[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 202 (Monday, October 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66404-66405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23099]


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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 for 
Issuing a Launch Operator License to Virgin Orbit, LLC for LauncherOne 
Operations From Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

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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 and 
requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing a 
Launch Operator License to Virgin Orbit, LLC for LauncherOne Operations 
from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (Draft EA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Leslie Grey, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591. Comments may 
also be submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Grey, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (907) 227-2113; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is evaluating Virgin Orbit, LLC's 
(VO's) proposal to conduct 747 carrier vehicle operations from Andersen 
Air Force Base (AFB), Guam and conduct LauncherOne rocket operations 
over the Pacific Ocean east of Guam for the purposes of transporting 
small satellites into a variety of low earth orbits, which would 
require the FAA to issue a launch license. Issuing a launch license is 
considered a federal action subject to environmental review under NEPA. 
Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a launch license to VO, 
which will authorize VO to operate LauncherOne from Andersen AFB to 
conduct 25 launches over the next 5 years (2021-2025), with a maximum 
of

[[Page 66405]]

10 launches per year in any one year over the 5-year period.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and No 
Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not 
issue a launch license to VO for LauncherOne operations from Andersen 
AFB.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; biological 
resources; climate; coastal resources; Department of Transportation Act 
Section 4(f); farmlands; hazardous materials, solid waste, and 
pollution prevention; historical, architectural, archeological, and 
cultural resources; land use; nature resources and energy supply; noise 
and noise-compatible land use; socioeconomics, environmental justice, 
and children's health and safety risks; visual effects (including light 
emissions); and water resources.
    The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs/.
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA. 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on: October 13th, 2020.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Safety Authorization Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-23099 Filed 10-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P