[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 34737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15702]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability 
of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact for Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (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.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA 
implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the 
Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Issuing a License to Virgin Orbit (LauncherOne), LLC for LauncherOne 
Launches at the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Kern County, California 
(Final Environmental Assessment [EA]).

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 Final EA addresses the potential 
environmental impacts of Virgin Orbit (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 launch 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.
    The Final EA evaluated the environmental impacts of 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 FAA has posted the Final EA and FONSI 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 July 11, 2017.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-15702 Filed 7-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P