[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 12403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5113]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Actions Related to 
the Renewal of a Launch Operator License for Delta II Expendable Launch 
Vehicles at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of the FONSI.

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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, based on the analysis and 
findings of the May 1988 United States Air Force (USAF) Medium Launch 
Vehicle Environmental Assessment (EA), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 
(CCAFS), Florida. The 1988 EA evaluates the potential environmental 
impacts of renovating Launch Complex (LC)-17 and other support 
facilities at CCAFS to support 12 annual launches of the Delta II 
vehicle. USAF issued a FONSI, which concluded that the environmental 
impacts associated with their Proposed Action would not significantly 
impact the quality of the human environment, and therefore the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was not 
required. Under the FAA's Proposed Action as stated in the FONSI, the 
FAA would renew a Launch Operator License to Orbital Sciences 
Corporation for the continued operation of Delta II expendable launch 
vehicles at CCAFS. A Launch Operator License would authorize launches 
of Delta II vehicles over the 5-year term of the license.
    In accordance with the requirements of FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, 
paragraph 410, the FAA has independently evaluated the information 
contained in the 1988 EA and has verified the continued validity of the 
analysis contained in the EA. The FAA has determined that the 1988 EA 
sufficiently addresses the concerns of the FAA and complies with FAA 
requirements for implementing NEPA as stated in FAA Order 1050.1E, 
Change 1. The FAA has determined that there is no new information or 
analysis that would require preparation of a new or supplemental EA or 
EIS according to the CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). Therefore, 
the FAA issues the FONSI concurring with the analysis of impacts and 
findings in the 1988 EA and formally adopts the EA in compliance with 
the requirements of 40 CFR 1506.3 to support renewing a Launch Operator 
License to Boeing for the continued operation of Delta II expendable 
launch vehicles at CCAFS. The 1988 EA is incorporated by reference and 
is summarized as necessary in the FONSI.
    The FAA has posted the FONSI on the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Program Lead, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 325, 
Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-5924; E-mail 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 1, 2011.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-5113 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-13-P