[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3841-3842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00549]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of 
Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment 
on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing a License to 
LauncherOne, LLC for LauncherOne Launches at the Mojave Air and Space 
Port, Kern County, California

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT), lead Federal agency. National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, cooperating agency.

ACTIONS: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period, 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 1050.1F, Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the 
availability of and requesting comment on the Draft Environmental 
Assessment for Issuing a License to LauncherOne, LLC for LauncherOne 
Launches at the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Kern County, California 
(Draft Environmental Assessment [EA]).

DATES: The public comment period for the Draft EA begins with the 
issuance of this Notice of Availability and lasts 30 days. The FAA 
encourages all interested parties to provide comments concerning the 
scope and content of the Draft EA by February 13, 2017, or 30 days from 
the date of publication of this Notice of Availability, whichever is 
later.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the FAA 
in your comment to withhold from public review your personal 
identifying information, the FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft EA 
to Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 
20591; email [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is evaluating LauncherOne LLC's 
(L1's) proposal to launch the LauncherOne at the Mojave Air and Space 
Port in Kern County, California, for purposes of transporting small 
satellites into a variety of Low Earth Orbits. The launch system 
consists of the rocket (LauncherOne) and a carrier aircraft (Boeing 
747). To operate LauncherOne at the Mojave Air and Space Port, L1 must 
obtain a launch license from the FAA. Issuing a license is considered a 
major Federal action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Under 
the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a launch license to L1 that 
would allow L1 to operate LauncherOne from the Mojave Air and Space 
Port. L1 is proposing a maximum of 115 launches over the course of the 
5-year launch license (expected 2017-2021). The maximum number of 
annual launches during this time period would be 40.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and 
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA 
would not issue a launch license for the operation of LauncherOne from 
the Mojave Air and Space Port. Also, the FAA would not modify Mojave 
Air and Space Port's launch site operator license to include 
``orbital'' reusable launch vehicle missions. The Mojave Air and Space 
Port would continue its existing operations.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; biological 
resources (including fish, wildlife, and plants); climate; Department 
of Transportation Act, Section 4(f); hazardous materials, solid waste, 
and pollution prevention; historical, architectural, archaeological, 
and cultural resources; land use; noise and noise-compatible land use;

[[Page 3842]]

socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children's environmental 
health and safety risks; visual effects; and water resources (including 
wetlands, floodplains, surface waters, groundwater, and wild and scenic 
rivers). Potential cumulative impacts are also addressed in the Draft 
EA.
    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/launch/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2017.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-00549 Filed 1-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P