[Federal Register: October 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 194)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58784]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07oc05-155]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement for the Oklahoma 
Launch Site Operator License for the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark 
(CSIA)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation.
SUMMARY: On October 23, 2002, the FAA published a Notice of Intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Oklahoma Space 
Industry Development Authority's (OSIDA's) proposal to operate a 
commercial launch site at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark (CSIA) 
in the Federal Register (67 FR 65169). The original proposed action 
included horizontal and vertical launches, significant construction 
activities, orbital launches, and vehicle manufacturing. The nature of 
these activities necessitated that the proposed action be addressed 
through the preparation of an EIS.
    Subsequent changes to the proposed action have eliminated the need 
for vertical launch, construction of any kind, orbital launches, and 
vehicle manufacturing. The proposed action as currently stated involves 
the horizontal launch of suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles from an 
existing runway at the CSIA. The horizontal launch activities are 
similar to the current Air Force activities at the CSIA and are not 
expected to produce significant impacts, indicating that an EA would be 
the most appropriate NEPA analysis for OSIDA's proposed activities.
    Scoping meetings were held in Oklahoma in November 2002. Because 
the proposed action is a subset of the information originally presented 
during scoping, we do not propose to re-initiate scoping meetings. For 
the reasons stated above, the FAA is canceling the EIS and will prepare 
an Environmental Assessment to analyze the impacts of the proposed 
action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be directed to Doug 
Graham, FAA Environmental Specialist, c/o ICF Consulting, 9300 Lee 
Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031 or (202) 267-8568.

    Date Issued: September 30, 2005.
Herbert Bachner,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 05-20180 Filed 10-6-05; 8:45 am]

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