80_FR_38632 80 FR 38504 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Houston Spaceport, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas

80 FR 38504 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Houston Spaceport, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 128 (July 6, 2015)

Page Range38504-38505
FR Document2015-16464

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 the Final EA and FONSI/ROD for the Houston Spaceport.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 128 (Monday, July 6, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38504-38505]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA), Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Houston Spaceport, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final EA and FONSI/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 the Final EA and FONSI/ROD for the Houston 
Spaceport.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Ave. SW., Suite 325, Washington DC 20591; phone (202) 267-
5924; or email Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EA was prepared to analyze the 
potential environmental impacts of Houston Airport System's (HAS's) 
proposal to establish and operate a commercial space launch site at the 
Ellington Airport (EFD), in Houston, Texas and offer the site to 
prospective commercial space launch operators for the operation of 
horizontal take-off and horizontal landing Concept X and Concept Z 
reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). To operate a commercial space launch 
site, HAS must obtain a commercial space launch site operator license 
from the FAA. Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Final EA, the 
FAA would: (1) Issue a launch site operator license to HAS for the 
operation of a commercial space launch site at EFD; (2) issue launch 
licenses to prospective commercial space launch operators that would 
allow them to conduct launches of horizontal take-off and horizontal 
landing Concept X and Concept Z RLVs from EFD, and (3) provide 
unconditional approval to the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) modifications 
that reflect the designation of a spaceport boundary and construction 
of planned spaceport facilities and infrastructure. Proposed launch 
operations would begin in 2015 and continue through 2019 in accordance 
with the terms of the launch site operator license. HAS proposes to 
provide RLV operators the ability to conduct up to 50 launches and 
landings (or 100 operations) per year, with approximately five percent 
of the operations expected to occur during night-time hours.
    The Final EA addresses the potential environmental impacts of 
implementing the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under 
the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue a launch site 
operator license to HAS, and thus no launch licenses would be issued to 
individual commercial space launch vehicle operators to operate at EFD. 
Also, there would be no need to update the EFD ALP, and thus there 
would be no FAA approval of a revised ALP. Existing operations would 
continue at EFD, which is currently classified as a general aviation 
reliever airport.
    The environmental impact categories considered in the Final EA 
include air quality; climate; coastal resources; compatible land use; 
Department of Transportation Act: Section 4(f); fish, wildlife, and 
plants; floodplains; hazardous materials, pollution prevention, and 
solid waste; historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural 
resources; light emissions and visual impacts; natural resources and 
energy supply; noise; socioeconomics, environmental justice, and 
children's environmental health and safety risks; water quality; and 
wetlands. The Final EA also considers the potential secondary (induced) 
impacts and cumulative impacts.
    The FAA has posted the Final EA and FONSI/ROD on the FAA Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation Web site: http://www.faa.gov/about/

[[Page 38505]]

office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/
operator/.
    The FAA published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EA in 
the Federal Register on December 31, 2014. The NOA was also published 
in the Houston Chronicle on January 7, 2015, and in the Bay Area 
Citizen, Pasadena Citizen, Friendswood Journal, and Pearl Journal on 
January 8, 2015. An electronic version of the Draft EA was also made 
available on the FAA Web site. In addition, the FAA printed and mailed 
a copy of the Draft EA to the following libraries: Clear Lake City-
County Freeman Branch Library, Friendswood Public Library, Alvin 
Library, Hitchcock Public Library, and Reagan County Library. The FAA 
held an open house public meeting on January 22, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 
8:30 p.m. at the Space Center Houston, Silvermoon Conference Room. The 
public comment period ended on January 31, 2015. Public comments on the 
Draft EA resulted in minor changes to the EA.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 24, 2015.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-16464 Filed 7-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

38504 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 128 / Monday, July 6, 2015 / Notices document using the ‘‘Upload file(s)’’ Public Viewing of Review Submissions horizontal landing Concept X and field. The GSP Subcommittee prefers Submissions in response to this Concept Z reusable launch vehicles that submissions be provided in an notice, except for information granted (RLVs). To operate a commercial space attached document. At the beginning of ‘‘business confidential’’ status under 15 launch site, HAS must obtain a the submission, or on the first page (if CFR 2003.6, will be available for public commercial space launch site operator an attachment), please note that the viewing pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.6 at license from the FAA. Under the submission is in response to this http://www.regulations.gov upon Proposed Action addressed in the Final Federal Register notice and indicate the completion of processing. Such EA, the FAA would: (1) Issue a launch specific product(s) that is the subject of submissions may be viewed by entering site operator license to HAS for the the comment and on which of the the country-specific docket number in operation of a commercial space launch relevant lists described above, (e.g., List the search field at http:// site at EFD; (2) issue launch licenses to I) it appears. Submissions should not www.regulations.gov. prospective commercial space launch operators that would allow them to exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter- William D. Jackson, conduct launches of horizontal take-off size pages in 12-point type, including Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and horizontal landing Concept X and attachments. Any data attachments to for the Generalized System of Preferences, Concept Z RLVs from EFD, and (3) the submission should be included in Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. provide unconditional approval to the the same file as the submission itself, [FR Doc. 2015–16498 Filed 7–2–15; 8:45 am] Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and not as separate files. BILLING CODE 3290–F5–P modifications that reflect the Each submitter will receive a designation of a spaceport boundary and submission tracking number upon construction of planned spaceport completion of the submissions DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION facilities and infrastructure. Proposed procedure at http:// launch operations would begin in 2015 www.regulations.gov. The tracking Federal Aviation Administration and continue through 2019 in number will be the submitter’s accordance with the terms of the launch confirmation that the submission was Office of Commercial Space site operator license. HAS proposes to received into http:// Transportation; Notice of Availability provide RLV operators the ability to www.regulations.gov. The confirmation of the Final Environmental conduct up to 50 launches and landings Assessment (Final EA), Finding of No (or 100 operations) per year, with should be kept for the submitter’s Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record approximately five percent of the records. USTR is not able to provide of Decision (ROD) for the Houston operations expected to occur during technical assistance for the Web site. Spaceport, City of Houston, Harris night-time hours. Documents not submitted in accordance County, Texas The Final EA addresses the potential with these instructions may not be environmental impacts of implementing considered in this review. If an AGENCY: Federal Aviation the Proposed Action and the No Action interested party is unable to provide Administration (FAA), Department of Alternative. Under the No Action submissions as requested, please contact Transportation. Alternative, the FAA would not issue a the GSP program at USTR to arrange for ACTION: Notice of Availability of the launch site operator license to HAS, and an alternative method of transmission. Final EA and FONSI/ROD. thus no launch licenses would be issued Business Confidential Submissions In accordance with the SUMMARY: to individual commercial space launch National Environmental Policy Act of vehicle operators to operate at EFD. An interested party requesting that 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United Also, there would be no need to update information contained in a submission States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on the EFD ALP, and thus there would be be treated as business confidential Environmental Quality NEPA no FAA approval of a revised ALP. information must certify that such Existing operations would continue at implementing regulations (40 Code of information is business confidential and Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), EFD, which is currently classified as a would not customarily be released to general aviation reliever airport. and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, The environmental impact categories the public by the submitter. Environmental Impacts: Policies and Confidential business information must Procedures, the FAA is announcing the considered in the Final EA include air quality; climate; coastal resources; be clearly designated as such. The availability of the Final EA and FONSI/ compatible land use; Department of submission must be marked ‘‘BUSINESS ROD for the Houston Spaceport. Transportation Act: Section 4(f); fish, CONFIDENTIAL’’ at the top and bottom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. wildlife, and plants; floodplains; of the cover page and each succeeding Daniel Czelusniak, Office of Commercial hazardous materials, pollution page, and the submission should Space Transportation, Federal Aviation prevention, and solid waste; historical, indicate, via brackets, the specific Administration, 800 Independence Ave. architectural, archaeological, and information that is confidential. SW., Suite 325, Washington DC 20591; cultural resources; light emissions and Additionally, ‘‘Business Confidential’’ phone (202) 267–5924; or email visual impacts; natural resources and must be included in the ‘‘Type Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov. energy supply; noise; socioeconomics, Comment’’ field. For any submission SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final environmental justice, and children’s containing business confidential EA was prepared to analyze the environmental health and safety risks; information, a non-confidential version potential environmental impacts of water quality; and wetlands. The Final Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES must be submitted separately (i.e., not as Houston Airport System’s (HAS’s) EA also considers the potential part of the same submission with the proposal to establish and operate a secondary (induced) impacts and confidential version), indicating where commercial space launch site at the cumulative impacts. confidential information has been Ellington Airport (EFD), in Houston, The FAA has posted the Final EA and redacted. The non-confidential version Texas and offer the site to prospective FONSI/ROD on the FAA Office of will be placed in the docket and open commercial space launch operators for Commercial Space Transportation Web to public inspection. the operation of horizontal take-off and site: http://www.faa.gov/about/ VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:37 Jul 02, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM 06JYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 128 / Monday, July 6, 2015 / Notices 38505 office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/ 2014–0661 using any of the following 14 CFR 25.979(d) and (e) environmental/nepa_docs/review/ methods: Description of Relief Sought: operator/. • Government-wide rulemaking Web The petitioner requests relief from the The FAA published a Notice of site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov use of industry standard pressures for Availability (NOA) of the Draft EA in and follow the instructions for sending onloads and offloads installations of the the Federal Register on December 31, your comments digitally. 767–2C modified supplemental type 2014. The NOA was also published in • Mail: Send comments to the Docket certificate (STC) to ensure consistency the Houston Chronicle on January 7, Management Facility; U.S. Department within the current military fleet. The 2015, and in the Bay Area Citizen, of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey baseline 767–2C aircraft will be Pasadena Citizen, Friendswood Journal, Avenue SE., West Building Ground modified to be an in-flight tanker and and Pearl Journal on January 8, 2015. Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC receiver. The onload and offload An electronic version of the Draft EA 20590. installations could experience surge was also made available on the FAA • Fax: Fax comments to the Docket pressures that approach 240 pounds per Web site. In addition, the FAA printed Management Facility at 202–493–2251. square inch gage (PSIG). The baseline and mailed a copy of the Draft EA to the • Hand Delivery: Bring comments to 767–2C aircraft designed to the following libraries: Clear Lake City- the Docket Management Facility in maximum burst pressure of 360 PSIG County Freeman Branch Library, Room W12–140 of the West Building will not meet the regulatory requirement Friendswood Public Library, Alvin Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey of 2.0 times the ultimate load at Library, Hitchcock Public Library, and Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 maximum pressures, including surge. Reagan County Library. The FAA held a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through [FR Doc. 2015–16495 Filed 7–2–15; 8:45 am] an open house public meeting on Friday, except Federal holidays. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P January 22, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 Privacy: We will post all comments p.m. at the Space Center Houston, we receive, without change, to http:// Silvermoon Conference Room. The www.regulations.gov, including any DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION public comment period ended on personal information you provide. January 31, 2015. Public comments on Using the search function of our docket Federal Aviation Administration the Draft EA resulted in minor changes Web site, anyone can find and read the comments received into any of our [Summary Notice No. PE–2015–38 ] to the EA. Issued in Washington, DC on June 24, dockets, including the name of the Petition for Exemption; Summary of 2015. individual sending the comment (or Petition Received Daniel Murray, signing the comment for an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may AGENCY: Federal Aviation Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act Administration (FAA), DOT. Statement in the Federal Register ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption [FR Doc. 2015–16464 Filed 7–2–15; 8:45 am] published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR received. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 19477–78). Docket: To read background SUMMARY: This notice contains a documents or comments received, go to summary of a petition seeking relief DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION http://www.regulations.gov at any time from specified requirements of Title 14, Federal Aviation Administration or to the Docket Management Facility in Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). Room W12–140 of the West Building The purpose of this notice is to improve [Summary Notice No. PE–2015–39] Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey the public’s awareness of, and Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 participation in, this aspect of the FAA’s Petition for Exemption; Summary of regulatory activities. Neither publication a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Petition Received of this notice nor the inclusion or Friday, except Federal holidays. AGENCY: Federal Aviation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: omission of information in the summary Administration (FAA), DOT. Deana Stedman, ANM–113, Federal is intended to affect the legal status of ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind the petition or its final disposition. received. Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356, DATE: Comments on this petition must email deana.stedman@faa.gov, phone identify the petition docket number SUMMARY: This notice contains a (425) 227–2148; or Sandra Long, ARM– involved and must be received on or summary of a petition seeking relief 200, Office of Rulemaking, Federal before July 16, 2015. from specified requirements of Title 14, Aviation Administration, 800 ADDRESSES: You may send comments Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). Independence Avenue SW., identified by docket number FAA– The purpose of this notice is to improve Washington, DC 20591, email 2014–1042 using any of the following the public’s awareness of, and sandra.long@faa.gov, phone (202) 267– methods: participation in, this aspect of the FAA’s 4714. • Government-wide rulemaking Web regulatory activities. Neither publication This notice is published pursuant to site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov of this notice nor the inclusion or 14 CFR 11.85. and follow the instructions for sending omission of information in the summary Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, your comments digitally. is intended to affect the legal status of 2015. • Mail: Send comments to the Docket the petition or its final disposition. Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Brenda D. Cortney, Management Facility; U.S. Department DATES: Comments on this petition must Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking. of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey identify the petition docket number Avenue SE., West Building Ground involved and must be received on or Petition For Exemption Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC before July 27, 2015. Docket No.: FAA–2014–0661 20590. ADDRESSES: You may send comments Petitioner: The Boeing Company • Fax: Fax comments to the Docket identified by docket number FAA– Section of 14 CFR Affected: Management Facility at 202–493–2251. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:37 Jul 02, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM 06JYN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:17:41
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:17:41
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Availability of the Final EA and FONSI/ROD.
ContactMr. Daniel Czelusniak, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Suite 325, Washington DC 20591; phone (202) 267- 5924; or email [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 38504 
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