Notice2024-03554
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Primary source
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Published
February 21, 2024
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentAir Force Department
Abstract
The Department of the Air Force is the lead agency for this notice. The Federal Aviation Administration is a cooperating agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Coast Guard were invited to be cooperating agencies for this action. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with (1) the execution of a real property agreement between the United States Space Force (USSF) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), which would enable SpaceX to develop a launch site to support Starship-Super Heavy operations, including launch and landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) issuance of a vehicle operator license at the selected launch site and approval of related airspace closures.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13050-13051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03554]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense; Federal
Aviation Administration; National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
and United States Coast Guard.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force is the lead agency for this
notice. The Federal Aviation Administration is a cooperating agency and
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Coast Guard
were invited to be cooperating agencies for this action. The Department
of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the
potential environmental impacts associated with (1) the execution of a
real property agreement between the United States Space Force (USSF)
and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), which would enable
SpaceX to develop a launch site to support Starship-Super Heavy
operations, including launch and landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station (CCSFS), and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)
issuance of a vehicle operator license at the selected launch site and
approval of related airspace closures.
DATES: A public scoping period will take place starting from the date
of this NOI publication in the Federal Register and will last for 30
days. Comments will be accepted at any time during the environmental
impact analysis process; however, to ensure the DAF has sufficient time
to consider public scoping comments during preparation of the Draft
EIS, please submit comments within the 30-day scoping period.
The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested
parties to attend one or more of the three in-person public scoping
meetings or the virtual public scoping meeting. In-person meetings will
be held March 5 at Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library, 308
Forrest Ave., Cocoa, FL 32922; March 6 at Titusville Civic Center, 4220
S Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL 32780; and March 7 at Radisson Resort At
The Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Each in-
person scoping meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. A virtual
meeting is scheduled for March 12 at 6 p.m. Information on how to
attend the virtual meeting is available on the project website
(<a href="http://SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a>). The meetings will provide an opportunity
for attendees to learn more about the Proposed Action and Alternatives
and provide an early and open process to assist the DAF and its
Cooperating Agencies in determining the scope of issues for analysis in
the EIS, including identifying significant environmental issues and
eliminating from further study non-significant issues. Scope consists
of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered in
the EIS. Project team members will be available to answer questions and
there will also be an opportunity to provide oral and written comments.
Scoping meeting materials will be provided in English and Spanish.
The Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS is anticipated in
December 2024 and the NOA for the Final EIS is anticipated in September
2025. A decision could be made no earlier than 30 days after the Final
EIS.
ADDRESSES: The project website (<a href="http://SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a>) provides
information related to the EIS, such as environmental documents,
schedule, and project details, as well as a comment form. Comments may
be submitted via the website comment form, emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63200c0d170200173610235f02430b1106055e" http: SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a>">ContactUs@<a href="http://SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a></a>, or mailed to CCSFS Starship EIS c/
o Jacobs, 5401 W Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, Florida 33609.
Members of the public who want to receive future mailings informing
them of the availability of the Draft EIS and Final EIS are encouraged
to submit a comment that includes their name and email or postal
mailing
[[Page 13051]]
address. For other inquiries, please contact Ms. Molly Thrash, NEPA
Project Manager at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#df9cb0b1abbebcab8aac9fe3beffb7adbab9e2" http: SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a>">ContactUs@<a href="http://SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com">SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com</a></a> or 1-813-954-
5608.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose for the DAF's Proposed Action is
to advance U.S. space capabilities and provide launch and landing
infrastructure in furtherance of U.S. policy to ensure capabilities
necessary to launch and insert national security payloads into space
(United States Code [U.S.C.] Title 10, Section 2273, ``Policy regarding
assured access to space: national security payloads'').
The need for the DAF's Proposed Action is to ensure National
Security Space Launch Assured Access to Space without compromising
current launch capabilities and fulfill (in part) U.S. Congress's grant
of authority to the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to 10 U.S.C.
2276(a), ``Commercial space launch cooperation,'' that the Secretary of
Defense is permitted to take action to maximize the use of the capacity
of the space transportation infrastructure of the Department of Defense
(DOD) by the private sector in the U.S.; maximize the effectiveness and
efficiency of the space transportation infrastructure of the DOD;
reduce the cost of services provided by the DOD related to space
transportation infrastructure at launch support facilities and space
recovery support facilities; encourage commercial space activities by
enabling investment by covered entities in the space transportation
infrastructure of the DOD; and foster cooperation between DOD and
covered entities.
The DAF has identified a Proposed Action alternative, one
reasonable action alternative (Alternative 1), and the No Action
Alternative to be carried forward for analysis in the EIS. Under the
Proposed Action, SpaceX would modify, reuse, or demolish the existing
Space Launch Complex (SLC)-37 infrastructure at CCSFS to support
Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations. Under Alternative
1, leasing SLC-50 at CCSFS, SpaceX would construct infrastructure to
support Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations on a site
that is currently undeveloped. Under the No Action Alternative, USSF
would not enter into a real property agreement with SpaceX, SpaceX
would not develop a launch and landing site in support of Starship-
Super Heavy launches, and SpaceX would not apply for an FAA vehicle
operator license for Starship-Super Heavy launches at either of the
alternative SLCs under consideration.
Potential impacts may include noise, air quality, and hazardous
material effects associated with operations and construction, as well
as effects on biological and cultural resources because of ground
disturbance and operational noise and vibrations. Implementation of the
Proposed Action would potentially impact wetlands and/or floodplains,
therefore this NOI initiates early public review as required per
Executive Order 11988 ``Floodplain Management.'' and Executive Order
11990 ``Protection of Wetlands.''
A Federal Coastal Zone Management Act determination will be
conducted and coordinated with the Florida State Clearinghouse to
determine consistency of the action with the Florida Coastal Management
Program. SpaceX would be required to obtain an FAA Vehicle Operator
License for the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle at CCSFS, which
could include launch, reentry, or both. A Clean Air Act Title V
operating permit may be required, as well as a Clean Water Act Section
404 permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.
Scoping and Agency Coordination: Consultation will include, but not
necessarily be limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act and consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA,
to include consultation with federally recognized Native American
Tribes. Regulatory agencies with special expertise in wetlands and
floodplains, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be
contacted and asked to comment. The DAF and Cooperating Agencies will
determine the scope of the analysis by soliciting comments from
interested local, state, and federally elected officials and agencies,
federally recognized Native American tribes, as well as interested
members of the public. Comments are requested on identification of
potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the
Proposed Action.
Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-03554 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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