[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56430-56431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22401]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3, Kodiak Island, Alaska

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

ACTIONS: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, 
notice of public meeting and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 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, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing 
the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft Environmental 
Assessment for the Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 3 (Draft EA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey M. Zee, Federal Aviation 
Administration, c/o ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 
22031;

[[Page 56431]]

email [email protected]; telephone (202) 267-9305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft EA was prepared to analyze the 
potential environmental impacts of the FAA modifying the Alaska 
Aerospace Corporation's (AAC's) Launch Site Operator License to include 
medium-lift launch capability at the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), a 
commercial launch site currently operated under a FAA Launch Site 
Operator License (LSO-03-008), which authorizes only small-lift 
operations. Expansion of launch capabilities at KLC would include the 
addition of new infrastructure necessary to support medium-lift 
launches, including the construction of a launch pad and associated 
facilities. As part of the Proposed Action addressed in the EA, AAC 
would make improvements to the KLC to add both solid and liquid-
propellant, medium-lift launch capability, and to operate the KLC in 
the future as a small-lift and medium-lift launch complex. Proposed 
construction at KLC includes six primary modifications: construction of 
Launch Pad 3 (LP3), a vehicle processing facility, rocket staging 
facility, liquid fuel facility, mission control center and improvements 
to Pasagshak Point Road. Proposed launch operations would include up to 
six orbital small-lift launches and three medium-lift launches per year 
from the existing launch pads and from the proposed LP3; however, to be 
conservative in the analysis of potential environmental impacts in this 
Draft EA, the EA assumes a maximum of nine medium-lift launches per 
year.
    The Draft EA addresses the potential environmental impacts of 
implementing the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under 
the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not modify AAC's Launch Site 
Operator License to include medium-lift launch capability and AAC would 
not proceed with the construction of medium-lift launch support 
infrastructure at KLC. Existing launch activities for up to nine 
orbital small-lift class launches per year from the existing launch 
pads would continue.
    The impact categories considered in the Draft EA include air 
quality; compatible land use; Department of Transportation Act: Section 
4(f); fish, wildlife, and plants; hazardous materials, pollution 
prevention, and solid waste; historical, architectural, archaeological, 
and cultural resources; light emissions and visual impacts; natural 
resources and energy supply; noise; socioeconomic, environmental 
justice, and children's environmental health and safety risk; water 
quality; and wetlands. The Draft EA also considers the potential 
cumulative environmental impacts.
    The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation Web site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/kodiak_launch/.
    A paper copy and a CD version of the Draft EA may be reviewed for 
comment during regular business hours at the following libraries:
     Kodiak Public Library, 612 Egan Way, Kodiak, AK 99615
     University of Alaska Anchorage--Carolyn Floyd Library, 117 
Benny Benson Drive, Kodiak, AK 99615
     Anchorage Municipal Library, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage, 
AK 99503
    The FAA will hold an open house public meeting to solicit comments 
from the public concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 
Details of the meeting are as follows:
     October 7, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Kodiak Inn Best 
Western, Katurwik Room, 236 E. Rezanof Dr., Kodiak, AK 99615
    The public will be able to speak to project representatives one-on-
one and submit written comments or provide oral comments to a 
stenographer. Oral and written comments are weighted evenly.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The FAA encourages all interested parties 
to provide comments concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 
To ensure that all comments can be addressed in the Final EA, comments 
on the draft must be received by the FAA no later than October 15, 
2014. Comments should be as specific as possible and address the 
analysis of potential environmental impacts and the adequacy of the 
proposed action or merits of alternatives and the mitigation being 
considered. Reviewers should organize their comments to be meaningful 
and inform the FAA of their interests and concerns by quoting or 
providing specific references to the text of the Draft EA. Matters that 
could have been raised with specificity during the comment period on 
the Draft EA may not be considered if they are raised for the first 
time later in the decision process. This commenting procedure is 
intended to ensure that substantive comments and concerns are made 
available to the FAA in a timely manner so that the FAA has an 
opportunity to address them.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments in writing to Stacey M. Zee, Federal 
Aviation Administration, c/o ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, 
Fairfax, VA 22031; or by email at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 15, 2014.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-22401 Filed 9-18-14; 8:45 am]
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