83 FR 42756 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Shuttle Landing Facility Launch Site Operator License
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 164 (August 23, 2018)
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 164 (August 23, 2018)
| Page Range | 42756-42757 | |
| FR Document | 2018-18252 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 42756-42757] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-18252] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Shuttle Landing Facility Launch Site Operator License AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Park Service (NPS) are cooperating agencies for this Environmental Assessment (EA) due to their special expertise and jurisdictions (40 CFR 1508.15 and 1508.26). ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, and request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft EA for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Launch Site Operator License. The FAA has prepared the Draft EA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial space launch site at the SLF. Under the proposed action, Space Florida would construct facilities related to the proposed launch site and operate a commercial space launch site at the SLF to conduct launches of horizontal takeoff and horizontal landing launch vehicles from the SLF. The Draft EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft EA to Shuttle Launching Facility Environmental Assessment, Attn. Pete Eggert, 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Exploration Park, FL 32953. Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has prepared the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its licensing process. Concurrent with the NEPA process and to determine the potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic and cultural properties, the FAA has initiated Section 106 Consultation with the Florida State Historic Preservation Office and the following Native America tribes: Catawba Indian Nation, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Muscogge (Creek) Nation, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. The FAA has also consulted with the USFWS 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 EA will comply with the requirements of Section 4(f) of the Act. An electronic version of the Draft EA 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/space_florida/. 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 EA by September 17, 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 EA and related documents. Matters that could have been raised with specificity during the comment [[Page 42757]] period on the Draft EA may not be considered if they are raised for the first time later in the decision process. This comment 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 EA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the SLF as a launch location for horizontally launched and landed launch vehicles and issuing a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida at the SLF. The EA considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. 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 Space Florida. 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 Proposed Action is for Space Florida to construct facilities related to the proposed launch site and for the FAA to issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial space launch site at the SLF. The Proposed Action would also allow Space Florida to offer the commercial space launch site at the SLF to commercial space operators to support their application to acquire a launch license or experimental permit (when their operations match those described and assessed within this EA) to allow them to conduct horizontal launches and horizontal landings of launch vehicles at the SLF. The alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida. Issued in Washington, DC, on August 17, 2018. Daniel Murray, Manager, Space Transportation Development Division. [FR Doc. 2018-18252 Filed 8-22-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
![42756 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Notices
Operator License, Spaceport Colorado Transportation website: https:// may also be submitted by email to
(Final PEA and FONSI/ROD). www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ PEggert@spaceflorida.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: headquarters_offices/ast/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Stacey Zee, Environmental Protection environmental/nepa_docs/review/ Stacey M. Zee, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Aviation documents_progress/front_range/. Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Issued in Washington, DC on: August 16, Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 2018. Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC
20591; phone (202) 267–9305; email Daniel Murray, 20591; email Stacey.Zee@faa.gov.
Spaceport_Colorado_PEA@icf.com. Manager, Space Transportation Development SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board Division. has prepared the Draft EA in accordance
of County Commissioners (the BOCC) of [FR Doc. 2018–18251 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am] with the National Environmental Policy
Adams County, Colorado proposes to BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 United States
operate a commercial space launch site, Code 4321 et seq.), the Council on
called ‘‘Spaceport Colorado,’’ at the Environmental Quality Regulations for
Front Range Airport (FTG), in Watkins, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Implementing the Procedural Provisions
Colorado. This would require the FAA of NEPA (40 Code of Federal
to issue a launch site operator license to Federal Aviation Administration Regulations parts 1500–1508), and FAA
the BOCC. FTG is a 3,200-acre general Office of Commercial Space Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts:
aviation airport located in the northeast Transportation: Notice of Availability, Policies and Procedures, as part of its
quadrant of the Denver metropolitan Notice of Public Comment Period, and licensing process. Concurrent with the
area, approximately 5 miles southeast of Request for Comment on the Draft NEPA process and to determine the
the Denver International Airport in Environmental Assessment for the potential effects of the Proposed Action
Adams County, Colorado. Under the Shuttle Landing Facility Launch Site on historic and cultural properties, the
Proposed Action, the FAA would issue Operator License FAA has initiated Section 106
a launch site operator license to the Consultation with the Florida State
BOCC, which would authorize the AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Historic Preservation Office and the
BOCC to offer Spaceport Colorado to Administration (FAA), Department of following Native America tribes:
commercial launch providers to conduct Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency. Catawba Indian Nation, Chitimacha
launch operations of horizontal take-off The National Aeronautics and Space Tribe of Louisiana, Coushatta Tribe of
and horizontal landing reusable launch Administration (NASA), U.S. Air Force, Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee
vehicles (RLVs). The FAA would also U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Indians, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians,
conditionally approve FTG’s modified (USFWS), and National Park Service Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida,
Airport Layout Plan (ALP) showing the (NPS) are cooperating agencies for this Muscogge (Creek) Nation, Poarch Band
launch site boundary. The Proposed Environmental Assessment (EA) due to of Creek Indians, Seminole Nation of
Action does not include the approval of their special expertise and jurisdictions Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of
any launches. Any future application for (40 CFR 1508.15 and 1508.26). Florida. The FAA has also consulted
a launch license would be subject to a ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of with the USFWS under Section 7 of the
separate environmental review, as public comment period, and request for Endangered Species Act regarding
explained in the Final PEA. comment. potential impacts on federally-listed
The Final PEA evaluated the potential threatened and endangered species.
environmental impacts of the Proposed SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the Pursuant to the U.S. Department of
Action and the No Action Alternative. availability of and requesting comments Transportation Act of 1966, this EA will
Under the No Action Alternative, the on the Draft EA for the Shuttle Landing comply with the requirements of
FAA would not issue a launch site Facility (SLF) Launch Site Operator Section 4(f) of the Act.
operator license to the BOCC for the License. The FAA has prepared the An electronic version of the Draft EA
operation of Spaceport Colorado, FTG Draft EA to evaluate the potential is available on the FAA Office of
would not be available to potential RLV environmental impacts of the FAA Commercial Space Transportation
launch operators, and there would be no issuing a Launch Site Operator License website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/
need for conditional approval of the to Space Florida for the operation of a office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/
FTG ALP. commercial space launch site at the environmental/nepa_docs/review/
The FAA published a Draft PEA for SLF. Under the proposed action, Space documents_progress/space_florida/.
public comment on April 18, 2018. In Florida would construct facilities The FAA encourages all interested
response to preliminary comments related to the proposed launch site and agencies, organizations, Native
received on the Draft PEA, the FAA operate a commercial space launch site American tribes, and members of the
extended the comment period from May at the SLF to conduct launches of public to submit comments concerning
25, 2018 to June 15, 2018. As a result horizontal takeoff and horizontal the analysis presented in the Draft EA
of the comments received, the FAA landing launch vehicles from the SLF. by September 17, 2018. Comments
made minor revisions to the PEA and The Draft EA considers the potential should be as specific as possible and
developed three new appendices. environmental impacts of the Proposed address the analysis of potential
Appendix I provides a summary of the Action and the No Action Alternative. environmental impacts. Reviewers
comments received and FAA’s DATES: Comments must be received on should organize their participation so
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
responses. Appendix J provides a copy or before September 17, 2018. that it is meaningful and makes the
of correspondence with Congressional ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or agency aware of the viewer’s interests
representatives and the FAA. Appendix questions regarding the Draft EA to and concerns using quotations and other
K includes copies of the comments Shuttle Launching Facility specific references to the text of the
received from the public. The FAA has Environmental Assessment, Attn. Pete Draft EA and related documents.
posted the Final PEA and FONSI/ROD Eggert, 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Matters that could have been raised
on the FAA Office of Commercial Space Exploration Park, FL 32953. Comments with specificity during the comment
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_42920/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Notices 42757
period on the Draft EA may not be Issued in Washington, DC, on August 17, —Legal and Regulatory Working Group
considered if they are raised for the first 2018. Report
time later in the decision process. This Daniel Murray, —Competitiveness and Innovation
comment procedure is intended to Manager, Space Transportation Development Working Group Report
ensure that substantive comments and Division. —Discussion of Future Tasks
concerns are made available to the FAA [FR Doc. 2018–18252 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am] —Public Comments
in a timely manner so that the FAA has BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Attendance is open to the public but
an opportunity to address them. limited to the space available. Please
Before including your address, phone DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION confirm your attendance with the
number, email address, or other person listed in the FOR FURTHER
personal identifying information in your Federal Aviation Administration INFORMATION CONTACT section no later
comment, be advised that your entire than October 12, 2018. Please provide
comment—including your personal Commercial Space Transportation the following information: Full legal
identifying information—may be made Advisory Committee—Open Meeting name, country of citizenship, email
publicly available at any time. While address, and name of your industry
AGENCY: Federal Aviation association, or applicable affiliation. If
you can ask us in your comment to Administration (FAA), DOT.
withhold from the public review your you are attending as a public citizen,
ACTION: Notice of Commercial Space please indicate so.
personal identifying information, we Transportation Advisory Committee
cannot guarantee that we will be able to For persons participating by
meeting. telephone, please contact the person
do so.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
The FAA has prepared the Draft EA CONTACT section by email no later than
to evaluate the potential environmental the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of October 12, 2018 for the teleconference
impacts of the construction and call-in number and passcode. Callers are
the Commercial Space Transportation
operation of the SLF as a launch responsible for paying long-distance
Advisory Committee (COMSTAC).
location for horizontally launched and charges.
DATES: The meeting will take place on
landed launch vehicles and issuing a If you are in need of assistance or
Launch Site Operator License to Space October 31, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 require a reasonable accommodation for
p.m., and November 1, 2018 from 9:00 this meeting, please contact the person
Florida at the SLF. The EA considers the
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
potential environmental impacts of the
Proposed Action and the No Action ADDRESSES: Department of CONTACT section at least 10 calendar
Alternative. The successful completion Transportation (DOT) headquarters, days before the meeting. Sign and oral
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, interpretation can be made available if
of the environmental review process
Washington, DC. Guests should allow requested 10 calendar days before the
does not guarantee that the FAA Office
time for security screening when meeting.
of Commercial Space Transportation
entering the building. Interested members of the public may
would issue a Launch Site Operator
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Di submit relevant written statements for
License to Space Florida. The project
Reimold, COMSTAC Executive Director; the COMSTAC members to consider
must also meet all FAA requirements of
(202) 267–0427, email COMSTAC@ under the advisory process. Statements
a Launch Site Operator License.
faa.gov, FAA Office of Commercial may concern the issues and agenda
Individual launch operators proposing Space Transportation, 800
to launch from the site would be items mentioned above and/or
Independence Avenue SW, Room 331, additional issues that may be relevant
required to obtain a separate launch Washington, DC 20591. Complete for the U.S. commercial space
operator license. information regarding COMSTAC is transportation industry. Interested
The Proposed Action is for Space available on the FAA website at: http:// parties wishing to submit written
Florida to construct facilities related to www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ statements should contact the person
the proposed launch site and for the headquarters_offices/ast/advisory_ listed below in writing (mail or email)
FAA to issue a Launch Site Operator committee/. 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING
License to Space Florida for the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: so that the information can be made
operation of a commercial space launch The preliminary schedule for the available to COMSTAC members for
site at the SLF. The Proposed Action COMSTAC meetings on October 31st is their review and consideration before
would also allow Space Florida to offer below: the meeting. Written statements should
the commercial space launch site at the —Industry Update be supplied in the following formats:
SLF to commercial space operators to —DOT & AST Updates One hard copy with original signature
support their application to acquire a —Infrastructure Working Group and/or one electronic copy via email.
launch license or experimental permit Discussion Portable Document Format (PDF)
(when their operations match those —Safety Working Group Discussion attachments are preferred for email
described and assessed within this EA) —Legal and Regulatory Working Group submissions. A detailed agenda will be
to allow them to conduct horizontal Discussion posted on the FAA website at
launches and horizontal landings of —Competitiveness and Innovation www.faa.gov/go/ast.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
launch vehicles at the SLF. The Working Group Discussion Issued in Washington, DC, August 20,
alternatives under consideration include —Public Comments 2018.
the Proposed Action and the No Action The proposed schedule for the Kelvin Coleman,
Alternative. Under the No Action COMSTAC meeting on November 1, Acting Associate Administrator for
Alternative, the FAA would not issue a 2018 is below: Commercial Space Transportation.
Launch Site Operator License to Space —Infrastructure Working Group Report [FR Doc. 2018–18236 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am]
Florida. —Safety Working Group Report BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM 23AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_42920/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-08-23 00:33:31
Document Modified: 2018-08-23 00:33:31
| 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, and request for comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018. | |
| Contact | Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 42756 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR