[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 45732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16428]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability
of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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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 the
Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for
SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station (Final EA and FONSI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202)
267-5924; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SpaceX is applying to the FAA for launch
licenses to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space
Center's (KSC) Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) and Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station's (CCAFS) Launch Complex 40 (LC-40). SpaceX is also applying to
the FAA for reentry licenses for Dragon reentry operations. The FAA's
proposal to issue licenses to SpaceX is considered a major federal
action subject to environmental review under NEPA. Due to SpaceX's
ability to launch more frequently at KSC and CCAFS, SpaceX's launch
manifest includes more annual Falcon launches and Dragon reentries than
were considered in previous NEPA analyses. Also, SpaceX is proposing to
add a new Falcon 9 southern launch trajectory from Florida for payloads
requiring polar orbits. SpaceX is also proposing to construct a mobile
service tower (MST) at LC-39A to support commercial launches and the
U.S. Air Force's National Security Space Launch program. NASA is
responsible for approving the construction of the MST at LC-39A. The
FAA has no federal action related to the construction of the MST.
The Final 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 existing SpaceX licenses or issue
new licenses to SpaceX for Falcon launches or Dragon reentry operations
at KSC and CCAFS. SpaceX would continue Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
launch operations at KSC and CCAFS, as well as Dragon reentry
operations, as analyzed in previous NEPA and environmental reviews and
in accordance with existing FAA licenses until the licenses expire.
The FAA published a Draft EA for public comment on February 27,
2020. The FAA received six public comment submissions. The FAA has
posted the Final EA and FONSI on the FAA Office of Commercial Space
Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs/.
Issued in Washington, DC on: July 10, 2020.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Safety Authorization Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-16428 Filed 7-28-20; 8:45 am]
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