Document ID: FAA-2013-0259-0028
Agency: faa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Launch and Reentry Licenses, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy Commercial Launch Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
Posted Date: 2013-04-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 67 (Monday, April 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21003-21004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08083]

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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) and Record of Decision 
(ROD) for Issuing Launch and Reentry Licenses to Space Exploration 
Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy Commercial 
Launch Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the FONSI and ROD.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on 
Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal 
Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing 
the availability of a FONSI/ROD, based on the analysis and findings of 
the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) March 2011 Final Environmental Assessment 
for Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy Launch Vehicle Programs from Space 
Launch Complex 4 East (the EA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., 
SW., Room 325, Washington, DC 20591; email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov; 
or phone (202) 267-5924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA participated as a cooperating agency 
with USAF in the preparation of the EA, which evaluated the potential 
environmental impacts of operating the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch 
vehicle programs from Space Launch Complex-4 East (SLC-4E) at VAFB. As 
the Proposed Action would require Federal actions (as defined in 40 CFR 
Sec.  1508.18) involving USAF and the FAA, the EA was prepared to 
satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. USAF was the lead 
agency, and the FAA served as a cooperating agency because of its role 
in issuing licenses or permits to operate commercial launch and reentry 
vehicles. USAF issued a FONSI on July 11, 2011, which stated that the 
potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action 
would not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment, and therefore the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was not required. The FAA has 
formally adopted the EA and is using the FONSI/ROD to support the 
issuance of launch and reentry licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 and 
Falcon Heavy commercial launch operations at VAFB.
    The Proposed Action analyzed in the EA consists of SpaceX operating 
its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicle programs to provide 
government and commercial space operations from SLC-4E at VAFB. The 
Proposed Action in the EA also includes modifications and new 
construction at SLC-4E to support SpaceX's launch operations. 
Modification and construction activities have been initiated since the 
EA was

[[Page 21004]]

published. SLC-4E was previously used for the Titan IV program and has 
been non-operational since 2005. The FAA's Proposed Action is to issue 
launch and reentry licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy 
commercial launch operations at VAFB. Alternatives analyzed as part of 
the FONSI/ROD include (1) the Proposed Action and (2) No Action 
Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue 
launch or reentry licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy 
commercial launch operations at VAFB.
    Based on its independent review and consideration, the FAA issued a 
FONSI/ROD concurring with the analysis of impacts and findings in the 
EA and formally adopting the EA to support the issuance of launch and 
reentry licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy commercial 
launch operations at VAFB. After reviewing and analyzing available data 
and information on existing conditions, potential impacts, and measures 
to mitigate those impacts, the FAA has determined that issuing launch 
and reentry licenses to SpaceX for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy commercial 
launch operations at VAFB is a Federal action that would not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the 
meaning of NEPA. Therefore, the preparation of an EIS is not required, 
and the FAA has issued a FONSI/ROD. The FAA made this determination in 
accordance with all applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
    The FAA has posted the EA and FONSI/ROD on the internet at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 26, 2013.
Daniel P. Murray,
Deputy Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-08083 Filed 4-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-13-P