83 FR 17586 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Front Range Airport Launch Site Operator License, Spaceport Colorado
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)
| Page Range | 17586-17587 | |
| FR Document | 2018-08345 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 17586-17587] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-08345] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, Notice of Public Meeting, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Front Range Airport Launch Site Operator License, Spaceport Colorado AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, notice of public meeting, and request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Front Range Airport Launch Site Operator License, Spaceport Colorado. The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a Launch Site Operator License to the Board of County Commissioners (the BOCC) of Adams County, Colorado to operate a commercial space launch site, called ``Spaceport Colorado,'' at the Front Range Airport (FTG), in Watkins, Colorado. The Launch Site Operator License would allow the BOCC to offer Spaceport Colorado to commercial launch providers to conduct launch operations of horizontal take-off and horizontal landing reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 25, 2018. The FAA will hold a public meeting to solicit comments from the public concerning the content and analysis in the Draft PEA. The public meeting will be held on May 17, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The public meeting will include an open house workshop from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., an FAA presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed by a public comment period from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during which members of the public may provide up to a 3-minute statement. The FAA will transcribe oral comments. All comments received during the meeting and comment period, whether provided in writing or verbally, will be given equal weight and will be taken into consideration in the preparation of the Final PEA. ADDRESSES: The FAA will hold the public meeting at the following location: Front Range Airport, Cafeteria, 5200 Front Range Parkway, Watkins, CO 80137. Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft PEA to Stacey Zee, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, c/o ICF, 9300 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-9305; email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its licensing process. Concurrent with the NEPA process, the FAA has initiated National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation to determine the potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic properties. The FAA has also consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act regarding potential impacts on federally listed threatened and endangered species. Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, this Draft PEA will comply with the requirements of section 4(f) of the Act. An electronic version of the Draft PEA is available on the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/front_range/. The FAA encourages all interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments concerning the analysis presented in the Draft PEA by May 25, 2018. Comments should be as specific as possible and address the analysis of potential environmental impacts. Reviewers should organize their participation so that it is meaningful and makes the agency aware of the viewer's interests and concerns using quotations and other specific references to the text of the Draft PEA and related documents. Matters that could have been raised with specificity during the comment period on the Draft PEA may not be considered if they are raised for the first time later in the [[Page 17587]] 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 the public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a Launch Site Operator License to the BOCC of Adams County, Colorado to operate a commercial space launch site, called ``Spaceport Colorado,'' at FTG, in Watkins, Colorado. The successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation would issue a Launch Site Operator License to the BOCC. The project must also meet all FAA requirements of a Launch Site Operator License. Individual launch operators proposing to launch from the site would be required to obtain a separate launch operator license. The CEQ Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA allow for federal agencies to prepare programmatic NEPA documents for broad federal actions (40 CFR 1502.4). Given that FTG does not have a commitment from a launch operator at this time, the analysis in this PEA uses a conceptual RLV and is based on broad assumptions regarding the location of related facilities and the surface movement of RLVs associated with operation of a horizontal RLV at FTG. The purpose of including these assumptions is to conservatively assess the potential environmental impacts of launch vehicle operations at FTG. This information does not necessarily reflect the exact launch vehicle(s) that would operate at FTG. Instead, it defines the scope (or bounds) of the analysis. If a prospective launch operator applies for a license to operate a launch vehicle at FTG, a separate environmental document, tiering off of this PEA, would be required to support the issuance of that Launch Operator License. The Draft PEA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative. The Proposed Action is for the FAA to issue a Launch Site Operator License to the BOCC that would allow the BOCC to offer the commercial space launch site, Spaceport Colorado, to commercial launch providers to conduct launch operations of horizontal take-off and horizontal landing reusable launch vehicles. The FAA would also conditionally approve the modified Airport Layout Plan showing the launch site boundary. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue a Launch Site Operator License to the BOCC. The Draft PEA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; biological resources (including fish, wildlife, and plants); climate; coastal resources; Department of Transportation Act, section 4(f); farmlands; hazardous materials, solid waste, and pollution prevention; historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources; land use; natural resources and energy supply; noise and noise-compatible land use; socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children's environmental health and safety risks; visual effects (including light emissions); and water resources (including wetlands, floodplains, surface waters, groundwater, and wild and scenic rivers). Potential cumulative impacts are also addressed in the Draft PEA. Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, 2018. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2018-08345 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
![17586 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices
with respect to the Line, and the transfer DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Please submit comments or questions
of the associated trackage and regarding the Draft PEA to Stacey Zee,
underlying real estate to the Federal Aviation Administration Environmental Specialist, Federal
Metropolitan Council. Aviation Administration, c/o ICF, 9300
Office of Commercial Space Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments
HCRRA certifies that its revenues Transportation: Notice of Availability, may also be submitted by email to
from freight operations will not result in Notice of Public Comment Period, Spaceport_Colorado_PEA@icf.com.
the creation of a Class I or Class II Notice of Public Meeting, and Request
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
carrier. HCRRA also certifies that the for Comment on the Draft
proposed acquisition does not involve Stacey M. Zee, Environmental
Programmatic Environmental
Specialist, Federal Aviation
an interchange commitment or other Assessment for Front Range Airport
Administration, 800 Independence Ave.
limitation of future interchange with a Launch Site Operator License,
SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591;
third-party connecting carrier. Spaceport Colorado
telephone (202) 267–9305; email
HCRRA states that the parties expect AGENCY: Federal Aviation Spaceport_Colorado_PEA@icf.com.
the transactions to be consummated in Administration, DOT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA
the second quarter of 2018. The earliest ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of has prepared the Draft PEA in
this transaction may be consummated is public comment period, notice of public accordance with the National
May 5, 2018 (30 days after the verified meeting, and request for comment. Environmental Policy Act of 1969
notice of exemption was filed). (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et
SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the seq.), the Council on Environmental
According to HCRRA, its proposed
availability of and requesting comments Quality (CEQ) Regulations for
acquisition of the Line is exempt from on the Draft Programmatic
environmental reporting requirements Implementing the Procedural Provisions
Environmental Assessment (PEA) for of NEPA (40 Code of Federal
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c)(1)(i) and from the Front Range Airport Launch Site
historic preservation reporting under 49 Regulations [CFR] parts 1500–1508),
Operator License, Spaceport Colorado. and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental
CFR 1105.8(b)(1). The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA to Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as
If the verified notice contains false or evaluate the potential environmental part of its licensing process. Concurrent
misleading information, the exemption impacts of issuing a Launch Site with the NEPA process, the FAA has
is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the Operator License to the Board of County initiated National Historic Preservation
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) Commissioners (the BOCC) of Adams Act Section 106 Consultation to
may be filed at any time. The filing of County, Colorado to operate a determine the potential effects of the
a petition to revoke will not commercial space launch site, called Proposed Action on historic properties.
automatically stay the effectiveness of ‘‘Spaceport Colorado,’’ at the Front The FAA has also consulted with the
the exemption. Petitions for stay must Range Airport (FTG), in Watkins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under
be filed no later than April 27, 2018 (at Colorado. The Launch Site Operator Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
least seven days before the exemption License would allow the BOCC to offer regarding potential impacts on federally
Spaceport Colorado to commercial listed threatened and endangered
becomes effective).2
launch providers to conduct launch species. Pursuant to the U.S.
An original and 10 copies of all operations of horizontal take-off and Department of Transportation Act of
pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD horizontal landing reusable launch 1966, this Draft PEA will comply with
36177, must be filed with the Surface vehicles (RLVs). the requirements of section 4(f) of the
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, DATES: Comments must be received on Act.
Washington, DC 20423–0001. In or before May 25, 2018. An electronic version of the Draft PEA
addition, a copy of each pleading must The FAA will hold a public meeting is available on the FAA Office of
be served on Charles A. Spitulnik, to solicit comments from the public Commercial Space Transportation
Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP, 1001 concerning the content and analysis in website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/
Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 800, the Draft PEA. The public meeting will office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/
Washington, DC 20036. be held on May 17, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. environmental/nepa_docs/review/
Board decisions and notices are to 8:00 p.m. The public meeting will documents_progress/front_range/.
include an open house workshop from The FAA encourages all interested
available on our website at
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., an FAA agencies, organizations, Native
WWW.STB.GOV.
presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 American tribes, and members of the
Decided: April 17, 2018. p.m., followed by a public comment public to submit comments concerning
By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting period from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the analysis presented in the Draft PEA
Director, Office of Proceedings. during which members of the public by May 25, 2018. Comments should be
Jeffrey Herzig, may provide up to a 3-minute statement. as specific as possible and address the
Clearance Clerk. The FAA will transcribe oral comments. analysis of potential environmental
All comments received during the impacts. Reviewers should organize
[FR Doc. 2018–08337 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am]
meeting and comment period, whether their participation so that it is
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
provided in writing or verbally, will be meaningful and makes the agency aware
given equal weight and will be taken of the viewer’s interests and concerns
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
into consideration in the preparation of using quotations and other specific
the Final PEA. references to the text of the Draft PEA
2 In letters filed on April 16, 2018, the City of
ADDRESSES: The FAA will hold the and related documents. Matters that
Stewart, Minn., and Farmward Cooperative ask the
Board to stay the effectiveness of the notice ‘‘in public meeting at the following location: could have been raised with specificity
order to solicit the views of others affected by this Front Range Airport, Cafeteria, 5200 during the comment period on the Draft
transaction,’’ including shippers. This request will Front Range Parkway, Watkins, CO PEA may not be considered if they are
be addressed in a separate decision. 80137. raised for the first time later in the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices 17587
decision process. This commenting BOCC that would allow the BOCC to and invites persons interested in serving
procedure is intended to ensure that offer the commercial space launch site, on the NPOAG to apply for those
substantive comments and concerns are Spaceport Colorado, to commercial openings.
made available to the FAA in a timely launch providers to conduct launch DATES: Persons interested in applying
manner so that the FAA has an operations of horizontal take-off and for the NPOAG openings representing
opportunity to address them. horizontal landing reusable launch air tour operator and Native American
Before including your address, phone vehicles. The FAA would also interests need to apply by June 15, 2018.
number, email address, or other conditionally approve the modified
personal identifying information in your FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Airport Layout Plan showing the launch
comment, be advised that your entire Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff,
site boundary. Under the No Action
comment—including your personal Federal Aviation Administration,
Alternative, the FAA would not issue a
identifying information—may be made Western-Pacific Region Headquarters,
Launch Site Operator License to the
publicly available at any time. While 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale,
BOCC.
you can ask us in your comment to The Draft PEA evaluates the potential CA 90261, telephone: (310) 725–3808,
withhold from the public review your environmental impacts from the email: Keith.Lusk@faa.gov.
personal identifying information, we Proposed Action and No Action SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
cannot guarantee that we will be able to Alternative on air quality; biological Background
do so. resources (including fish, wildlife, and
The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA plants); climate; coastal resources; The National Parks Air Tour
to evaluate the potential environmental Department of Transportation Act, Management Act of 2000 (the Act) was
impacts of issuing a Launch Site section 4(f); farmlands; hazardous enacted on April 5, 2000, as Public Law
Operator License to the BOCC of Adams materials, solid waste, and pollution 106–181, and subsequently amended in
County, Colorado to operate a prevention; historical, architectural, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act
commercial space launch site, called archaeological, and cultural resources; of 2012. The Act required the
‘‘Spaceport Colorado,’’ at FTG, in land use; natural resources and energy establishment of the advisory group
Watkins, Colorado. The successful supply; noise and noise-compatible land within one year after its enactment. The
completion of the environmental review use; socioeconomics, environmental NPOAG was established in March 2001.
process does not guarantee that the FAA justice, and children’s environmental The advisory group is comprised of a
Office of Commercial Space health and safety risks; visual effects balanced group of representatives of
Transportation would issue a Launch (including light emissions); and water general aviation, commercial air tour
Site Operator License to the BOCC. The resources (including wetlands, operations, environmental concerns,
project must also meet all FAA floodplains, surface waters, and Native American tribes. The
requirements of a Launch Site Operator groundwater, and wild and scenic Administrator of the FAA and the
License. Individual launch operators rivers). Potential cumulative impacts are Director of NPS (or their designees)
proposing to launch from the site would also addressed in the Draft PEA. serve as ex officio members of the
be required to obtain a separate launch group. Representatives of the
operator license. Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, Administrator and Director serve
The CEQ Regulations for 2018.
alternating one-year terms as chairman
Implementing the Procedural Provisions Daniel Murray, of the advisory group.
of NEPA allow for federal agencies to Manager, Space Transportation Development In accordance with the Act, the
prepare programmatic NEPA documents Division. advisory group provides ‘‘advice,
for broad federal actions (40 CFR [FR Doc. 2018–08345 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am] information, and recommendations to
1502.4). Given that FTG does not have BILLING CODE 4910–13–P the Administrator and the Director—
a commitment from a launch operator at (1) On the implementation of this title
this time, the analysis in this PEA uses [the Act] and the amendments made by
a conceptual RLV and is based on broad DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION this title;
assumptions regarding the location of (2) On commonly accepted quiet
related facilities and the surface Federal Aviation Administration aircraft technology for use in
movement of RLVs associated with commercial air tour operations over a
operation of a horizontal RLV at FTG. Membership in the National Parks
Overflights Advisory Group national park or tribal lands, which will
The purpose of including these receive preferential treatment in a given
assumptions is to conservatively assess AGENCY: Federal Aviation air tour management plan;
the potential environmental impacts of Administration, Transportation. (3) On other measures that might be
launch vehicle operations at FTG. This ACTION: Notice. taken to accommodate the interests of
information does not necessarily reflect visitors to national parks; and
the exact launch vehicle(s) that would SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on (4) At the request of the Administrator
operate at FTG. Instead, it defines the October 31, 2017 the National Park and the Director, safety, environmental,
scope (or bounds) of the analysis. If a Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation and other issues related to commercial
prospective launch operator applies for Administration (FAA) invited interested air tour operations over a national park
a license to operate a launch vehicle at persons to apply to fill two upcoming or tribal lands.’’
FTG, a separate environmental openings on the National Parks
Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). Membership
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
document, tiering off of this PEA, would
be required to support the issuance of The notice invited interested persons to The current NPOAG is made up of
that Launch Operator License. apply to fill future openings to represent one member representing general
The Draft PEA considers the potential air tour operator concerns and Native aviation, three members representing
environmental impacts of the Proposed American interests. This notice informs the commercial air tour industry, four
Action and No Action Alternative. The the public that no selections were made members representing environmental
Proposed Action is for the FAA to issue for those vacancies representing air tour concerns, and two members
a Launch Site Operator License to the operator and Native American interests representing Native American interests.
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Document Created: 2018-04-20 00:03:05
Document Modified: 2018-04-20 00:03:05
| 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, notice of public comment period, notice of public meeting, and request for comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before May 25, 2018. | |
| Contact | Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-9305; email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 17586 |
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