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)
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 231 (November 30, 2018)
| Page Range | 61709-61709 | |
| FR Document | 2018-26075 |
[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 231 / Friday, November 30, 2018 / Notices 61709
safety, socioeconomic and ACTION: Notice of availability and quality; climate; noise and noise-
environmental justice issues. The final request for comment. compatible land use; biological
range of issues to be addressed in the resources; water resources (surface
environmental review will be SUMMARY: In accordance with the waters); hazardous materials, solid
determined, in part, from scoping National Environmental Policy Act of waste, and pollution prevention; and
comments received. The preliminary 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on historical, architectural, archeological,
identification of reasonable alternatives Environmental Quality NEPA and cultural resources. Potential
and environmental issues in this notice implementing regulations, and FAA cumulative impacts are also addressed
is not meant to be exhaustive or final. Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: in the Draft EA.
Policies and Procedures, the FAA is The FAA has posted the Draft EA on
Public Participation announcing the availability of and the FAA Office of Commercial Space
TVA is interested in an open process requesting comment on the Draft Transportation website: https://
and wants input from the community. Environmental Assessment for Issuing www.faa.gov/about/office_org/
The public is invited to submit SpaceX a Launch License for an In-flight headquarters_offices/ast/
comments on the scope of this EIS no Dragon Abort Test, Kennedy Space environmental/nepa_docs/review/
later than the date identified in the Center, Brevard County, Florida (Draft launch/.
‘‘Dates’’ section of this notice. Federal, EA). The FAA encourages all interested
state and local agencies and Native DATES: Comments must be received on parties to provide comments concerning
American Tribes are also invited to or before December 31, 2018. the scope and content of the Draft EA.
provide comments. ADDRESSES: Comments should be Before including your address, phone
After consideration of comments mailed to Daniel Czelusniak, number, email address, or other
received during the scoping period, Environmental Protection Specialist, personal identifying information in your
TVA will develop and distribute a Federal Aviation Administration, 800 comment, be advised that your entire
scoping document that will summarize Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, comment—including your personal
public and agency comments that were Washington, DC 20591. Comments may identifying information—may be made
received and identify the schedule for also be submitted by email to publicly available at any time. While
completing the EIS process. Following SpaceXDragonAbortEA@icf.com. you can ask the FAA in your comment
analysis of the issues, TVA will prepare FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: to withhold from public review your
a draft EIS for public review and Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental personal identifying information, the
comment. In making its final decision, Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation FAA cannot guarantee that we will be
TVA will consider the analyses in this Administration, 800 Independence able to do so.
EIS and substantive comments that it Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC Issued in Washington, DC, on November
receives. A final decision on proceeding 20591; phone (202) 267–5924; email 15, 2018.
with the management and final disposal SpaceXDragonAbortEA@icf.com. Daniel Murray,
of CCR and closure of the surface SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA Manager, Space Transportation Development
impoundments will depend on a is evaluating SpaceX’s proposal to Division.
number of factors. These include results conduct a one-time in-flight Dragon [FR Doc. 2018–26075 Filed 11–29–18; 8:45 am]
of the EIS, requirements of the CCR abort test at Kennedy Space Center’s BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Rule, relevant state law requirements, Launch Complex 39A, which would
engineering and risk evaluations, and require the FAA to issue a launch
financial considerations. license. Issuing a launch license is DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TVA anticipates holding a community considered a Federal action subject to
meeting near ALF after releasing the environmental review under NEPA. Federal Railroad Administration
Draft EIS. Meeting details will be posted Under the Proposed Action, the FAA
on TVA’s website. TVA expects to Notice Rescinding Eight Notices of
would issue a license to SpaceX, which
release the Draft EIS in the Fall of 2019. Intent To Prepare Environmental
would authorize SpaceX to conduct the
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Impact Statements
abort test using a Falcon 9 launch
M. Susan Smelley, vehicle and a Dragon-2 (i.e., SpaceX’s AGENCY: Federal Railroad
crew version of Dragon). Dragon-2 was Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
Director, Environmental Compliance and
Operations. developed with the intent to carry of Transportation (DOT).
astronauts. The proposed abort test is ACTION: Notice.
[FR Doc. 2018–25914 Filed 11–29–18; 8:45 am]
part of SpaceX’s commercial crew
BILLING CODE 8120–08–P
certification process with the National SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad
Aeronautics and Space Administration Administration (FRA) is issuing this
(NASA). The abort test is scheduled to notice to advise the public that FRA is
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION occur in 2019. rescinding the Notices of Intent (NOI)
Alternatives under consideration for the following Environmental Impact
Federal Aviation Administration Statements (EIS): The Pennsylvania
include the Proposed Action and the No
Office of Commercial Space Action Alternative. Under the No Maglev Proposal; the Tupelo Railroad
Transportation: Notice of Availability Action Alternative, the FAA would not Relocation Planning and Environmental
issue a license to SpaceX to conduct the Study; the Tier 2 EIS for the Chicago to
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
and Request for Comment on the Draft
Environmental Assessment for Issuing abort test, and therefore SpaceX would Joliet High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project; the
SpaceX a Launch License for an In- not conduct the abort test. Tier 2 EIS for the HSR Project between
Flight Dragon Abort Test, Kennedy The Draft EA evaluates the potential Granite City, IL to St. Louis, MO HSR
Space Center, Brevard County, Florida environmental impacts from the Project; EIS for the ACEforward
Proposed Action and No Action Program; EIS for the Milwaukee, WI to
AGENCY:Federal Aviation Alternative on visual effects (including Minneapolis, MN Rail Corridor; 7) the
Administration, DOT. light emissions); coastal resources; air Los Angeles to San Louis Obispo North
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Nov 29, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30NON1.SGM 30NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_61940/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-11-30 04:36:27
Document Modified: 2018-11-30 04:36:27
| 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 and request for comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before December 31, 2018. | |
| 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] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 61709 |
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