81 FR 14173 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability of the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for NASA's Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Antares 200 Configuration Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility (SEA)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 51 (March 16, 2016)

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 FAA's FONSI for the SEA.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14173-14174]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for NASA's Final 
Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Antares 200 Configuration 
Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility (SEA)

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

ACTIONS:  Notice of availability of the FONSI.

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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 FAA's FONSI for the SEA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas W. Graham, Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Ave. SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email 
[email protected]; telephone (202) 267-8568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SEA was prepared by NASA to analyze the 
potential environmental impacts of the FAA modifying Orbital ATK's 
Launch Operator License to include launches of the modified Antares 200 
medium lift launch vehicle from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in 
Virginia. NASA issued a FONSI on August 29, 2015. Based on its 
independent review and consideration of the SEA, the FAA concurs with 
the analysis of impacts and findings in the SEA and formally adopts the 
SEA in its entirety. After reviewing and analyzing available data and 
information on existing conditions and potential impacts, including the 
SEA, the FAA has determined that its Proposed Action of modifying 
Orbital ATK's launch license to conduct 200 Configuration Antares 
launch operations at MARS Pad 0-A would not significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. Therefore, 
the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required, 
and the FAA is issuing this FONSI. The FAA made this determination in 
accordance with applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
    The FAA has posted the FONSI on the FAA Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation Web site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/operator/.
    A copy of the SEA may be found at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/Antares_FSEA.html.
    A copy of the Biological Opinon issued by the Fish and Wildlife 
Service regarding this action may be found at: http://www.faa.gov/
about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/

[[Page 14174]]

environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 9, 2016.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-05938 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-13-P