on other possible on site and off site water 

uses would not be a significant impact. 
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Best management water control practices, including storage and 

control of liquids, would be employed for all construction 

activities in accordance with Texas state regulations. The 

launch site facility design would incorporate water management 

and spill containment processes to minimize potential impacts to 

water resources. 

There are no permanent, naturally occurring surface waters or 

open freshwater systems, wild and scenic rivers, or federally 

protected wetlands as defined by section 404 of the Clean Water 

Act on the proposed site. Therefore, there would be no impacts 

to any of these resources. 

Airspace 

The airspace above and around the launch site is used by 

commercial and military aircraft. Prior to scheduling flight 

countdown activities, Blue Origin would request the FAA’s 

approval for exclusive use of the airspace directly above the 

launch site for a specific launch and recovery time window, 

expected to not exceed three hours. The steep flight ascent 

profile of the Blue Origin reusable launch vehicle ensures that 

at no time in any nominal ballistic trajectory would the 
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vehicle’s ground track depart from the boundaries of the Corn 

Ranch. 

Environmental Justice 

Because construction and operations impacts would not 

significantly impact the surrounding population, and no minority 

or low-income populations would be disproportionately affected, 

no disproportionately high and adverse impacts would be expected 

on minority or low-income populations. 

Health and Safety 

Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it was estimated that 

during construction, 1.8 total lost workdays, no fatalities, and 

3.8 total recordable cases of injury, illness, or death could be 

expected during the 12-month construction period. Using the 

same statistical data it was estimated that 0.5 total lost 

workdays, no fatalities, and 1 recordable case of injury, 

illness, or death could be expected from the operation of the 

Blue Origin facility. 

The proposed launch site is expected to have very limited 

occurrence of hazardous materials and waste, and thus there 

would be minimal safety and health risks to workers or members 

of the public associated with the proposed Blue Origin site. 
24

Because there are no health impacts expected to members of the 

public (adults or children) from the operation of the proposed 

launch site, the requirements of Executive Order 13045, 

“Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and 

Safety Risks” are not applicable to this action. 

During the operation of the vehicle, there is the possibility of 

an accident or off-nominal situation. In the majority of 

foreseeable off-nominal scenarios, the crew capsule, abort 

module, and propulsion module would all land within the 

perimeter fence of the launch site. In some rare cases, the 

vehicles may land outside the fence line. However, in nearly 

all cases, the vehicles would stay within the boundaries of 

private land controlled by Blue Origin and present no danger to 

the public. In the unlikely event the vehicles impact outside 

the privately controlled Blue Origin land, the surrounding 

properties consist of extremely sparsely populated rangeland. 

During any landing away from the landing pad, the potential 

exists for crushing vegetation and animals as the vehicle 

touches down to ground, fire, and, for the propulsion module and 

abort module, the dispersal of unused propellant. 
25

Cumulative Impacts 

Cumulative impacts are the incremental impact of the actions 

when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable 

future action regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) 

or person undertakes such other actions. (40 CFR 1508.7) The 

cumulative impacts analysis focused on only those past, present, 

and reasonably foreseeable future actions that have the 

potential to contribute to cumulative impacts. These actions 

include the operation of a marble mine in the Sierra Diablo 

Mountains, tourist traffic to Guadalupe Mountains National Park 

or Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and current commercial and 

military aviation activities within Culberson County airspace. 

These actions were analyzed for their potential to contribute to 

cumulative transportation and airspace impacts. 

The commuters to and from the marble mine, local and tourist 

traffic, and the projected number of vehicles at the proposed 

launch site would result in increased traffic along State 

Highway 54. Currently, approximately 180 vehicles use State 

Highway 54 each day. Under the proposed action, the total 

number of vehicles using State Highway 54 would increase to 

approximately 320 per day (13 vehicles per hour) during the peak 

construction phase and to approximately 230 per day (10 vehicles 

per hour) during the operations phase. Increases of this 
26

magnitude would not have a significant impact on local traffic 

or the normal flow of traffic on State Highway 54. Although a 

Level-of-Service analysis has not been performed, traffic on 

Highway 54 can be characterized as free flow or Class A as 

defined by the National Research Council. Existing roads would 

be able to handle the proposed increase in traffic without 

congestion. 

Blue Origin launches would compete for airspace with current 

commercial and military aviation activities in the airspace 

about the launch site. Blue Origin would attempt to minimize 

this competition by appropriate timing of launches and 

coordination of overall air traffic with the FAA pursuant to a 

letter of agreement with the Albuquerque Air Traffic Control 

Center, resulting in a small cumulative impact. 

Consistency with Community Planning 

The proposed action has been reviewed and has been found to be 

consistent with State and local planning objectives from the 

Texas State, Culberson County, and local community governments. 
27

No Action Alternative 

Under the no action alternative, the FAA would not issue permits 

or licenses to Blue Origin for the conduct of launch operations 

in Culberson County, Texas. Blue Origin would not conduct RLV 

testing or launch operations at the proposed site and the goals 

set forth by the CSLA would not be advanced. As part of the no 

action alternative, the proposed site in Culberson County would 

remain private property. Blue Origin would be forced to 

identify other private property options or to reconsider 

association with state-sponsored spaceport facilities. For Blue 

Origin, these decisions could result in higher RLV development 

and operational costs, decreased operational capabilities, and 

delays to Blue Origin’s proposed development schedules. 

Determination 

An analysis of the proposed action has concluded that there are 

no significant short-term or long-term effects to the 

environment or surrounding populations. After careful and 

thorough consideration of the facts herein, the undersigned 

finds that the proposed Federal action is consistent with 

existing national environmental policies and objectives set 

forth in Section 101(a) of NEPA of 1969 and that it will not