Notice2023-03222
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Funding, Procurement, and Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
Primary source
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Published
February 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NOAA's Uncrewed Systems Research Transition Office (UxSRTO) in OAR has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Funding, Procurement, and Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). We are making the draft EA available for public review and comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9872-9873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03222]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Funding, Procurement, and
Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce
(DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NOAA's Uncrewed Systems Research Transition Office (UxSRTO) in
OAR has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Funding,
Procurement, and Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
(UAS). We are making the draft EA available for public review and
comment.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 17, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The Draft EA is available online at <a href="https://orta.research.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Draft-PEA-for-NOAA-Small-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems.pdf">https://orta.research.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Draft-PEA-for-NOAA-Small-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems.pdf</a>. Please submit public comments via
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8ede0eb96f7f9eaf8f6f7f9f996dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0b5b8b3ceafa1b2a0aeafa1a1ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a> with the subject line ``Public Comment on
Draft EA for UAS.'' Please be aware that comments submitted may be
posted on a Federal website or otherwise released publicly. Clearly
indicate the section, page number, and line number, if applicable, to
which submitted comments pertain. All comments must be provided in
English. No business proprietary information, copyrighted information,
or personally identifiable information should be submitted. Please note
that the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for
the use of any information contained in the response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Cole, Director, NOAA Uncrewed
Systems Research Transition Office (email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6604141f07084805090a03260809070748010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="01637378606f2f626e6d64416f6e60602f666e77">[email protected]</span></a> or phone
number: 831-601-2107).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The UxSRTO is often directly or indirectly
involved in the funding, procurement, and operation of small UAS during
the course of its normal office functions. The UxSRTO, and its
predecessor, the NOAA UAS Program Office in OAR, were formally
established to provide guidance and expertise in support of NOAA's
efforts in the testing and development of UAS and to help expand UAS
research, development, and transitions to operations and
commercialization. The draft EA evaluates the potential impacts on the
environment from the types of small UAS platforms and operations
commonly supported by the UxSRTO across NOAA, in any environment for
which NOAA has a mission and potential need for UAS resources to help
meet related mission objectives.
For purposes of the assessment, the use of the term ``small UAS''
follows suit with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)
definition of ``small unmanned aircraft'' (14 CFR 107.3), which weigh
``less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board
or otherwise attached to the aircraft.'' The geographic scope of the
action area includes the airspace ranging from just above the surface
(for launch and recovery), extending upward to an operational altitude
of approximately 400 ft. above ground level (AGL) for a majority of
applications, but may also include operational altitudes up to as high
as 100,000 ft. mean sea level (MSL) for a few others.
UxSRTO proposes that the support for small UAS operations at NOAA,
as described in the proposed action, would have no significant impact
on the environment. The Draft EA has been prepared in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of
[[Page 9873]]
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on
Environmental Quality implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), as well as NOAA's procedures for compliance with NEPA as
specified in the Companion Manual to NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-03222 Filed 2-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P
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