[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15039-15041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6325]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for grant proposals for the Commercial Space 
Transportation Grant Program.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 grant proposals to 
continue the development of a Commercial Space Transportation 
infrastructure system, which supports the National Space Policy and 
Congressional intent. Begun in 2010, the program supports the 
Commercial Space Transportation industry by identification, 
prioritization, and funding for Commercial Space Transportation 
infrastructure projects.
    It must be noted that with the FY 2011 Congressional appropriation 
not yet enacted, the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation 
(AST) does not currently have funding for the Commercial Space 
Transportation Grants Program. Should there be an appropriation for the 
Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program; the FAA/AST intends to 
swiftly execute grant awards within FY 2011. To facilitate this, the 
FAA/AST is requesting grant applications at this time. The FAA/AST 
intends to receive, process, and evaluate the applications in a timely 
manner, and in accordance with the notional schedule listed below, so 
should there be an appropriation, the recipients will already be 
selected and the awards can be made within FY 2011. There remains the 
possibility that no funds will be appropriated in FY 2011 for the 
Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program. If no funds are 
appropriated, no grant applications submitted in response to this 
Notice will be approved and funded.
    Due to time constraints, this Notice will be the only solicitation 
made for FY 2011 projects and proposals. The FAA/AST will review and 
evaluate all applications for a grant received by the deadline, 
pursuant to 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) Chapter 703 (to be 
recodified at 51 U.S.C. Chapter 511). The FAA/AST may make one or more 
grant awards based upon its evaluations of the submissions. All grants 
awarded under the Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program are 
discretionary awards. Projects to be funded under the Commercial Space 
Transportation Grants Program must carry out commercial space 
transportation infrastructure development, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 
70301 (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. 51101).

DATES: In order for the FAA/AST to award funds (if appropriated) prior 
to the end of FY 2011, the following notional schedule is provided.

Submission Open Period Opens: March 18, 2011
Submission Open Period Closes: May 13, 2011
Review and Approval Period: May 16, 2011 thru June 30, 2011
Announcement: July 15, 2011

ADDRESSES: Applicants can get more information about the Commercial 
Space Transportation Grants Program, to include a checklist for the 
submission package, by:
    1. Accessing the Office of Commercial Space Transportation website 
at: http://www.faa.gov/go/ast; or
    2. Contacting Glenn Rizner or Julie Price, AST-100, for program 
questions; or
    3. Contacting Greg Carter, AGC-510, for legal questions.

[[Page 15040]]



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                                           Office              Fax                         E-mail
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Glenn Rizner.......................       202-267-3194       202-267-5463  [email protected].
Julie Price........................       202-493-5486       202-267-5463  [email protected].
Greg Carter........................       202-267-3186       202-267-5261  [email protected].
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program is intended to 
``ensure the resiliency of the space transportation infrastructure in 
the United States.'' To help further establish United States' 
Commercial Space Transportation-related goals, Congress established a 
Space Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program codified under 49 
U.S.C. Chapter 703--Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching 
Grants. Congressional authorization was established FY 1994 for the use 
of Federal monies to fund up to fifty percent (50%) of total project 
cost in conjunction with state and local government funding. The 
legislation also requires a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the total 
project cost come from private funding. The first Congressional 
appropriation for the Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program 
came in FY 2010.
    The FAA/AST reviews, evaluates, and oversees the Commercial Space 
Transportation Grants Program. Notionally, the award of the grant 
monies will be on or about July 15, 2011. To meet this award date, 
applicants must submit their grant proposals on or before May 13, 2011. 
Additional information related to the Commercial Space Transportation 
Grants Program can be found at the Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation website or by contacting one of the Points of Contacts; 
this information is listed above.

The Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program

    To meet the intent of the program, development projects eligible 
for funding include:
    1. Technical and environmental studies; or
    2. Construction, improvement, design, and engineering of space 
transportation infrastructure (including facilities and associated 
equipment).
    The Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program will not fund 
more than 50% of the total project cost, and project financing must 
include a private component of at least 10% of the total project cost.
    Given that the FAA/AST may award multiple grants, applicants may 
submit multiple grant proposals, provided they are for separate 
projects and meet the matching requirements independently.

Environmental Requirements

    Approval of grant funding is a major federal action subject to 
review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq., as implemented by the regulations of the Council 
on Environmental Quality at 40 CFR part 1500 and FAA Order 1050.1E, and 
other Federal environmental laws. Because of this, the FAA anticipates 
that it may be most cost-effective for applicants who have already 
undergone NEPA review to apply for a grant this fiscal year.
    In order for a launch site to receive a license to operate, a NEPA 
review will already have been conducted. The launch site operator could 
seek a grant for projects that the FAA considered as part of that 
license. Although having a license is not a requirement for a grant 
award, the environmental requirements may already be met for launch 
sites with a license.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 70304 (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. 51104), 
infrastructure development projects selected for a Commercial Space 
Transportation Grant must meet three additional environmental 
requirements:
    1. The project must provide for the protection and enhancement of 
the natural resources and the quality of the environment of the United 
States. Specifically, if a project will have a significant, adverse 
environmental impact, the FAA/AST shall approve the grant application 
only after finding that no feasible and prudent alternative to the 
project exists and that all reasonable steps have been taken to 
minimize the adverse effect.
    2. The sponsor must certify that an opportunity for a public 
hearing has been provided to consider the economic, social, and 
environmental impacts of the project and its consistency with the goals 
of any planning carried out by the community.
    3. The Governor of the State in which the project is located, or 
his/her designee, must certify that there is reasonable assurance the 
project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated to comply 
with applicable air and water quality standards.
    Planning projects, such as technical and environmental studies, 
normally qualify for categorical exclusion (CATEX) under NEPA and would 
not trigger the requirements listed above. If, the project normally 
qualifies for a CATEX from environmental review, the grant proposal 
should reference the relevant paragraph in FAA Order 1050.1E, Policies 
and Procedures from Considering Environmental Impacts, and address 
whether extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of 
an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement 
(EIS).
    For more details about the environmental review for commercial 
space transportation activities, please see Guidelines for Compliance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Environmental 
Review Statutes for the Licensing of Commercial Launches and Launch 
Sites at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/review.

Who May Apply for a Commercial Space Transportation Grant

    The FAA/AST may make project grant awards to ``sponsors,'' per 49 
U.S.C. 70302 (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. 51102). Per 49 U.S.C. 
70301(6) (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. 51101(6)), a ``sponsor'' is a 
public agency that submits an application for a project grant. Per 49 
U.S.C. 70301(5) (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. 51101(5)), a ``public 
agency'' is a State or agency of a State, a political subdivision of a 
State, or a tax-supported organization.

Grant Award

    The FAA/AST intends to award Commercial Space Transportation Grants 
on or about July 15, 2011. An FAA/AST grant offer letter may contain 
requirements for assurances to ensure the grants are consistent with 49 
U.S.C. Chapter 703 (to be recodified as 51 U.S.C. Chapter 511).

How To Apply for a Commercial Space Transportation Grant

    The application submission must include the following:
    1. Cover letter, signed by public agency senior official, 
demonstrating the legal authority to engage in the project.
    2. Detail as to how the proposed grant project meets the 
requirements of Chapter 703 (recodified as Chapter 703):

[[Page 15041]]

    a. Documentation demonstrating authority as a public agency.
    b. Demonstration that the grant will not be for more than 50% of 
the total cost of the project.
    c. Letter(s) of Commitment from the private sector for at least 10% 
of the total cost of the project
    d. Detailed description of the project
    e. Contributions to capabilities that serve the United States' 
space transportation needs
    f. Impacts on the competitiveness of the United States space 
transportation industry
    g. Discussion of environmental considerations, if applicable
    3. Consent from the head of the appropriate agency, should the 
project use Government property (land, equipment, etc.)
    4. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance (OMB Number 4040-
0004)
    5. One of the following:
    a. SF-424A for non-construction proposals
    b. SF-424C for construction proposals
    The forms request specific applicant information, project 
information, and an estimate of the funding and duration of the 
project. They are available at http://www.grants.gov.
    Applicants for the Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program 
must submit grant applications to the FAA/AST. Applicants must submit 
an original copy of the completed grant proposal, plus four additional 
copies. One copy (not the original) may be submitted electronically to 
Mr. Glenn Rizner at [email protected] and Ms. Julie Price at 
[email protected], however the original and additional copies must be 
submitted to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation, AST-100, c/o Mr. Glenn Rizner or Ms. Julie Price, 
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591.
    Should one copy be submitted electronically, a time stamp will be 
recorded for the submission. The original and all other copies must 
reach the office on or before 12 p.m. (noon), Eastern Time, Friday, May 
13, 2011. Should no copy be submitted electronically, the original and 
additional copies still must reach the office on or before 12 p.m. 
(noon), Eastern Time, Friday, May 13, 2011. There will be no allowance 
for extensions of time.
    Previously submitted grant applications do not carry over and will 
not be considered. Applicants must resubmit past projects for 
consideration in the new fiscal year.

     Issued in Washington, DC, March 10, 2011.
George C. Nield,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2011-6325 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
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