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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 100986-100987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29446]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Authorizing Changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space 
Force Base

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice 
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to 
evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with DAF's 
authorization of the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6 to 
support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations, including launch and 
landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB); DAF's authorization of 
an increase in Falcon 9 launches and landings at VSFB and downrange 
landings in the Pacific Ocean; and the Federal Aviation 
Administration's (FAA's) issuance or modification of a vehicle operator 
license to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for 
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations at VSFB and approval of related 
airspace closures. The FAA and United States Coast Guard (USCG) are 
cooperating agencies for this EIS. The Unique Identification Number for 
this EIS is EISX-007-USF-1728547807.

DATES: A public scoping period of 45 days will take place starting from 
the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. To ensure the 
DAF has sufficient time to consider public scoping comments during 
preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit comments within the 45-day 
scoping period. Comments will be accepted at any time during the 
environmental impact analysis process.
    The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested 
parties to attend one or more of three in-person scoping meetings or 
the virtual scoping meeting. In-person meetings will be held in the 
evenings of January 14th, 15th, and 16th 2025. The exact location and 
scheduled time for public scoping meetings will be published in local 
newspapers (Lompoc Record, Los Angeles Times, Ojai Valley News, Santa 
Barbara Independent, Santa Maria Times, and Ventura County Star) and on 
the project website a minimum of 15 days prior to the meetings. A 
virtual meeting is scheduled for January 23rd, 2025, at 6 p.m. Pacific 
time. Information on how to attend the virtual meeting is available on 
the project website (www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com). The meetings will 
provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Proposed 
Action and Alternatives and provide an early and open process to assist 
the DAF and its Cooperating Agencies in determining the scope of issues 
for analysis in the EIS, including identifying significant 
environmental issues and those which can be eliminated from further 
study. Project team members will be available to answer questions about 
the Proposed Action, and there will also be an opportunity to provide 
oral and written comments. Scoping meeting materials will be provided 
in English and Spanish.
    Publication of the Draft EIS is anticipated in March 2025, which 
will be followed by a 45-day comment period with public hearing 
opportunities. The Final EIS is anticipated in September 2025. The 
Record of Decision could be approved and signed no earlier than 30 days 
after the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: The project website (www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com) provides 
information related to the EIS, such as environmental documents, 
schedule, public meeting locations, and project details, as well as a 
comment form and information on how to comment. Comments may be 
submitted via the website comment form, emailed to 
[email protected], or mailed to ATTN: VSFB Falcon Launch 
EIS, c/o ManTech International Corporation, 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 
100, Solana Beach, CA 92075. Members of the public who want to receive 
future mailings informing them of the availability of the Draft EIS and 
Final EIS are encouraged to submit a comment that includes their name 
and email or postal mailing address. For other inquiries, including 
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please 
contact Ms. Hilary Rummel, NEPA Project Manager at 
[email protected] or VSFB Public Affairs office by phone at 
1-805-606-3595.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
increase the space launch mission capability of the U.S. Department of 
Defense (DOD) and other federal and commercial customers and to enhance 
the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch 
infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space 
industry. As directed by U.S. policy (10 U.S.C. 2273, ``Policy 
regarding assured access to space: national security payloads''; see

[[Page 100987]]

also the White House's 2021 Space Priorities Framework), the United 
States seeks to provide greater launch and landing capabilities and 
infrastructure to support national security objectives, including 
deploying satellites and other space assets that enable intelligence, 
reconnaissance, and global security operations. The United States aims 
to promote a hybrid space architecture that diversifies access to 
space, reduces dependency on singular systems, and ensures rapid 
reconstitution capabilities.
    The Proposed Action is needed to meet current and near-term U.S. 
Government space launch requirements from the DoD space launch range 
that supports launches centered at VSFB (Western Range), specifically 
for medium and heavy lift launches to polar, geostationary, and other 
orbits less reliably available elsewhere without compromising current 
launch capabilities. The Proposed Action is also needed to expand 
launch capacity by returning heavy lift launch capability to the 
Western Range. Finally, the proposed action is needed to fulfill (in 
part) 10 U.S.C. 2276(a), ``Commercial space launch cooperation,'' 
authorizing the Secretary of Defense to maximize the use of the 
capacity of the space transportation infrastructure of the DOD by the 
private sector in the U.S.; maximize the effectiveness and efficiency 
of the space transportation infrastructure of the DOD; reduce the cost 
of services provided by the DOD related to space transportation 
infrastructure and launch support facilities and space recovery support 
facilities; encourage commercial space activities by enabling 
investment by covered entities in the space transportation 
infrastructure of the DOD; and foster cooperation between DOD and 
covered entities. ``Covered entity'' means a non[hyphen]federal entity 
that is organized under the laws of the U.S. or of any jurisdiction 
within the U.S. and is engaged in commercial space activities.
    Additionally, public interests largely intersect with the 
government interests identified, including greater mission capability 
for space exploration, and advancing reliable and affordable access to 
space which in turn advances the scientific and national security 
benefits of the U.S.Space Program.
    The DAF has identified a Proposed Action, Alternative 1, and the No 
Action Alternative to be carried forward for analysis in the EIS. Under 
the Proposed Action, the DAF would authorize Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy 
launch and landing operations at SLC-6, including modifications to SLC-
6 required to support those operations and construction of landing 
zones. The DAF would also authorize an increase in Falcon 9 launches 
from SLC-4, which currently hosts Falcon 9 launch operations, and an 
increase in downrange landings on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. The 
overall launch cadence for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs, 
combined, would be 100 launches per year. No modification of SLC-4 
infrastructure is proposed. The FAA would issue or modify a vehicle 
operator license for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations and approve 
corresponding temporary airspace closures for operations. Under the 
Proposed Action, the existing horizontal integration facility (HIF) 
located north of SLC-6 would be modified into a hangar for use by 
SpaceX to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations. Alternative 1 
is the same as the Proposed Action except rather than modifying the 
existing HIF, DAF would authorize SpaceX to construct a new hangar 
south of the HIF and north of the launch pad at SLC-6. Under the No 
Action Alternative, the DAF would not authorize any Falcon 9 or Falcon 
Heavy launches or landing operations at, or modifications to, SLC-6, 
nor would the DAF authorize additional Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4. 
SpaceX would not apply for an FAA vehicle operator license for Falcon 
operations at SLC-6 or increased launches from SLC-4.
    Potential effects may include noise, air quality, and hazardous 
material effects associated with launch and landing operations and 
construction, as well as effects on biological and cultural resources 
due to ground disturbance, and operational noise and vibrations. A full 
assessment of potential impacts to all relevant resource areas will be 
included in the EIS, including an analysis of environmental effects of 
the Proposed Action and Alternatives when added to the effects of other 
past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. As part of 
that effort, the cumulative impacts analysis in the EIS will examine 
the effects of the Proposed Action that was the subject of the 
Environmental Assessment of Falcon 9 Cadence Increase at Vandenberg 
Space Force Base, California (EAXX-007-57-USF-1724161195), the final of 
which was published in November 2024. SpaceX would be required to 
obtain or modify an FAA vehicle operator license for Falcon 9 and 
Falcon Heavy at SLC-6, which could include launch, reentry, or both. A 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit may be required. 
The Proposed Action and Alternatives are within wetlands and 
floodplains; therefore, the Proposed Action is subject to the 
requirements and objectives of Executive Order 11988 ``Floodplain 
Management'' and Executive Order 11990 ``Protection of Wetlands'', and 
this NOI initiates early public review and requests public comment on 
the Proposed Action and any practicable alternatives.
    Scoping and Agency Coordination: Consultation will include, but not 
necessarily be limited to, consultation under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act, consultation under section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, to include consultation with federally 
recognized Native American Tribes, and consultation under the Coastal 
Zone Management Act. Regulatory agencies with special expertise in 
wetlands and floodplains, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
will be contacted and asked to comment. Comments are requested on 
alternatives and effects, as well as on relevant information, studies, 
or analyses with respect to the Proposed Action.

Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-29446 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P
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