83 FR 61709 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing SpaceX a Launch License for an In-Flight Dragon Abort Test, Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County, Florida

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 231 (November 30, 2018)

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 and requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing SpaceX a Launch License for an In-flight Dragon Abort Test, Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County, Florida (Draft EA).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 61709]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26075]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability 
and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Issuing SpaceX a Launch License for an In-Flight Dragon Abort Test, 
Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County, Florida

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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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 and 
requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing 
SpaceX a Launch License for an In-flight Dragon Abort Test, Kennedy 
Space Center, Brevard County, Florida (Draft EA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Daniel Czelusniak, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591. Comments 
may also be submitted by email to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is evaluating SpaceX's proposal to 
conduct a one-time in-flight Dragon abort test at Kennedy Space 
Center's Launch Complex 39A, which would require the FAA to issue a 
launch license. Issuing a launch license is considered a Federal action 
subject to environmental review under NEPA. Under the Proposed Action, 
the FAA would issue a license to SpaceX, which would authorize SpaceX 
to conduct the abort test using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle and a Dragon-
2 (i.e., SpaceX's crew version of Dragon). Dragon-2 was developed with 
the intent to carry astronauts. The proposed abort test is part of 
SpaceX's commercial crew certification process with the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The abort test is 
scheduled to occur in 2019.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and 
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA 
would not issue a license to SpaceX to conduct the abort test, and 
therefore SpaceX would not conduct the abort test.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on visual effects (including 
light emissions); coastal resources; air quality; climate; noise and 
noise-compatible land use; biological resources; water resources 
(surface waters); hazardous materials, solid waste, and pollution 
prevention; and historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural 
resources. Potential cumulative impacts are also addressed in the Draft 
EA.
    The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 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 the FAA in your comment to 
withhold from public review your personal identifying information, the 
FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2018.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-26075 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P