[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 51459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21048]



[[Page 51459]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST); Notice of 
Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/AST To Issue, Renew, or Modify 
Launch Operator Licenses for Atlas V Launch Vehicles Covered Under the 
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program From Space Launch 
Complex-3 East (SLC-3E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the FONSI.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code 4321-4347 (as amended), Council 
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code 
of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, 
Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of a FONSI for the 
FAA/AST action to issue, renew, or modify Launch Operator Licenses for 
Atlas V launch operations from SLC-3E at VAFB. The FONSI is based on 
the analysis and findings of the 2003 United States Air Force (USAF) 
Final Environmental Assessment for the Atlas V System at SLC-3E (2003 
EA).
    In 1998, the USAF issued the 1998 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the EELV Program (1998 EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts of the development, deployment, and operation of 
EELV systems (later known as the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicle 
families). In 2000, the USAF prepared the Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the EELV Program (2000 SEIS) to evaluate the 
potential environmental impacts of adding up to five solid-propellant 
strap-on rocket motors to the Atlas V launch vehicle and larger solid-
propellant strap-on rocket motors on the Delta IV vehicle. The FAA 
participated as a cooperating agency in preparation of both the 1998 
FEIS and 2000 SEIS.
    In 2003, changes in USAF programs resulted in a need for SLC-3E at 
VAFB to be used for Atlas V launches rather than SLC-3W as originally 
planned, and therefore the USAF prepared the 2003 EA. The EA 
supplemented and updated the previous NEPA evaluation of implementing 
the Atlas V program as analyzed in the 1998 FEIS and 2000 SEIS. The 
2003 EA analyzed the environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action of modifying existing facilities and roadways and launching the 
Atlas V up to four times annually from SLC-3E at VAFB. The 2003 EA 
tiered its analyses from the 1998 FEIS and 2000 SEIS, and therefore 
both documents were incorporated by reference into the 2003 EA. The FAA 
did not participate as a cooperating agency with the USAF in 
preparation of the 2003 EA. Under the FAA's Proposed Action as stated 
in the FONSI, FAA/AST could issue, renew, or modify Launch Operator 
Licenses for Atlas V launch operations from SLC-3E at VAFB. A Launch 
Operator License would authorize launches of Atlas V vehicles over the 
five-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 2003 EA and has verified the continued validity of the 
analysis contained in the EA. The FAA has determined that the 
discussion of Atlas V launch operations in the 2003 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 issued the 
FONSI concurring with the analysis of impacts and findings in the 2003 
EA and formally adopts the launch operations discussion in the EA in 
compliance with the requirements of 40 CFR 1506.3 to support the 
issuance, renewal, or modification of Launch Operator Licenses for 
Atlas V launch operations from SLC-3E at VAFB. The 2003 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 A. Czelusniak, 
Environmental Program Lead, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Room 325, 
Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-5924; E-mail 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 2011.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-21048 Filed 8-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P