[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 79649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32158]


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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 Issuing or 
Modifying Launch Licenses for Space Exploration Technologies Corp. 
(SpaceX) Falcon Launch Vehicle Landings at Landing Complex-1 at Cape 
Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of the FONSI.

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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 [CFR] parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing 
the availability of a FONSI, based on the analysis and findings of the 
U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) December 2014 Environmental Assessment for 
the Space Exploration Technologies Vertical Landing of the Falcon 
Vehicle and Construction at Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Air 
Force Station Florida (EA). Subsequent to the USAF issuing the EA, 
Launch Complex-13 was renamed to Landing Complex-1 (LC-1).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., 
Room 325, Washington, DC 20591; email [email protected]; or 
phone (202) 267-5924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA participated as a cooperating agency 
with the USAF in the preparation of the EA, which evaluated the 
potential environmental impacts of SpaceX conducting vertical landings 
of a Falcon launch vehicle first stage at LC-1 at CCAFS, as well as 
related construction. Landings could include a Falcon 9 first stage or 
a single core of a Falcon Heavy first stage. The National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration also participated as a cooperating agency in 
the preparation of the EA.
    As the Proposed Action would require Federal actions (as defined in 
40 CFR 1508.18) involving the USAF and the FAA, the EA was prepared to 
satisfy the NEPA obligations of both agencies. The USAF issued a FONSI 
on January 8, 2015, which stated that the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the Proposed Action would not individually or 
cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment, and therefore the preparation of an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) was not required. The FAA has formally adopted the EA 
and also issued a FONSI to support the issuance of new launch licenses 
or modify existing launch licenses to allow SpaceX to conduct Falcon 
landings at LC-1.
    The Proposed Action analyzed in the EA consists of SpaceX 
conducting Falcon landings at LC-1 and construction activities, 
including land clearing, construction of landing pads, and supporting 
infrastructure modifications at LC-1. SpaceX anticipates no more than 
12 landings per year (one per month). Operations at LC-1 would also 
include post-flight landing and safing activities. The FAA's Proposed 
Action is to issue new launch licenses or modify existing launch 
licenses to allow SpaceX to conduct vertical landings of a Falcon 
launch vehicle first stage at CCAFS. Alternatives analyzed as part of 
the FONSI include the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. 
Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue or modify 
launch licenses to allow SpaceX to conduct Falcon landings at CCAFS. 
The Falcon first stage would continue to land in the Atlantic Ocean.
    Based on its independent review and consideration, the FAA issued a 
FONSI concurring with the analysis of impacts and findings in the EA 
and formally adopting the EA to support issuing new launch licenses or 
modifying existing launch licenses to allow SpaceX to conduct vertical 
landings of a Falcon launch vehicle first stage at CCAFS. After 
reviewing and analyzing available data and information on existing 
conditions, potential impacts, and measures to mitigate those impacts, 
the FAA has determined that issuing or modifying launch licenses to 
allow SpaceX to conduct vertical landings of a Falcon launch vehicle 
first stage at CCAFS is a Federal action that would not significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. 
Therefore, the preparation of an EIS is not required, and the FAA has 
issued a FONSI. The FAA made this determination in accordance with all 
applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
    The FAA has posted the EA and FONSI on the internet at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2015.
 Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-32158 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P