[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58430-58431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28812]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of Commercial Space Transportation
[Docket OST-95-852]


Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement; Commercial 
Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations

AGENCY: Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of intent and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) intends 
to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) to 
address the environmental impact of commercial expendable launch 
vehicle operations. This action is necessary to update an environmental 
assessment the Office prepared in 1986. An EIS will encompass topics 
not previously addressed.

DATES: Comments must be submitted no later than December 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Docket Clerk, Docket OST-
95-852, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room PL-
401, Washington DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Nikos Himaras, Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. (202) 366-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as 
recodified at 49 U.S.C. Subtitle IX--Commercial Space Transportation, 
ch. 701, Commercial Space Launch Activities, 49 U.S.C. Secs. 70101-
70119 (1994) (the Act) grants the Secretary of Transportation the 
authority to license and regulate commercial launches of launch 
vehicles and the operation of launch sites within the United States or 
as carried out by its citizens. The Secretary has delegated this 
authority to the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST).
    Because licensing constitutes a major Federal action, section 
415.31 of OCST's licensing regulations (14 CFR ch III) states that the 
potential environmental impacts of licensing commercial launch 
activities must be considered by the Office in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq. 
(NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 
C.F.R. Secs. 1500-1508, and Department of Transportation Procedures for 
Considering Environmental Impacts, DOT Order 5610.1C.
    A programmatic environmental assessment (EA) of commercial 
expendable launch vehicle programs (Programmatic EA) was prepared by 
OCST in February 1986, and has served as a basis for licensing 
determinations for commercial launches to date. Commercial expendable 
launch vehicle operations encompass a variety of launch vehicle 
technologies and a number of launch sites and systems. Expendable 
launch vehicles are one-use launch systems utilized to carry payloads 
to orbit or to suborbital trajectories. They include such launch 
vehicles as the Black Brant, Atlas, Delta, Pegasus, and Taurus families 
of rockets. They employ liquid fueled engines and solid rocket motors 
as booster stages. They also utilize on-board guidance systems which 
rely on chemical batteries and power cells. Ground-controlled, flight/
thrust termination systems containing explosives and powered by 
batteries, are also integral parts of launch vehicles. These systems 
are used to protect persons and property on the surface of the earth 
from errant launch vehicles. Launch vehicle payloads usually contain 
propulsion and power systems similar to those found on launch vehicles.
    Several factors warrant the preparation of a programmatic EIS to 
replace the 1986 EA. The commercial launch industry has grown 
significantly since 1986, and this trend is projected to continue. New 
launch vehicle technologies, propulsion systems, and associated fuels 
and oxidizers have been introduced and are under development. 
Additionally, environmental regulations have been issued or amended 
since the publication of the Programmatic EA in 1986. Lastly, 
significant research discoveries have been made since 1986 concerning 
ozone. These developments merit the more expansive review of an EIS. 
This review will allow OCST to continue to evaluate commercial 
applications for licenses for launch activities and ensure that the 
information used as a basis for a license determination is current.
    The programmatic EIS for commercial expendable launch vehicle 
operations will evaluate a broader range of launch vehicle 
technologies, their propulsion systems, fuels, and oxidizers. Potential 
environmental impacts to terrestrial, water, and particularly 
atmospheric environments from launches, combustion by-products, noise, 
and other effects will be assessed. The programmatic EIS will examine 
potential environmental impacts from commercial launches broadly, 
without 

[[Page 58431]]
site-specific consideration of launch locations. Analysis of potential 
environmental impacts from construction and launch operations at the 
proposed commercial launch sites will be completed through site-
specific environmental assessments or impact statements.
    Alternatives to the proposed commercial launch actions include 
either a total ban to launch activity or less restrictive approaches 
such as limits on the number of launches, the size or performance of 
the launch vehicles, and restrictions to launch mission profiles 
designed to limit the scope of environmental consequences of commercial 
launch activities. Constraints would be designed to mitigate the 
potential impacts on air, water, and land resources, biotic resources 
and affected communities both adjacent to and downrange from the launch 
site. The Programmatic EA of Commercial Expendable Launch Vehicle 
Programs issued in 1986, identified conditions which might result in 
potentially significant impacts. It addresses, for example, the effects 
of expendable launch vehicle exhaust products to the upper atmosphere, 
the release of liquid propellants to the marine environment and the 
leaching of contaminants from a launch facility to ground water. The 
Office will address any reasonable alternatives presented during the 
scoping process and subsequent comment periods. OCST requests that 
written comments on significant environmental issues be provided by 
interested parties. No public scoping meeting is scheduled at this 
time.
    The content of comments from the public will determine whether this 
meeting is convened. Copies of the 1986 Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment may be obtained from the Office.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 13, 1995.
Frank C. Weaver,
Director, Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 95-28812 Filed 11-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P