80_FR_76292 80 FR 76058 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Second Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3, Kodiak Island, Alaska

80 FR 76058 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Second Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3, Kodiak Island, Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 234 (December 7, 2015)

Page Range76058-76059
FR Document2015-30731

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 and requesting comments on the Second Draft Environmental Assessment for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3 (Second Draft EA). On September 15, 2014, the FAA issued a Draft EA for public review and comment and received 54 written comments and 26 oral comments over the public comment and review period that was extended to November 1, 2014. After taking into consideration the nature of public comments received on the Draft EA, the FAA is providing the public with an opportunity to review and comment on updates and clarification information that have since been added to the EA in response to public comments. The FAA is issuing an updated version of the Draft EA for a second public review and comment period.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76058-76059]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30731]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
and Request for Comment on the Second Draft Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3, Kodiak Island, Alaska

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

ACTIONS: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and 
Request for Comment.

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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 and requesting comments on the Second Draft 
Environmental Assessment for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3 
(Second Draft EA).
    On September 15, 2014, the FAA issued a Draft EA for public review 
and comment and received 54 written comments and 26 oral comments over 
the public comment and review period that was extended to November 1, 
2014. After taking into consideration the nature of public comments 
received on the Draft EA, the FAA is providing the public with an 
opportunity to review and comment on updates and clarification 
information that have since been added to the EA in response to public 
comments. The FAA is issuing an updated version of the Draft EA for a 
second public review and comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey M. Zee, Federal Aviation 
Administration, c/o ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 
22031; email FAAKodiakEA@icfi.com; telephone (202) 267-9305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Second Draft EA is an updated version of 
the September 2014 Draft EA, and incorporates all public comments 
received on the Draft EA. All written and oral public comments received 
on the Draft EA, as well as the FAA's responses to these comments, can 
be found in Appendix R of the Second Draft EA. The FAA considered all 
public comments while preparing the Second Draft EA, and changes have 
been made to the EA where warranted.
    The EA was prepared to analyze the potential environmental impacts 
of the FAA modifying the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's (AAC's) Launch 
Site Operator License to include medium-lift launch capability at the 
Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), a commercial launch site currently 
operated under a FAA Launch Site Operator License (LSO-03-008), which 
authorizes only small-lift operations. The Kodiak Launch Complex was 
renamed as Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska, effective April 21, 2015. 
The EA keeps the name as KLC for continuity and ease of reviewing.
    Expansion of launch capabilities at KLC would include the addition 
of new infrastructure necessary to support

[[Page 76059]]

medium-lift launches, including the construction of a launch pad and 
associated facilities. As part of the Proposed Action addressed in the 
EA, AAC would make improvements to the KLC to add both solid and 
liquid-propellant, medium-lift launch capability, and to operate the 
KLC in the future as a small-lift and medium-lift launch complex. 
Proposed construction at KLC includes six primary modifications: 
Construction of Launch Pad 3 (LP3), a vehicle processing facility, 
rocket staging facility, liquid fuel facility, mission control center 
and improvements to Pasagshak Point Road. Proposed launch operations 
would include up to six orbital small-lift launches and three medium-
lift launches per year from the existing launch pads and from the 
proposed LP3; however, to be conservative in the analysis of potential 
environmental impacts, the EA assumes a maximum of nine medium-lift 
launches per year.
    The 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 modify AAC's Launch Site 
Operator License to include medium-lift launch capability and AAC would 
not proceed with the construction of medium-lift launch support 
infrastructure at KLC. Existing launch activities for up to nine 
orbital small-lift class launches per year from the existing launch 
pads would continue.
    The impact categories considered in the EA include air quality; 
compatible land use; Department of Transportation Act: Section 4(f); 
fish, wildlife, and plants; hazardous materials, pollution prevention, 
and solid waste; historical, architectural, archaeological, and 
cultural resources; light emissions and visual impacts; natural 
resources and energy supply; noise; socioeconomic, environmental 
justice, and children's environmental health and safety risk; water 
quality; and wetlands. The EA also considers the potential cumulative 
environmental impacts.
    The FAA has posted the Second Draft EA on the FAA Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation Web site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/kodiak_launch/.
    A paper copy and a CD version of the Second Draft EA may be 
reviewed for comment during regular business hours at the following 
libraries:

 Kodiak Public Library, 612 Egan Way, Kodiak, AK 99615
 University of Alaska Anchorage--Carolyn Floyd Library, 117 
Benny Benson Drive, Kodiak, AK 99615
 Anchorage Municipal Library, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage, AK 
99503
DATES: The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Second Draft EA. To ensure that 
all comments can be addressed in the Final EA, comments on the draft 
must be received by the FAA no later than January 11, 2016. Comments 
should be as specific as possible and address the analysis of potential 
environmental impacts and the adequacy of the proposed action or merits 
of alternatives and the mitigation being considered. Reviewers should 
organize their comments to be meaningful and inform the FAA of their 
interests and concerns by quoting or providing specific references to 
the text of the Second Draft EA. Matters that could have been raised 
with specificity during the comment period on the Second Draft EA may 
not be considered if they are raised for the first time later in the 
decision process. This commenting procedure is intended to ensure that 
substantive comments and concerns are made available to the FAA in a 
timely manner so that the FAA has an opportunity to address them.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in 
your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments in writing to Stacey M. Zee, Federal 
Aviation Administration, c/o ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, 
Fairfax, VA 22031; or by email at FAAKodiakEA@icfi.com.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 30, 2015.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-30731 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

76058 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 234 / Monday, December 7, 2015 / Notices the public may also participate via extended. Comments on the document 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United teleconference, up to the capacity of the must be received on or before January States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on teleconference phone line. The access 10, 2016. Environmental Quality NEPA number for this teleconference line will ADDRESSES: Any person desiring to implementing regulations (40 Code of be posted online at http:// review the Draft EA and to comment on Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), www.uscg.mil/imo/htw/default.asp at the document may do so at the and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, least 5 working days in advance. For following locations: Paulding Northwest Environmental Impacts: Policies and physical access to the meeting, Atlanta Airport, 730 Airport Parkway, Procedures, the FAA is announcing the reasonable accommodation or Dallas, Georgia 30157 or Paulding availability of and requesting comments participation via the teleconference line, County Library, 1010 Memorial Drive on the Second Draft Environmental all attendees should respond to the East, Dallas, Georgia 30132. Assessment for the Kodiak Launch meeting coordinator, Mr. E.J. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Complex Launch Pad 3 (Second Draft Terminella, by email at Favors, Environmental Program EA). Emanuel.J.TerminellaJr@uscg.mil, by Manager, Atlanta Airports District On September 15, 2014, the FAA phone at (202) 372–1239, by fax at (202) Office, 1701 Columbia Ave., Suite 220, issued a Draft EA for public review and 372–8283, or in writing at 2703 Martin Atlanta, GA 30337–2747, (404) 305– comment and received 54 written Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. Stop 7509, 6744, Lisa.Favors@faa.gov. comments and 26 oral comments over Washington, DC 20593–7509, not later SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA the public comment and review period than January 15, 2016. Requests made that was extended to November 1, 2014. is hereby extending the comment period after January 15, 2016 might not be able After taking into consideration the for the following notice to allow the to be accommodated. Please note that nature of public comments received on community more time to develop and due to security considerations, two the Draft EA, the FAA is providing the submit their comments. valid, government issued photo In the notice that issued in the public with an opportunity to review identifications must be presented to Federal Register on October 22, 2015, and comment on updates and gain entrance to the DOT Conference entitled ‘‘Notice of Availability for Draft clarification information that have since Center. The DOT Conference Center is EA for the Proposed Part 139 Operating been added to the EA in response to accessible by taxi, privately owned public comments. The FAA is issuing Certificate and Related Actions and conveyance and public transportation. an updated version of the Draft EA for Notice for Public Hearing at Paulding However, parking in the vicinity of the a second public review and comment Northwest Atlanta Airport’’, the FAA building is limited. Additional period. sought public comment on the Draft EA. information regarding this and other The end of the comment period is FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: IMO public meetings may be found at: hereby being extended from December Stacey M. Zee, Federal Aviation http://www.uscg.mil/imo. 11, 2015 to January 10, 2016. Administration, c/o ICF International, Dated: November 23, 2015. Comments can also be made online 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031; Jonathan Burby, via the following Web sites: email FAAKodiakEA@icfi.com; Coast Guard Liaison Officer, Office of Ocean Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport: telephone (202) 267–9305. and Polar Affairs, Department of State. www.pauldingairport.com SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The [FR Doc. 2015–30774 Filed 12–4–15; 8:45 am] Paulding County, Georgia: Second Draft EA is an updated version BILLING CODE 4710–09–P www.paulding.gov of the September 2014 Draft EA, and Issued in Atlanta, Georgia, on November incorporates all public comments 24, 2015. received on the Draft EA. All written DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Larry F. Clark, and oral public comments received on Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office, the Draft EA, as well as the FAA’s Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region. responses to these comments, can be [FR Doc. 2015–30588 Filed 12–4–15; 8:45 am] found in Appendix R of the Second Notice of Extension of Comment BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Draft EA. The FAA considered all Period for Draft Environmental public comments while preparing the Assessment (EA) for the Proposed Second Draft EA, and changes have Part 139 Operating Certificate and DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION been made to the EA where warranted. Related Actions and Notice for Public The EA was prepared to analyze the Hearing at Paulding Northwest Atlanta Federal Aviation Administration potential environmental impacts of the Airport FAA modifying the Alaska Aerospace AGENCY: Federal Aviation Office of Commercial Space Corporation’s (AAC’s) Launch Site Administration (FAA), DOT. Transportation; Notice of Availability Operator License to include medium-lift and Request for Comment on the launch capability at the Kodiak Launch ACTION: Notice of extension of comment Second Draft Environmental Complex (KLC), a commercial launch period. Assessment (EA) for the Kodiak site currently operated under a FAA SUMMARY: The FAA is extending the Launch Complex Launch Pad 3, Launch Site Operator License (LSO–03– comment period for the Draft Kodiak Island, Alaska 008), which authorizes only small-lift Environmental Assessment for the AGENCY: Federal Aviation operations. The Kodiak Launch Proposed Part 139 Operating Certificate mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Administration (FAA), Department of Complex was renamed as Pacific and Related Actions. In response to Transportation (DOT). Spaceport Complex Alaska, effective community requests, FAA is extending April 21, 2015. The EA keeps the name ACTIONS: Notice of Availability, Notice the comment period for 30 days, from as KLC for continuity and ease of of Public Comment Period, and Request December 11, 2015, to January 10, 2016. reviewing. for Comment. DATES: The comment period for the Expansion of launch capabilities at proposed Draft EA made available for SUMMARY: In accordance with the KLC would include the addition of new public review on October 20, 2015 is National Environmental Policy Act of infrastructure necessary to support VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Dec 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 234 / Monday, December 7, 2015 / Notices 76059 medium-lift launches, including the • University of Alaska Anchorage— DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION construction of a launch pad and Carolyn Floyd Library, 117 Benny associated facilities. As part of the Benson Drive, Kodiak, AK 99615 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Action addressed in the EA, Administration • Anchorage Municipal Library, 3600 AAC would make improvements to the Denali St., Anchorage, AK 99503 [Docket No. FMCSA–2012–0032] KLC to add both solid and liquid- propellant, medium-lift launch DATES: The FAA encourages all Commercial Driver’s License capability, and to operate the KLC in the interested parties to provide comments Standards: Application for Exemption; future as a small-lift and medium-lift concerning the scope and content of the Daimler Trucks North America launch complex. Proposed construction Second Draft EA. To ensure that all (Daimler) at KLC includes six primary comments can be addressed in the Final modifications: Construction of Launch EA, comments on the draft must be AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Pad 3 (LP3), a vehicle processing received by the FAA no later than Administration (FMCSA), DOT. facility, rocket staging facility, liquid January 11, 2016. Comments should be ACTION: Notice of final disposition; grant fuel facility, mission control center and as specific as possible and address the of application for exemption. improvements to Pasagshak Point Road. analysis of potential environmental Proposed launch operations would SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its impacts and the adequacy of the decision to grant Daimler Trucks North include up to six orbital small-lift proposed action or merits of alternatives launches and three medium-lift America’s (Daimler) application for an and the mitigation being considered. exemption to allow a Daimler employee launches per year from the existing Reviewers should organize their launch pads and from the proposed LP3; to drive commercial motor vehicles comments to be meaningful and inform (CMV) in the United States without however, to be conservative in the the FAA of their interests and concerns analysis of potential environmental having a commercial driver’s license by quoting or providing specific (CDL) issued by one of the States. The impacts, the EA assumes a maximum of references to the text of the Second Draft nine medium-lift launches per year. driver, Michael Seitter, will test-drive EA. Matters that could have been raised Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better The EA addresses the potential with specificity during the comment understand product requirements for environmental impacts of implementing period on the Second Draft EA may not these vehicles in ‘‘real world’’ the Proposed Action and the No Action be considered if they are raised for the environments and verify results. He Alternative. Under the No Action holds a valid German commercial first time later in the decision process. Alternative, the FAA would not modify license but lacks the U.S. residency This commenting procedure is intended AAC’s Launch Site Operator License to necessary to obtain a CDL issued by one to ensure that substantive comments include medium-lift launch capability of the States. FMCSA believes that the and AAC would not proceed with the and concerns are made available to the FAA in a timely manner so that the FAA process for obtaining a German construction of medium-lift launch commercial license is comparable to or support infrastructure at KLC. Existing has an opportunity to address them. as effective as the U.S. CDL launch activities for up to nine orbital Before including your address, phone requirements and ensures that this small-lift class launches per year from number, email address, or other driver will likely achieve a level of the existing launch pads would personal identifying information in your safety that is equivalent to or greater continue. comment, be advised that your entire than the level of safety that would be The impact categories considered in comment—including your personal obtained in the absence of the the EA include air quality; compatible identifying information—may be made exemption. land use; Department of Transportation publicly available at any time. While DATES: This exemption is effective Act: Section 4(f); fish, wildlife, and you can ask us in your comment to December 7, 2015 and expires December plants; hazardous materials, pollution withhold from public review your 7, 2017. prevention, and solid waste; historical, personal identifying information, we architectural, archaeological, and ADDRESSES: Docket: For access to the cannot guarantee that we will be able to cultural resources; light emissions and docket to read background documents do so. visual impacts; natural resources and or comments, go to www.regulations.gov ADDRESSES: Please submit comments in at any time or visit Room W12–140 on energy supply; noise; socioeconomic, environmental justice, and children’s writing to Stacey M. Zee, Federal the ground level of the West Building, environmental health and safety risk; Aviation Administration, c/o ICF 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., water quality; and wetlands. The EA International, 9300 Lee Highway, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 also considers the potential cumulative Fairfax, VA 22031; or by email at p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, environmental impacts. FAAKodiakEA@icfi.com. except Federal holidays. The on-line Issued in Washington, DC on November 30, FDMS is available 24 hours each day, The FAA has posted the Second Draft 2015. 365 days each year. EA on the FAA Office of Commercial Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 Space Transportation Web site: http:// Daniel Murray, U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ Manager, Space Transportation Development from the public to better inform its headquarters_offices/ast/ Division. rulemaking process. DOT posts these environmental/nepa_docs/review/ [FR Doc. 2015–30731 Filed 12–4–15; 8:45 am] comments, without edit, including any mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES documents_progress/kodiak_launch/. personal information the commenter BILLING CODE 4910–13–P A paper copy and a CD version of the provides, to www.regulations.gov, as Second Draft EA may be reviewed for described in the system of records comment during regular business hours notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can at the following libraries: be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. • Kodiak Public Library, 612 Egan Way, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Kodiak, AK 99615 Pearlie Robinson, Driver and Carrier VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Dec 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1


Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:31:13
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:31:13
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, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment.
DatesThe FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments concerning the scope and content of the Second Draft EA. To ensure that
ContactStacey M. Zee, Federal Aviation Administration, c/o ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031; email [email protected]; telephone (202) 267-9305.
FR Citation80 FR 76058 
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