[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 50036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Availability of 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD) 
for Actions Related to Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of 
the Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (as amended), Council on Environmental 
Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is 
announcing the availability of a FONSI/ROD, based on the analysis and 
findings of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) 
August 2009 Environmental Assessment for the Expansion of the Wallops 
Flight Facility Launch Range (the EA). The FAA (Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation) participated as a cooperating agency with NASA in 
the preparation of the EA, which evaluates the potential environmental 
impacts of the proposed expansion of the Mid-Atlantic Regional 
Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Flight 
Facility (WFF). As the MARS expansion would require Federal actions (as 
defined in 40 CFR Section 1508.18) involving both NASA and the FAA, the 
EA was prepared to satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. NASA, 
as the WFF property owner and lead agency, is responsible for ensuring 
overall compliance with applicable environmental statutes, including 
NEPA. The FAA served as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the 
EA because of its role in (1) licensing the Virginia Commercial Space 
Flight Authority (VCSFA) which operates MARS as a commercial launch 
site and (2) issuing licenses or permits to operate commercial launch 
and reentry vehicles at MARS. The FAA has formally adopted the EA and 
is using the FONSI/ROD to support the modification or renewal of 
VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License and issuance of licenses or 
experimental permits for commercial launch and reentry vehicles at 
MARS.
    Under the Proposed Action in the EA, NASA and MARS facilities would 
be upgraded to support up to and including medium large class 
suborbital and orbital expendable launch vehicle (ELV) launch 
activities from WFF. NASA's Preferred Alternative includes site 
improvements required to support launch operations (such as facility 
construction and infrastructure improvements); testing, fueling, and 
processing operations; up to two static fire tests per year; launching 
up to six orbital-class vehicles per year from Pad 0-A; and the reentry 
of associated crew or cargo capsules. Implementation of NASA's 
Preferred Alternative would result in a maximum of 18 orbital-class 
vehicle launches from MARS Launch Complex 0 (twelve existing launches 
from Pad 0-B and six additional launches from Pad 0-A). As several 
different launch and reentry vehicles could launch from MARS Pad 0-A, 
the largest launch vehicle and payload (which could include a reentry 
vehicle), in terms of size, weight, and dimension, was chosen as the 
demonstration, or ``envelope,'' vehicle and payload to provide a 
benchmark for assessing impacts on resources at WFF and the surrounding 
environment. Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II would be the 
largest ELV expected to be launched from MARS Pad 0-A under the 
Proposed Action. Therefore, the Taurus II was selected as the envelope 
launch vehicle for purposes of the EA. Orbital Sciences Corporation's 
Cygnus Capsule and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation's Dragon 
Capsule were evaluated as potential reentry vehicles. The EA addresses 
the potential environmental impacts of implementing the EA's Proposed 
Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, 
NASA and MARS would not proceed with expansion activities at Pad 0-A.
    Based on its independent review and consideration, the FAA issued a 
FONSI/ROD concurring with the analysis of impacts and findings in the 
EA and formally adopting the EA to support the modification or renewal 
of VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License and issuance of launch and 
reentry licenses or experimental permits to operate commercial vehicles 
at MARS. After reviewing and analyzing available data and information 
on existing conditions, potential impacts, and measures to mitigate 
those impacts, the FAA has determined that neither modification or 
renewal of VCSFA's Launch Site Operator License nor issuance of launch 
and reentry licenses or experimental permits to operate commercial 
vehicles at MARS are Federal actions that would significantly affect 
the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. 
Therefore, the preparation of an EIS is not required, and the FAA has 
issued a FONSI/ROD. The FAA made this determination in accordance with 
all applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
    NASA has posted the EA on the Internet at http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/expansion_ea.html. The FAA has posted the 
FONSI/ROD on the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 331, Washington, DC 
20591, telephone (202) 267-5924; E-mail [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2010.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-19994 Filed 8-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P