[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08325]



[[Page 24462]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability for the Written Re-Evaluation of the Final 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Mitigated Finding of No 
Significant Impact and Record of Decision for the SpaceX Starship/Super 
Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in 
Cameron County, Texas Regarding Vehicle Ocean Landings and Launch Pad 
Detonation Suppression System Water

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, 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 Written Re-
Evaluation for the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and 
Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for 
the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program regarding 
Vehicle Ocean Landings and Launch Pad Detonation Suppression System 
Water at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Written Re-Evaluation evaluated whether 
supplemental environmental analysis was needed to support the FAA 
Office of Commercial Space Transportation decision to issue a vehicle 
operator license to SpaceX for the operation of the Starship/Super 
Heavy launch vehicle at its existing Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron 
County, Texas. The affected environment and environmental impacts of 
Starship/Super Heavy operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site were 
analyzed in the 2022 Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for 
the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX 
Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (2022 PEA). The FAA 
issued a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of 
Decision based on the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment on 
June 13, 2022.
    The FAA prepared the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment to 
analyze the potential environmental impacts of constructing launch-
related infrastructure and operating the Starship/Super Heavy launch 
vehicle at the Boca Chica Launch Site. SpaceX's proposed operations 
include launches originating from this site, as well as landings at 
this site, in the Gulf of Mexico, or in the Pacific Ocean off the coast 
of Hawaii. SpaceX has applied to the FAA for a license to conduct these 
operations with its Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle. Prior to 
submitting a vehicle operator license application to the FAA, SpaceX 
provided the FAA with a launch profile of proposed launch operations, 
which was analyzed in the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment.
    Since the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment, SpaceX 
provided the FAA with additional information regarding Starship's 
planned landing, Super Heavy's planned soft water landing, and the 
Launch Pad Detonation Suppression System. The FAA completed a Written 
Re-Evaluation for the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and 
Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for 
the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program regarding 
Vehicle Ocean Landings and the Launch Pad Detonation Suppression System 
at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas. The 
final Written Re-Evaluation is available at: www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship.
    Based on the analysis within the Written Re-Evaluation, the FAA 
concluded that the issuance of a vehicle operator license for Starship/
Super Heavy operations conforms to the prior environmental 
documentation, that the data contained in the 2022 Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment remains substantially valid, that there are no 
significant environmental changes, and all pertinent conditions and 
requirements of the prior approval have been met or will be met in the 
current action. Therefore, the preparation of a supplemental or new 
environmental document is not necessary to support the Proposed Action.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on: April 14th, 2023.
Stacey Molinich Zee,
Manager, Operations Support Branch, Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2023-08325 Filed 4-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


