[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2471-2472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00575]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period and 
Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment in Support of 
the Application for a Supersonic Flight Waiver for Boom Technology XB-1 
Supersonic Test Flights

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

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public comment period and 
request for comment.

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SUMMARY: This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to 
satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements 
(authorization to operate at supersonic speeds). This EA addresses the 
environmental impacts of proposed supersonic operations within the pre-
existing supersonic corridors, as well as the effects of the associated 
landing and takeoff (LTO) operations at Mojave Air and Space Port. The 
proposed supersonic flight operations evaluated in this EA would 
consist of a limited number of test flights (10-20 supersonic tests of 
the XB-1 and its chase aircraft) occurring within a one-year duration.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to [email protected] 
and received on or before February 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Mail: Comments should be mailed to Ms. Michon Washington at 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Suite 900W, Washington, DC 20591. Comments may 
also be submitted electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For EA questions contact Ms. Michon 
Washington, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 900W, Washington, DC 
20591; phone (202) 267-9310; email [email protected]. For 
Special Flight Authorization or noise questions, contact Mr. Sandy Liu, 
General Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW, Suite 900W, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267-4748; 
email [email protected]. The Environmental Assessment can be 
electronically accessed at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/aee/env_policy/sfa_supersonic.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is evaluating BOOM's request for a 
Special Flight Authorization (SFA) waiver under 14 CFR 91.817-818 
(``Special flight authorization to exceed Mach 1'') that restricts 
civilian supersonic operations over land in the U.S. Boom plans to 
operate XB-1 from Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) subsonically, and 
only fly supersonically within pre-existing supersonic corridors; thus, 
Boom is requesting this waiver for limited supersonic flight operations 
within the confines of the pre-existing supersonic corridors within the 
R-2508 Airspace Complex that are used for daily military aircraft 
supersonic testing. The Environmental Assessment complies with Federal, 
Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 1050.1F Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures and its accompanying Desk Reference as well as 
U.S. Department of Transportation Order 5610.1C Procedures for 
Considering Environmental Impacts.
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Draft PEA. 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

[[Page 2472]]

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: January 9, 2024.
Donald S. Scata Jr,
Deputy Director (A), Office of Environment and Energy, Office of 
Policy, International Affairs and Environment.
[FR Doc. 2024-00575 Filed 1-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P