[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32805-32806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12985]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Texas Launch 
Site

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.), 
Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code 
of Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, 
Change 1, the FAA, Office of Commercial Space Transportation is 
announcing the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Final EIS). This Final EIS is also 
submitted pursuant to the following public law requirements: Section 
4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 303); 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470); 
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management; DOT Order 5650.2, 
Floodplain Management and Protection; Executive Order 11990, Protection 
of Wetlands; and DOT Order 5660.1A, Preservation of the Nation's 
Wetlands. This Final EIS includes the FAA's determination of de minimis 
impacts to Section 4(f) property under 23 CFR 771.135. The Proposed 
Action would include a significant encroachment on floodplains per DOT 
Order 5650.2, Floodplain Management and Protection.
    The FAA submitted the Final EIS to the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA will post a separate notification in 
the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final EIS. The 
FAA will issue a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days following 
EPA's notice in the Federal Register. The Record of Decision will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    An electronic version of the Final EIS is available on the FAA Web 
site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/. In addition, copies of 
the Final EIS were sent to persons and agencies on the distribution 
list (found in Chapter 11 of the Final EIS). A paper copy and an 
electronic version of the Final EIS may be reviewed during regular 
business hours at the following Brownsville, Texas, locations:
     Brownsville Public Library Main Branch, 2600 Central Blvd.
     Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd.
     University of Texas at Brownsville, Oliveira Library, 80 
Fort Brown St.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 
20591; email [email protected]; or phone (202) 267-9305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS for the proposed Space 
Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Texas Launch Site evaluates the 
potential environmental impacts that may result from the FAA Proposed 
Action of issuing launch licenses and/or experimental permits that 
would allow SpaceX to launch the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and a variety 
of reusable suborbital launch vehicles from a launch site on privately 
owned property in Cameron County, Texas. SpaceX would be required to 
apply to the FAA for the appropriate launch licenses and/or 
experimental permits. Under the Proposed Action, which is the Preferred 
Alternative, SpaceX proposes to construct a vertical launch area and a 
control center area to support up to 12 commercial launch operations 
per year with a maximum of two Falcon Heavy launches. Launch operations 
include not only launches, but also pre-flight activities such as 
mission rehearsals and static fire engine tests. The environmental 
analysis in the EIS focuses on proposed construction and operational 
activities associated with the FAA's Proposed Action (issuing launch 
licenses and/or experimental permits to SpaceX) and includes all 
related actions considered connected to the Proposed Action. 
Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and the No 
Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not 
issue licenses and/or experimental permits to SpaceX, and Space X would 
not construct the

[[Page 32806]]

proposed control center and vertical launch areas.
    As part of the Proposed Action, SpaceX plans to construct 
facilities, structures, and utility connections in order to support the 
launch of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The facilities 
would be located in two areas: vertical launch area and control center 
area. The proposed vertical launch area site is currently undeveloped 
and is located directly adjacent to the eastern terminus of Texas State 
Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard) and approximately 3 miles north of the 
Mexican border on the Gulf Coast. It is located approximately 5 miles 
south of Port Isabel and South Padre Island. At the vertical launch 
area, the new facilities required would include an integration and 
processing hangar, a launch pad and stand with its associated flame 
duct, a water tower, a retention basin for deluge water, propellant 
storage and handling areas, a workshop and office area, and a warehouse 
for parts storage.
    The command and control functions for a launch are required to be 
conducted at a safe separation distance from the actual launch pad. The 
control center area would be located inland, approximately 2 miles west 
of the vertical launch area and would include control center buildings, 
payload processing facilities, a launch vehicle processing hangar, 
generators and diesel storage facilities, and a satellite fuels storage 
facility. All facilities would be constructed through private funding, 
on currently undeveloped private property that would be purchased or 
leased by SpaceX. New underground power lines would be installed in the 
State Highway 4 Right-of-Way from the control center area to the 
vertical launch area. In addition, existing power lines that lead to 
Boca Chica Village would need to be upgraded. During this upgrade, the 
lines that are currently underground would remain underground, and 
lines that are currently aboveground would remain above ground.
    Operations would consist of up to 12 launch operations per year 
with a maximum of two Falcon Heavy launches. All Falcon 9 and Falcon 
Heavy launches would be expected to have commercial payloads, including 
satellites or experimental payloads. In addition to standard payloads, 
the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy may also carry a capsule, such as the 
SpaceX Dragon capsule. All launch trajectories would be to the east 
over the Gulf of Mexico.
    The Final EIS evaluates the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental effects of the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative 
on environmental impact categories, including compatible land use 
(including farmlands and coastal resources); Section 4(f) properties; 
noise; light emissions and visual impacts; historical, architectural, 
archaeological, and cultural resources; air quality; water resources 
(including wetlands, floodplains, surface waters, groundwater, and wild 
and scenic rivers); biological resources (fish, wildlife, and plants); 
hazardous materials, pollution prevention, and solid waste; 
socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children's environmental 
health risks and safety risks; energy supply and natural resources; and 
secondary (induced) impacts. Additional resources were also considered 
including airspace, health and safety, and ground traffic and 
transportation.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 27, 2014.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-12985 Filed 6-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P