[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48698-48699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23201]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation; 
Notice of Availability of Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Commercial Launch Vehicles

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Associate Administrator 
for Commercial Space Transportation (AST).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) the FAA is initiating a 45-day public review and comment period 
of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for licensing 
commercial launch vehicles. The PEIS was prepared to (1) update a 1986 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Commercial Launch Vehicles; 
(2) work in conjunction with other environmental documentation to 
support licensing of commercial launch vehicles (LVs); and (3) document 
compliance with NEPA requirements. In October 1998, AST's regulatory 
role in commercial space launch activities was enlarged to include 
licensing reentries and reentry sites; therefore, these are included in 
the PEIS. Copies of the document will be available through AST's 
Website (http://ast.faa.gov/) or by contacting Mr. Nikos Himaras at the 
address listed below.

DATES: The official comment period will begin with an Environmental 
Protection Agency Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the PEIS; or any relevant data and/or comments regarding the 
potential environmental impacts associated with licensing commercial 
launch vehicles, reentries and/or reentry sites may be addressed to Mr. 
Nikos Himaras, Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial 
Space Transportation, Space System Development Division, Suite 331/AST-
100, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; email 
[email protected]; or phone (202) 267-7926. Written comments 
regarding the PEIS should be sent to the same mailing address.

Additional Information

    The PEIS considers the environmental impacts of the proposed action 
of licensing commercial LVs. Two alternatives are also considered in 
detail. First, the more environmentally-friendly propellant combination 
alternative, whereby AST would emphasize licensing LVs that produce 
fewer air emissions of concern. In addition, the No Action alternative 
is also examined, where AST would not issue licenses for commercial LV 
launches.
    In analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the proposed 
action and two alternatives, the PEIS identifies six different types of 
ecosystems representing various potential commercial LV launch 
locations throughout the U.S. The environmental characteristics of the 
different ecosystems were used to describe the range of potential 
impacts of licensing commercial space launches.

[[Page 48699]]

    Potential impacts of the proposed action were analyzed in three 
major categories, atmospheric impacts, noise impacts, and other 
environmental impacts. Potential environmental impacts to the 
atmosphere analyzed include ozone depletion and acid rain formation. 
Potential noise impacts considered include acoustic energy from 
launches and sonic booms during flights. Other potential environmental 
impacts discussed in the PEIS include impacts to the climate and 
atmosphere of the launch site, land resources, water resources, and 
biological resources. Potential accident scenarios and marine mammal 
strike probability were also considered.
    Potential environmental impacts associated with the more 
environmentally-friendly propellant combinations alternative were 
analyzed in three major categories: atmospheric impacts, noise impacts, 
and other environmental impacts. The environmentally-friendly 
propellant alternative is defined as preferentially licensing rockets 
that are not solely propelled by solid rocket motors. This would reduce 
the total number of U.S. commercial launches projected from 1998 
through 2009 from 436 to 134. The number of launches using liquid, 
liquid/solid, or hybrid propellant systems is assumed to remain 
unchanged under this alternative. Thus, the total number of commercial, 
AST-licensed launches in the U.S. (i.e., programmatic launches) would 
decrease substantially under this alternative. It is assumed that the 
decrease in U.S. commercial launches using only solid propellants would 
be compensated for by an increase in these launches elsewhere in the 
world.
    Under the No Action alternative, the same number of worldwide 
commercial LV launches would take place. Chapter 701 requires AST to 
license a launch if the applicant complies and will continue to comply 
with chapter 701 and implementing regulations. 49 U.S.C. 70105. One of 
the purposes of chapter 701 is to provide that the Secretary of 
Transportation, and therefore AST, pursuant to delegations, oversees 
and coordinates the conduct of commercial launch and reentry, and 
issues and transfers licenses authorizing these activities. 40 U.S.C. 
70104(b)(3). The agency may prevent a launch if it decides that the 
launch would jeopardize public health and safety, safety of property, 
or national security, or a foreign policy interest of the United 
States. 49 U.S.C. 70104(c). Not licensing any U.S. commercial launches 
would not be consistent with the purposes of chapter 701 in this 
context. In any event, the no action alternative suffers from other 
drawbacks as well. The U.S. space launch industry would be unable to 
continue LV launch operations regardless of their location because AST 
would not license U.S. launches. The no action alternative could 
negatively impact the national security and foreign policy interests of 
the U.S. Some U.S. government payloads have been launched by the U.S. 
commercial space launch industry. Therefore, if access to commercial 
LVs were not available, this overall limit in available capacity could, 
in a worst case scenario, impact the U.S. government's ability to 
launch needed payloads and negatively affect programs that rely on 
access to space. Additionally, under this alternative, parties that 
plan to launch from U.S. launch sites would be forced to find 
alternative launch sites outside the U.S., thereby potentially exposing 
sensitive technologies to countries with competing economic and 
security interests.
    Potential cumulative impacts, including those to the atmosphere and 
noise, are also addressed in the PEIS. Irreversible and irretrievable 
commitment of resources, such as consumption of mineral resources, are 
addressed in the document.
    Finally, the PEIS recommends a variety of mitigation measures to 
prevent or reduce environmental effects associated with the proposed 
action. Individual launch sites will monitor water quality, complete 
archaeological surveys, and survey biological species in the vicinity 
of the launch area. It is also assumed that all launch sites will 
comply with permit conditions. Other examples of suggested mitigation 
measures include: noise control actions, promoting the use of 
environmentally-friendly propellants, engaging in voluntary waste 
pollution prevention programs, developing a comprehensive environmental 
management system, working with interested parties to select the most 
culturally-friendly site, and implementing effective lighting policies 
to protect wildlife. Lastly, it should be noted that this PEIS is not 
site-specific. Any required site-specific environmental documentation 
would be developed as needed.

    Date Issued: August 31, 1999.

    Place Issued: Washington, DC.
Patricia G. Smith,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 99-23201 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am]
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