[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 19391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05648]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Final Tiered Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for SpaceX Starship 
Indian Ocean Landings

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Tiered Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact/Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship Indian Ocean Landings 
(Final Tiered EA and FONSI/ROD).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hanson, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone 847-243-7609; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is the lead agency. The FAA 
evaluated SpaceX's proposal to land its Starship vehicle in the Indian 
Ocean. The proposal would require the FAA to modify SpaceX's vehicle 
operator license along with potential renewals and modifications to the 
license within the scope of operations. SpaceX's Proposed Action is to 
analyze the potential for up to a total of ten nominal operations, 
including up to a maximum of five overpressure events from Starship 
intact impact and up to a total of five reentry debris or soft water 
landings in the Indian Ocean, within a year of issuance of a NMFS 
concurrence letter.
    The Final Tiered EA evaluated the potential environmental impacts 
of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No 
Action Alternative, the FAA would not modify SpaceX's license for 
landing the Starship vehicles in the Indian Ocean. In this situation, 
as permitted under existing licenses, SpaceX could land the Starship 
vehicle at the VLA or downrange in the Gulf of Mexico, or Pacific Ocean 
(on a floating platform or expended in the Pacific Ocean).
    The FAA has posted the Final Tiered EA and FONSI/ROD on the FAA 
Office of Commercial Space Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on: March 12, 2024.
Stacey M. Zee,
Manager, Operations Support Branch.
[FR Doc. 2024-05648 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P