Notice2023-06805
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)
Primary source
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Published
April 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) is available for public review and comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19708-19709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06805]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that the
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for FAA-Recognized
Identification Areas (FRIAs) is available for public review and
comment.
DATES: Send comments on or before May 3, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this action,
contact Mike Millard, Aviation Safety Inspector/Environmental
Specialist, Flight Standards, General Aviation Operations Branch, AFS-
830; telephone 1-844-359-6981; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#71485c3730305c35031e1f145c341f0718031e1f1c141f05101d311710105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a89185eee9e985ecdac7c6cd85edc6dec1dac7c6c5cdc6dcc9c4e8cec9c986cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a>.
ADDRESSES: Send comments with the subject line, ``Public Comment on
Draft FRIA PEA'' on all submitted correspondence using the following
method. Email comments to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d74600b0c0c60093f2223286008233b243f2223202823392c210d2b2c2c632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4cdd9b2b5b5d9b0869b9a91d9b19a829d869b9a99919a809598b4929595da939b82">[email protected]</span></a>.
Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without
change, including any personal information the commenter provides, to
the Final PEA, along with the FAA's response to those comments. For
additional information, the applicable system of records notice (SORN),
DOT/ALL-14, 73 FR 3316 (Jan. 17, 2008), can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-01-17/pdf/E8-785.pdf</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Draft PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental
impacts associated with the establishment of FRIAs, pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act. FRIAs may be established in
accordance with 14 CFR part 89. A FRIA is a defined geographic area
where unmanned aircraft can be flown without remote identification
equipment. Both the unmanned aircraft and the pilot must be located
within the FRIA's boundaries throughout the operation. In addition, the
pilot of the unmanned aircraft must be able to see it at all times
throughout the duration of the flight. Only FAA-recognized Community
Based Organizations and educational institutions such as primary and
secondary schools, trade schools, colleges, and universities are
eligible to request the establishment of a FRIA. If the FAA approves
the establishment of a FRIA, the approval will be valid for 48 calendar
months.
The environmental impacts of approving these limited, location-
specific areas for the operations of unmanned aircraft have been
considered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Procedures.
A Draft PEA has been prepared and, based on this analysis, the FAA
has preliminarily determined there will not be a significant impact to
the human environment. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) has not been initiated (40 CFR 1501.6). The FAA intends for this
PEA to create efficiencies by establishing a framework that can be used
for ``tiering,'' where appropriate, to project-specific actions that
require additional analysis. As decisions on specific applications are
made, to the extent additional NEPA analysis is required, environmental
review will be conducted to supplement the analysis set forth in this
PEA.
The Draft PEA is available for review online at the following link:
<a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones">https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones</a>.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested stakeholders to submit comments on the
Draft PEA, as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
Commenters should include the subject line, ``Public Comment on Draft
FRIA PEA'' on all comments submitted to the FAA. All comments must be
provided in English.
The FAA will accept comments in Word, PDF, or email body. No
business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or
personally identifiable
[[Page 19709]]
information should be submitted in response to this request. Please be
aware that comments submitted may be posted on a Federal website or
otherwise released publicly.
The most helpful comments reference a specific recommendation,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
information. The FAA will consider all comments received on or before
the closing date. The FAA will also consider late filed comments if it
is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
Issued in Washington, DC.
David M. Menzimer,
Manager, General Aviation Operations Branch, General Aviation and
Commercial Division, Office of Safety Standards, Flight Standards
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06805 Filed 3-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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