[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57176-57177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15292]


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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 for Sierra 
Space Dream Chaser Reentry Operations at the Shuttle Landing Facility, 
Brevard County, Florida and Contingency Reentry Site at Vandenberg 
Space Force Base, Santa Barbara County, California

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: 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 Sierra 
Space Dream Chaser Reentry Operations at the Shuttle Landing Facility, 
Brevard County, Florida and Contingency Reentry Site at Vandenberg 
Space Force Base, Santa Barbara County, California (draft EA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Ms. Chelsea Clarkson, Sierra 
Space at SLF and VSFB, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 
20190. Comments may also be submitted by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Chelsea Clarkson, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence

[[Page 57177]]

Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is the lead agency. U.S. Coast 
Guard, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and National Park 
Service are cooperating agencies for the draft EA due to their special 
expertise and jurisdictions. The FAA is evaluating Sierra Space 
Corporation's (Sierra Space's) proposal to conduct Dream Chaser reentry 
operations at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) in Brevard County, 
Florida or the Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in Santa Barbara 
County, California, which would require the FAA to issue a license. 
Issuing a license is considered a federal action subject to 
environmental review under NEPA. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA 
would issue a license to Sierra Space, which would authorize Sierra 
Space to conduct reentry operations of its Dream Chaser vehicle at the 
SLF or VSFB.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and 
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA 
would not issue a license to Sierra Space for reentry operations at the 
SLF or VSFB. If Sierra Space does not obtain a license for reentry 
operations at the SLF or VSFB, they would be unable to conduct reentry 
operations of their Dream Chaser vehicle.
    The draft EA evaluates the potential environmental consequences 
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; natural resources and 
energy supply; noise and noise-compatible land use; socioeconomics, 
environmental justice, and children's environmental 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/stakeholder_engagement/Sierra_at_SLF_VSFB.
    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: July 8, 2024.
Stacey M. Zee,
Manager, Operations Support Branch.
[FR Doc. 2024-15292 Filed 7-11-24; 8:45 am]
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