[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 Daniel.Czelusniak@faa.gov.

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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


