82 FR 34737 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the Mojave Air and Space Port, Kern County, California

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 142 (July 26, 2017)

Page Range		34737-34737
FR Document		2017-15702

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Kern County, California (Final Environmental Assessment [EA]).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 34737]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15702]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact for Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for 
LauncherOne Launches at the Mojave Air and Space Port, Kern County, 
California

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT), lead Federal agency. National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, cooperating agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA 
implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the 
Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for LauncherOne 
Launches at the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Kern County, California 
(Final Environmental Assessment [EA]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email [email protected]; 
or phone (202) 267-5924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EA addresses the potential 
environmental impacts of Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne) LLC's (L1's) 
proposal to launch the LauncherOne at the Mojave Air and Space Port in 
Kern County, California, for purposes of transporting small satellites 
into a variety of Low Earth Orbits. The launch system consists of the 
rocket (LauncherOne) and a carrier aircraft (Boeing 747). To operate 
LauncherOne at the Mojave Air and Space Port, L1 must obtain a launch 
license from the FAA. Issuing a launch license is considered a major 
Federal action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Under the 
Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a launch license to L1 that would 
allow L1 to operate LauncherOne from the Mojave Air and Space Port. L1 
is proposing a maximum of 115 launches over the course of the 5-year 
launch license (expected 2017-2021). The maximum number of annual 
launches during this time period would be 40.
    The Final EA evaluated the environmental impacts of the Proposed 
Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, 
the FAA would not issue a launch license for the operation of 
LauncherOne from the Mojave Air and Space Port. Also, the FAA would not 
modify Mojave Air and Space Port's launch site operator license to 
include ``orbital'' reusable launch vehicle missions. The Mojave Air 
and Space Port would continue its existing operations.
    The FAA has posted the Final EA and 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/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2017.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-15702 Filed 7-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 26, 2017 / Notices 34737

inclusion or omission of information in Section(s) of 14 CFR Affected: consists of the rocket (LauncherOne)
the summary is intended to affect the § 61.159. and a carrier aircraft (Boeing 747). To
legal status of the petition or its final Description of Relief Sought: Mr. operate LauncherOne at the Mojave Air
disposition. Mychal Will is a flight navigator in the and Space Port, L1 must obtain a launch
DATES: Comments on this petition must
U.S. military and seeks relief from the license from the FAA. Issuing a launch
identify the petition docket number and 1,500 hour total time as a pilot license is considered a major Federal
must be received on or before August eligibility requirement for an airline action subject to environmental review
15, 2017. transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Based under NEPA. Under the Proposed
on some military flight training and Action, the FAA would issue a launch
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
civil air patrol (CAP) flying experience, license to L1 that would allow L1 to
by docket number FAA–2017–0160
Mr. Will seeks eligibility to take the operate LauncherOne from the Mojave
using any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to practical test with 750 hours of total Air and Space Port. L1 is proposing a
http://www.regulations.gov and follow time. maximum of 115 launches over the
the online instructions for sending your [FR Doc. 2017–15703 Filed 7–25–17; 8:45 am] course of the 5-year launch license
comments electronically. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P (expected 2017–2021). The maximum
• Mail: Send comments to Docket number of annual launches during this
Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of time period would be 40.
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION The Final EA evaluated the
Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West environmental impacts of the Proposed
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC Federal Aviation Administration Action and the No Action Alternative.
20590–0001. Under the No Action Alternative, the
Office of Commercial Space FAA would not issue a launch license
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take
Transportation; Notice of Availability for the operation of LauncherOne from
comments to Docket Operations in
of the Final Environmental the Mojave Air and Space Port. Also, the
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Assessment and Finding of No FAA would not modify Mojave Air and
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Significant Impact for Issuing a Space Port’s launch site operator license
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–
License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), to include ‘‘orbital’’ reusable launch
0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the vehicle missions. The Mojave Air and
Monday through Friday, except Federal
Mojave Air and Space Port, Kern Space Port would continue its existing
holidays.
County, California
• Fax: Fax comments to Docket operations.
Operations at (202) 493–2251. AGENCY: Federal Aviation The FAA has posted the Final EA and
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. Administration (FAA), Department of FONSI on the FAA Office of
553(c), DOT solicits comments from the Transportation (DOT), lead Federal Commercial Space Transportation Web
public to better inform its rulemaking agency. National Aeronautics and Space site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_
process. DOT posts these comments, Administration, cooperating agency. org/headquarters_offices/ast/
without edit, including any personal environmental/nepa_docs/review/
ACTION: Notice of availability.
information the commenter provides, to launch/.
http://www.regulations.gov, as SUMMARY: In accordance with the Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11,
described in the system of records National Environmental Policy Act of 2017.
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Daniel Murray,
be reviewed at http://www.dot.gov/ Environmental Quality NEPA Manager, Space Transportation Development
privacy. implementing regulations, and FAA Division.
Docket: Background documents or Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: [FR Doc. 2017–15702 Filed 7–25–17; 8:45 am]
comments received may be read at Policies and Procedures, the FAA is BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. announcing the availability of the Final
Follow the online instructions for Environmental Assessment and Finding
accessing the docket or go to the Docket of No Significant Impact for Issuing a DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Operations in Room W12–140 of the License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne),
West Building Ground Floor at 1200 LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the Federal Aviation Administration
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, Mojave Air and Spaceport, Kern County,
DC 20590–0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 California (Final Environmental Twenty Third RTCA SC–223 IPS and
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Assessment [EA]). AeroMACS Plenary
Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AGENCY: Federal Aviation
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Administration (FAA), U.S. Department
Brenda Robeson (202) 267–9677, Office Specialist, Federal Aviation of Transportation (DOT).
of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence ACTION: Twenty Third RTCA SC–223
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC IPS and AeroMACS Plenary.
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591. 20591; email Daniel.Czelusniak@
This notice is published pursuant to faa.gov; or phone (202) 267–5924. SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice
14 CFR 11.85. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final to advise the public of a meeting of
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 14, EA addresses the potential Twenty Third RTCA SC–223 IPS and
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

2017. environmental impacts of Virgin Orbit AeroMACS Plenary.
Dale Bouffiou, (LauncherOne) LLC’s (L1’s) proposal to DATES: The meeting will be held August
Deputy Director, Office of Rulemaking. launch the LauncherOne at the Mojave 21–24, 2017, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and
Air and Space Port in Kern County, August 25, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Petition for Exemption California, for purposes of transporting ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at:
Docket No.: FAA–2017–0160. small satellites into a variety of Low RTCA Headquarters, 1150 18th Street
Petitioner: Mr. Mychal Will. Earth Orbits. The launch system NW., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jul 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM 26JYN1

Document Created: 2017-07-26 01:30:11
Document Modified: 2017-07-26 01:30:11

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Contact		Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email [email protected]; or phone (202) 267-5924.
FR Citation		82 FR 34737

82 FR 34737 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the Mojave Air and Space Port, Kern County, California

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 142 (July 26, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration