[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19708-19709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06805]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that the 
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized 
Identification Areas (FRIAs) is available for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Send comments on or before May 3, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action, 
contact Mike Millard, Aviation Safety Inspector/Environmental 
Specialist, Flight Standards, General Aviation Operations Branch, AFS-
830; telephone 1-844-359-6981; email [email protected].

ADDRESSES: Send comments with the subject line, ``Public Comment on 
Draft FRIA PEA'' on all submitted correspondence using the following 
method. Email comments to [email protected].
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
the Final PEA, along with the FAA's response to those comments. For 
additional information, the applicable system of records notice (SORN), 
DOT/ALL-14, 73 FR 3316 (Jan. 17, 2008), can be reviewed at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Draft PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental 
impacts associated with the establishment of FRIAs, pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act. FRIAs may be established in 
accordance with 14 CFR part 89. A FRIA is a defined geographic area 
where unmanned aircraft can be flown without remote identification 
equipment. Both the unmanned aircraft and the pilot must be located 
within the FRIA's boundaries throughout the operation. In addition, the 
pilot of the unmanned aircraft must be able to see it at all times 
throughout the duration of the flight. Only FAA-recognized Community 
Based Organizations and educational institutions such as primary and 
secondary schools, trade schools, colleges, and universities are 
eligible to request the establishment of a FRIA. If the FAA approves 
the establishment of a FRIA, the approval will be valid for 48 calendar 
months.
    The environmental impacts of approving these limited, location-
specific areas for the operations of unmanned aircraft have been 
considered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures.
    A Draft PEA has been prepared and, based on this analysis, the FAA 
has preliminarily determined there will not be a significant impact to 
the human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) has not been initiated (40 CFR 1501.6). The FAA intends for this 
PEA to create efficiencies by establishing a framework that can be used 
for ``tiering,'' where appropriate, to project-specific actions that 
require additional analysis. As decisions on specific applications are 
made, to the extent additional NEPA analysis is required, environmental 
review will be conducted to supplement the analysis set forth in this 
PEA.
    The Draft PEA is available for review online at the following link: 
https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested stakeholders to submit comments on the 
Draft PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. 
Commenters should include the subject line, ``Public Comment on Draft 
FRIA PEA'' on all comments submitted to the FAA. All comments must be 
provided in English.
    The FAA will accept comments in Word, PDF, or email body. No 
business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or 
personally identifiable

[[Page 19709]]

information should be submitted in response to this request. Please be 
aware that comments submitted may be posted on a Federal website or 
otherwise released publicly.
    The most helpful comments reference a specific recommendation, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
information. The FAA will consider all comments received on or before 
the closing date. The FAA will also consider late filed comments if it 
is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
David M. Menzimer,
Manager, General Aviation Operations Branch, General Aviation and 
Commercial Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06805 Filed 3-31-23; 8:45 am]
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