[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45196-45197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18746]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability
of the Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact to the September 2008 Environmental Assessment for
Space Florida Launch Site Operator License, Brevard County, FL
AGENCY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), lead Federal agency
and United States Air Force, cooperating agency.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final SEA and FONSI.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental
Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and FAA
Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the
Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (Final SEA) and Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) to the September 2008 Environmental
Assessment for Space Florida Launch Site Operator License. The Final
SEA was prepared in response to an application for a Launch Site
Operator License from Space Florida. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA
would issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida to operate
a commercial space launch site at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) and LC-46
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Brevard County, Florida.
The license would allow Space Florida to support vertical launches of
both solid and liquid propellant launch vehicles from LC-36 and LC-46.
LC-46 is the easternmost launch complex at CCAFS, located at the tip of
Cape Canaveral, and LC-36 is located in the east-central portion of
CCAFS. The Final SEA addresses the potential environmental impacts of
issuing a Launch Site Operator License for the Proposed Action and the
No Action Alternative.
The FAA has posted the Final SEA and FONSI on the FAA Office of
Commercial Space Transportation Web site at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/. In addition, copies of the
Final SEA and FONSI were sent to persons and agencies on the
distribution list (found in Chapter 8 of the Final SEA). A paper copy
and a CD version of the Final SEA and FONSI may be reviewed during
regular business hours at the following locations:
Titusville Public Library, 2121 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL 32780.
Cocoa Beach Public Library, 550 North Brevard Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL
32931.
Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL
32920.
Merritt Island Public Library, 1195 North Courtenay Parkway, Merritt
Island, FL 32953.
Additional Information
Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a Launch Site
Operator License to Space Florida to operate LC-36 and LC-46 as a
commercial space launch site for vertical launches of both solid and
liquid propellant launch vehicles. The proposed activities at LC-46
remain consistent with those analyzed in the 2008 EA which analyzed the
potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Launch Site
Operator License to Space Florida to operate a commercial space launch
site at LC-46. The 2008 EA analyzed the operation of several types of
vertical launch vehicles from LC-46, including
[[Page 45197]]
Athena-1 and Athena-2, Minotaur, Taurus, Falcon 1, Alliant Techsystems
small launch vehicles, and other Castor[reg] 120-based or
Minuteman-derivative booster vehicles.
The Proposed Action also includes construction and operation
activities to redevelop LC-36 into commercial space launch site. The
Final SEA expands on the analysis provided in the 2008 EA to include an
analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the construction and
operation activities associated with the redevelopment of LC-36 into a
commercial space launch site. Redeveloping LC-36 into a multi-use
commercial space launch site involves construction of facilities to
launch a Generic Launch Vehicle (GLV), which is a conceptual (or
``surrogate'') liquid propellant medium class launch vehicle with a
solid propellant second stage, and a bipropellant third stage, used for
the purposes of the environmental review. Redevelopment activities at
LC-36 would include building access roads; erecting a security fence;
reconstituting several existing facilities; constructing an elevated
launch deck, associated flame ducts, water storage tank, and water
deluge containment pool; and installing electrical, communication, and
air systems. Redevelopment would occur in phases dictated by costs and
schedule, and facility construction or modifications would take place
only on previously disturbed ground. The only alternative to the
Proposed Action is the No Action Alternative. Under this alternative,
the FAA would not issue a Launch Site Operator License to Space Florida
for commercial launches from LC-36 and LC-46 at CCAFS.
Resource areas were considered to provide a context for
understanding and assessing the potential environmental effects of the
Proposed Action, with attention focused on key issues. The resource
areas considered in the Final SEA included air quality; biological
resources (terrestrial vegetation and wildlife, marine species, and
protected species); compatible land use (land use, light emissions,
visual resources, and coastal resources); cultural resources and
Section 4(f) properties; hazardous materials, solid waste, and
pollution prevention; noise; socioeconomic resources; and water
resources (surface water, groundwater, floodplains, and wetlands).
Potential cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action are also addressed
in the Final SEA.
The FAA published a Notice of Availability of the Draft SEA in the
Federal Register on April 1, 2010, which started a 30-day public review
and comment period. One written comment was received during the public
comment period. The Final SEA responds to all substantive comments and
includes any changes or edits resulting from the comments received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Czelusniak, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue,
SW., Suite 331, Washington, DC 20591, by e-mail at
[email protected], or by phone at (202) 267-5924.
Issued in Washington, DC on July 23, 2010.
Michael McElligott,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-18746 Filed 7-30-10; 8:45 am]
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