[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 14716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06408]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation: Notice of Availability 
and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
Issuing a Reentry License to SpaceX for Landing the Dragon Spacecraft 
in the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability 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 EA for issuing a reentry license to 
SpaceX for Dragon landings in the Gulf of Mexico.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Daniel Czelusniak, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591. Comments 
may also be submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267-5924; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT) is the lead agency. The National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Air Force are cooperating 
agencies.
    The FAA is evaluating SpaceX's proposal to conduct Dragon landings 
in the Gulf of Mexico, which would require the FAA to issue a reentry 
license. SpaceX has two versions of Dragon: Dragon-1 and Dragon-2. 
Dragon-1 is used for cargo missions to the International Space Station 
(ISS). SpaceX intends that Dragon-2 will eventually be used to 
transport astronauts to the ISS. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA 
would issue a reentry license to SpaceX, which would authorize SpaceX 
to conduct up to six Dragon landing operations per year in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Each landing operation would include orbital reentry, 
splashdown, and recovery.
    Alternatives under consideration include the Proposed Action and 
the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA 
would not issue a reentry license to SpaceX for Dragon reentry and 
splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX would continue to conduct 
Dragon reentries and splashdowns in the Pacific Ocean authorized under 
an FAA reentry license.
    The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts from the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative on air quality; climate; 
noise and noise-compatible land use; Department of Transportation Act, 
section 4(f); biological resources (including aquatic plants and 
animals and special status species); coastal resources; water 
resources; natural resources and energy supply; and hazardous 
materials, solid waste, and pollution prevention. Potential cumulative 
impacts are also addressed in this EA.
    The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation website: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the Draft EA by May 4, 2018. 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: March 26, 2018.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-06408 Filed 4-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


