[Federal Register: November 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 65961-65963]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no05-131]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Environmental Finding Document: Finding of No Significant
Impact; Notice.
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SUMMARY: On May 23, 2005, the FAA Office of Commercial Space
Transportation (AST) received an application for a launch license from
Space Exploration Technologies, Inc. (SpaceX) to conduct launches of
its Falcon 1 launch vehicle from Omelek Island, U.S. Army Kwajalein
Atoll/Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site (USAKA/RTS). The FAA
participated as a cooperating agency with the U.S. Army Space and
Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) in preparation of the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Proof-of-Principle Space Launches from Omelek
Island (February 2005). The EA analyzed the environmental consequences
of conducting two proof-of-principle launches of the Falcon 1 Launch
Vehicle from Omelek Island, USAKA/RTS. From its independent review and
consideration, the FAA has determined that the FAA's proposed action is
substantially the same as the actions already analyzed in the USASMDC
EA and that FAA's comments and suggestions have been satisfied (see
1506.3(c) and FAA Order 1050.1E, 518h). The FAA formally adopts the EA
and hereby incorporates the analysis to support its decision on this
license application.
After reviewing and analyzing currently available data and
information on existing conditions, project impacts, and measures to
mitigate those impacts, the FAA has determined that licensing the
proposed launch activities is not a Federal action that would
significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the
meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, the
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required
and the FAA is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The
FAA made this determination in accordance with all applicable
environmental laws.
FOR A COPY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OR THE FONSI CONTACT: A
copy of the EA is available at: http://www.smdcen.us/pubdocs/files/spacex_
final--ea-- signed--fnsi-- 13dec04.pdf. Questions or comments
should be directed to Ms. Stacey Zee; FAA Environmental Specialist;
Federal Aviation Administration; 800 Independence Ave., SW.; AST-100,
Suite 331; Washington, DC 20591; (202) 267-9305.
Background
Launches of launch vehicles, such as SpaceX's proposed launches of
the Falcon 1 launch vehicle from Omelek Island, must be licensed by the
FAA pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Sections 70101-70121, the Commercial Space
Launch Act. Licensing the launch of a launch vehicle is a Federal
action requiring environmental analysis by the FAA in accordance with
NEPA, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq. Upon receipt of a complete license
application, the FAA must decide whether to issue a launch license to
SpaceX for launching the Falcon 1 launch vehicle from Omelek Island,
USAKA/RTS. An environmental determination is required for the
evaluation of a license application. The FAA is using the analyses in
the USASMDC EA as the basis for the environmental determination of the
impacts to support licensing the Falcon launch vehicle from Omelek
Island.
Proposed Action
SpaceX is proposing to launch the Falcon 1 launch vehicle from
Omelek Island, USAKA/RTS. The Falcon is a small, unmanned, two-stage
launch vehicle designed to put small payloads into orbit. It uses
liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene as propellants. The first
stage, which is reusable, uses a parachute and would be recovered. The
second stage is not reusable and is not intended to be recovered.
The issuance of a FONSI does not guarantee that a license will be
issued by the FAA for the launch of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle.
However, if a license is issued, SpaceX would be authorized to launch
the Falcon 1 launch vehicle carrying a Razaksat Satellite built by
ATSB. The Razaksat Satellite (formerly known as MACSAT) is an Earth
observation spacecraft containing a medium aperture camera. It would be
launched on a 90-degree azimuth to an orbit of 685 kilometers (426
miles).
The USASMDC EA considered four alternative site locations for the
facilities to be constructed at Omelek Island. These alternatives are
no longer under consideration because a final launch site has been
selected. Under the No Action Alternative, the Falcon 1 launch vehicle
would not be launched from Omelek Island.
Environmental Impacts
The following presents a brief summary of the environmental impacts
considered in the USASMDC EA. The USASMDC EA is incorporated by
reference in this FONSI and the FAA's FONSI is based upon the impacts
discussed in that EA. Land Use, socioeconomics, environmental justice,
and aesthetics were not discussed in the USASMDC EA. Based on the
original analysis, it was determined that there would be no significant
impacts to land use or aesthetics because Omelek Island would remain
under U.S. Army management and would continue to be used for missile
research. There would be no impacts to socioeconomics or environmental
justice, because except for base personnel, the island is uninhabited.
The project would only require a few existing base personnel and 20
SpaceX personnel and would not cause any impact to off base or low-
income populations.
Air Quality: Falcon launches would have only a localized, minimal
impact on air quality. Long-term effects are not expected because the
launches would be infrequent and the resulting emissions would be
rapidly dispersed and diluted by trade winds. Regional air quality and
ambient air quality standards would not be impacted by launches of the
Falcon 1 vehicle.
Airspace: USAKA/RTS is located under international airspace and
therefore, has no formal airspace restrictions governing it. However,
the Omelek launch site is approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) north
of Bucholz Army Airfield and Falcon launches
[[Page 65962]]
could potentially impact flight patterns for military aircraft in the
area. SpaceX would coordinate Falcon 1 launches with the USAKA/RTS
Commander, which would include scheduling launches to avoid airspace
conflicts.
Biological Resources: Disturbances to vegetation and wildlife
during Falcon launches would be minimal and brief. Based on existing
analyses of prior and current launches within the region, launch
disturbances on migratory birds, threatened or endangered species and
other wildlife would be minimal. There is a very small possibility that
debris or booster drops could impact migratory whales or sea turtles;
however, the majority of the potential impact area is open-ocean, where
the probability of impacting a species would be very low.
Potential habitat for sea turtles on Omelek includes sandy beaches
along the southern and northern tips of the island and the area of the
lagoon shoreline from the northern tip of the island south to the north
jetty. Personnel would be instructed to avoid all contact with sea
turtles or turtle nests that might occur within the area. On the day of
the launch or the day before, SpaceX or USAKA/RTS personnel would fence
the beach 100 meters (328 feet) on either side of the launch site just
above the wave surge area at a sufficient height to prevent sea turtles
from hauling out at this area and thus would prevent a take during a
nominal launch. No site preparation activities would take place
offshore, and thus marine mammals would not be affected.
No impacts are expected to vegetation since sufficient open space
should exist around the launch site to absorb ground effects without
directly impacting surrounding vegetation.
Cultural Resources: Personnel involved in launch and other
operational activities would follow USAKA Environmental Standards (UES)
requirements in handling or avoiding any cultural resources uncovered
during operational or monitoring activities. This would include ongoing
consultation with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Historic
Preservation Officer on any cultural resource issues encountered during
operations. In addition, no historic World War II or significant Cold
War features have been identified on Omelek. Therefore, no significant
impacts to cultural resources are anticipated.
Geology and Soils: Falcon 1 launch vehicle emissions would consist
mainly of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and water and would
not result in any impacts to geology or soils. There would be a slight
risk of soil contamination from accidental spills of propellants or
premature flight termination; however, this risk would be minimized
because emergency response personnel would comply with the Hazardous
Waste Management Plan and Hazardous Materials Contingency Plan prepared
by SpaceX and the Kwajalein Environmental Emergency Plan.
Hazardous Materials and Waste: Materials proposed for use as a
result of the Proposed Action are similar to hazardous materials
already in use for other operations at USAKA/RTS. New hazardous
materials would represent only a small increase in the total amount of
materials handled and could easily be accommodated by existing
hazardous materials management systems. Hazardous waste management at
USAKA/RTS would continue to be performed in accordance with the UES,
which requires shipment of hazardous waste back to the Continental
United States for treatment and/or disposal; therefore, there would not
be a significant impact.
Health and Safety: Launches of the Falcon 1 vehicle from Omelek
Island would comply with all UES and USAKA/RTS Range Safety
Requirements. This includes performing flight safety studies,
coordinating launches with the Range Safety Officer and evacuating the
uninvolved public from the launch hazard area prior to any launch. In
addition, as part of their launch operator license application, SpaceX
has developed a number of safety procedures for Falcon 1 launches.
Marshallese individuals who have permission to stay temporarily on
Omelek while fishing from adjacent islands would be asked by the USAKA/
RTS Commander to evacuate the launch hazard area once the Falcon 1
rocket has been brought to the island. The Marshallese could resume
their habitation once launch activities have been accomplished and the
associated facilities secured. Access to Omelek would be limited to all
but mission essential persons and personnel would be evacuated from the
island prior to launch. There is no expected significant impact to
health and safety.
Infrastructure: The USASMDC EA found that there would be no impacts
to infrastructure from constructing and operating the Falcon 1 launch
program on Omelek Island. However, for this document, the FAA is
analyzing only the licensing of Falcon launches and no construction or
upgrades to roads or utilities would be required under the Proposed
Action. Therefore, there would be no impacts to infrastructure from
Falcon 1 launch operations at Omelek Island.
Noise: Falcon 1 pre-launch and launch operations on Omelek Island
would result in only temporary noise impacts. The island has been
developed solely as a launch support facility and there are no
inhabited islands within 21 kilometers (13 miles) of the site. SpaceX
personnel would be evacuated from the island prior to launch and would
not be impacted by the launch. The Falcon 1 launch vehicle would reach
supersonic speeds at an altitude of approximately eight kilometers
(five miles) over the open ocean and the resultant sonic boom would not
adversely impact any surrounding USAKA islands. Wildlife near the
launch site would be temporarily impacted by noise generated during
launch operations; however, the level of disturbance would be minimal
due to the temporary and infrequent nature of launch operations.
Water Resources: There is the potential for carbonic acid (a mild
acid similar to that in a carbonated beverage) to be produced during
launch from the reaction of carbon dioxide in the exhaust plume and
water. This carbonic acid would be expected to rapidly evaporate and
would have a similar pH to that of rainwater; therefore, no impacts to
water resources would be expected to occur from launch emissions.
There is the potential for an accidental propellant spill or
premature flight termination to result in released propellant
contaminating water resources. This risk, however, would be minimized
through compliance with the Hazardous Materials Contingency Plan and
Hazardous Waste Management Plan prepared by SpaceX and the Kwajalein
Environmental Management Plan.
Cumulative Impacts: The proposed action would not occur at the same
time as other programs such as Ground-Based Midcourse Defense or
Minuteman III planned for the region. Launches are short-term, discrete
events, thus allowing time between launches for emission products to be
dispersed and minimizing the potential for impacts to airspace users,
biological resources, and public health and safety. No significant
cumulative impacts are expected to air quality, airspace, biological
resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazardous materials
and waste, health and safety, infrastructure, noise, and water
resources.
Determination: An analysis of the Proposed Action has concluded
that there are no significant short-term or long-term effects to the
environment or surrounding populations. After careful and thorough
consideration of the facts
[[Page 65963]]
herein, the undersigned finds that the proposed Federal action is
consistent with existing national environmental policies and objectives
set forth in Section 101(a) of NEPA and that it will not significantly
affect the quality of the human environment or otherwise include any
condition requiring consultation pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of NEPA.
Therefore, an EIS for the proposed action is not required.
Issued on October 25, 2005 in Washington, DC.
Patricia Grace Smith,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 05-21746 Filed 10-31-05; 8:45 am]
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