[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48698-48699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23201]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation;
Notice of Availability of Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Commercial Launch Vehicles
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Associate Administrator
for Commercial Space Transportation (AST).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) the FAA is initiating a 45-day public review and comment period
of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for licensing
commercial launch vehicles. The PEIS was prepared to (1) update a 1986
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Commercial Launch Vehicles;
(2) work in conjunction with other environmental documentation to
support licensing of commercial launch vehicles (LVs); and (3) document
compliance with NEPA requirements. In October 1998, AST's regulatory
role in commercial space launch activities was enlarged to include
licensing reentries and reentry sites; therefore, these are included in
the PEIS. Copies of the document will be available through AST's
Website (http://ast.faa.gov/) or by contacting Mr. Nikos Himaras at the
address listed below.
DATES: The official comment period will begin with an Environmental
Protection Agency Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and the PEIS; or any relevant data and/or comments regarding the
potential environmental impacts associated with licensing commercial
launch vehicles, reentries and/or reentry sites may be addressed to Mr.
Nikos Himaras, Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial
Space Transportation, Space System Development Division, Suite 331/AST-
100, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; email
nick.himaras@faa.gov; or phone (202) 267-7926. Written comments
regarding the PEIS should be sent to the same mailing address.
Additional Information
The PEIS considers the environmental impacts of the proposed action
of licensing commercial LVs. Two alternatives are also considered in
detail. First, the more environmentally-friendly propellant combination
alternative, whereby AST would emphasize licensing LVs that produce
fewer air emissions of concern. In addition, the No Action alternative
is also examined, where AST would not issue licenses for commercial LV
launches.
In analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the proposed
action and two alternatives, the PEIS identifies six different types of
ecosystems representing various potential commercial LV launch
locations throughout the U.S. The environmental characteristics of the
different ecosystems were used to describe the range of potential
impacts of licensing commercial space launches.
[[Page 48699]]
Potential impacts of the proposed action were analyzed in three
major categories, atmospheric impacts, noise impacts, and other
environmental impacts. Potential environmental impacts to the
atmosphere analyzed include ozone depletion and acid rain formation.
Potential noise impacts considered include acoustic energy from
launches and sonic booms during flights. Other potential environmental
impacts discussed in the PEIS include impacts to the climate and
atmosphere of the launch site, land resources, water resources, and
biological resources. Potential accident scenarios and marine mammal
strike probability were also considered.
Potential environmental impacts associated with the more
environmentally-friendly propellant combinations alternative were
analyzed in three major categories: atmospheric impacts, noise impacts,
and other environmental impacts. The environmentally-friendly
propellant alternative is defined as preferentially licensing rockets
that are not solely propelled by solid rocket motors. This would reduce
the total number of U.S. commercial launches projected from 1998
through 2009 from 436 to 134. The number of launches using liquid,
liquid/solid, or hybrid propellant systems is assumed to remain
unchanged under this alternative. Thus, the total number of commercial,
AST-licensed launches in the U.S. (i.e., programmatic launches) would
decrease substantially under this alternative. It is assumed that the
decrease in U.S. commercial launches using only solid propellants would
be compensated for by an increase in these launches elsewhere in the
world.
Under the No Action alternative, the same number of worldwide
commercial LV launches would take place. Chapter 701 requires AST to
license a launch if the applicant complies and will continue to comply
with chapter 701 and implementing regulations. 49 U.S.C. 70105. One of
the purposes of chapter 701 is to provide that the Secretary of
Transportation, and therefore AST, pursuant to delegations, oversees
and coordinates the conduct of commercial launch and reentry, and
issues and transfers licenses authorizing these activities. 40 U.S.C.
70104(b)(3). The agency may prevent a launch if it decides that the
launch would jeopardize public health and safety, safety of property,
or national security, or a foreign policy interest of the United
States. 49 U.S.C. 70104(c). Not licensing any U.S. commercial launches
would not be consistent with the purposes of chapter 701 in this
context. In any event, the no action alternative suffers from other
drawbacks as well. The U.S. space launch industry would be unable to
continue LV launch operations regardless of their location because AST
would not license U.S. launches. The no action alternative could
negatively impact the national security and foreign policy interests of
the U.S. Some U.S. government payloads have been launched by the U.S.
commercial space launch industry. Therefore, if access to commercial
LVs were not available, this overall limit in available capacity could,
in a worst case scenario, impact the U.S. government's ability to
launch needed payloads and negatively affect programs that rely on
access to space. Additionally, under this alternative, parties that
plan to launch from U.S. launch sites would be forced to find
alternative launch sites outside the U.S., thereby potentially exposing
sensitive technologies to countries with competing economic and
security interests.
Potential cumulative impacts, including those to the atmosphere and
noise, are also addressed in the PEIS. Irreversible and irretrievable
commitment of resources, such as consumption of mineral resources, are
addressed in the document.
Finally, the PEIS recommends a variety of mitigation measures to
prevent or reduce environmental effects associated with the proposed
action. Individual launch sites will monitor water quality, complete
archaeological surveys, and survey biological species in the vicinity
of the launch area. It is also assumed that all launch sites will
comply with permit conditions. Other examples of suggested mitigation
measures include: noise control actions, promoting the use of
environmentally-friendly propellants, engaging in voluntary waste
pollution prevention programs, developing a comprehensive environmental
management system, working with interested parties to select the most
culturally-friendly site, and implementing effective lighting policies
to protect wildlife. Lastly, it should be noted that this PEIS is not
site-specific. Any required site-specific environmental documentation
would be developed as needed.
Date Issued: August 31, 1999.
Place Issued: Washington, DC.
Patricia G. Smith,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 99-23201 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
