Notice2024-29446
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Authorizing Changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Primary source
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Published
December 13, 2024
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentAir Force Department
Abstract
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 effects associated with DAF's authorization of the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6 to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations, including launch and landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB); DAF's authorization of an increase in Falcon 9 launches and landings at VSFB and downrange landings in the Pacific Ocean; and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) issuance or modification of a vehicle operator license to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations at VSFB and approval of related airspace closures. The FAA and United States Coast Guard (USCG) are cooperating agencies for this EIS. The Unique Identification Number for this EIS is EISX-007-USF-1728547807.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 100986-100987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29446]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Authorizing Changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space
Force Base
AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: 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 effects associated with DAF's
authorization of the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6 to
support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations, including launch and
landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB); DAF's authorization of
an increase in Falcon 9 launches and landings at VSFB and downrange
landings in the Pacific Ocean; and the Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA's) issuance or modification of a vehicle operator
license to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations at VSFB and approval of related
airspace closures. The FAA and United States Coast Guard (USCG) are
cooperating agencies for this EIS. The Unique Identification Number for
this EIS is EISX-007-USF-1728547807.
DATES: A public scoping period of 45 days will take place starting from
the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register. To ensure the
DAF has sufficient time to consider public scoping comments during
preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit comments within the 45-day
scoping period. Comments will be accepted at any time during the
environmental impact analysis process.
The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested
parties to attend one or more of three in-person scoping meetings or
the virtual scoping meeting. In-person meetings will be held in the
evenings of January 14th, 15th, and 16th 2025. The exact location and
scheduled time for public scoping meetings will be published in local
newspapers (Lompoc Record, Los Angeles Times, Ojai Valley News, Santa
Barbara Independent, Santa Maria Times, and Ventura County Star) and on
the project website a minimum of 15 days prior to the meetings. A
virtual meeting is scheduled for January 23rd, 2025, at 6 p.m. Pacific
time. Information on how to attend the virtual meeting is available on
the project website (<a href="http://www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com">www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.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 those which can be eliminated from further
study. Project team members will be available to answer questions about
the Proposed Action, and there will also be an opportunity to provide
oral and written comments. Scoping meeting materials will be provided
in English and Spanish.
Publication of the Draft EIS is anticipated in March 2025, which
will be followed by a 45-day comment period with public hearing
opportunities. The Final EIS is anticipated in September 2025. The
Record of Decision could be approved and signed no earlier than 30 days
after the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: The project website (<a href="http://www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com">www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com</a>) provides
information related to the EIS, such as environmental documents,
schedule, public meeting locations, and project details, as well as a
comment form and information on how to comment. Comments may be
submitted via the website comment form, emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92fbfcf4fdd2c4c1d4d0d4f3fef1fdfcdef3e7fcf1fad7dbc1bcf1fdff"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e575058517e686d787c785f525d5150725f4b505d567b776d105d5153">[email protected]</span></a>, or mailed to ATTN: VSFB Falcon Launch
EIS, c/o ManTech International Corporation, 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite
100, Solana Beach, CA 92075. 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 address. For other inquiries, including
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please
contact Ms. Hilary Rummel, NEPA Project Manager at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#761f181019362025303430171a1519183a170318151e333f255815191b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed84838b82adbbbeabafab8c818e8283a18c98838e85a8a4bec38e8280">[email protected]</span></a> or VSFB Public Affairs office by phone at
1-805-606-3595.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to
increase the space launch mission capability of the U.S. Department of
Defense (DOD) and other federal and commercial customers and to enhance
the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch
infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space
industry. As directed by U.S. policy (10 U.S.C. 2273, ``Policy
regarding assured access to space: national security payloads''; see
[[Page 100987]]
also the White House's 2021 Space Priorities Framework), the United
States seeks to provide greater launch and landing capabilities and
infrastructure to support national security objectives, including
deploying satellites and other space assets that enable intelligence,
reconnaissance, and global security operations. The United States aims
to promote a hybrid space architecture that diversifies access to
space, reduces dependency on singular systems, and ensures rapid
reconstitution capabilities.
The Proposed Action is needed to meet current and near-term U.S.
Government space launch requirements from the DoD space launch range
that supports launches centered at VSFB (Western Range), specifically
for medium and heavy lift launches to polar, geostationary, and other
orbits less reliably available elsewhere without compromising current
launch capabilities. The Proposed Action is also needed to expand
launch capacity by returning heavy lift launch capability to the
Western Range. Finally, the proposed action is needed to fulfill (in
part) 10 U.S.C. 2276(a), ``Commercial space launch cooperation,''
authorizing the Secretary of Defense to maximize the use of the
capacity of the space transportation infrastructure of the 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 and 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. ``Covered entity'' means a non[hyphen]federal entity
that is organized under the laws of the U.S. or of any jurisdiction
within the U.S. and is engaged in commercial space activities.
Additionally, public interests largely intersect with the
government interests identified, including greater mission capability
for space exploration, and advancing reliable and affordable access to
space which in turn advances the scientific and national security
benefits of the U.S.Space Program.
The DAF has identified a Proposed Action, Alternative 1, and the No
Action Alternative to be carried forward for analysis in the EIS. Under
the Proposed Action, the DAF would authorize Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
launch and landing operations at SLC-6, including modifications to SLC-
6 required to support those operations and construction of landing
zones. The DAF would also authorize an increase in Falcon 9 launches
from SLC-4, which currently hosts Falcon 9 launch operations, and an
increase in downrange landings on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. The
overall launch cadence for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs,
combined, would be 100 launches per year. No modification of SLC-4
infrastructure is proposed. The FAA would issue or modify a vehicle
operator license for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations and approve
corresponding temporary airspace closures for operations. Under the
Proposed Action, the existing horizontal integration facility (HIF)
located north of SLC-6 would be modified into a hangar for use by
SpaceX to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations. Alternative 1
is the same as the Proposed Action except rather than modifying the
existing HIF, DAF would authorize SpaceX to construct a new hangar
south of the HIF and north of the launch pad at SLC-6. Under the No
Action Alternative, the DAF would not authorize any Falcon 9 or Falcon
Heavy launches or landing operations at, or modifications to, SLC-6,
nor would the DAF authorize additional Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4.
SpaceX would not apply for an FAA vehicle operator license for Falcon
operations at SLC-6 or increased launches from SLC-4.
Potential effects may include noise, air quality, and hazardous
material effects associated with launch and landing operations and
construction, as well as effects on biological and cultural resources
due to ground disturbance, and operational noise and vibrations. A full
assessment of potential impacts to all relevant resource areas will be
included in the EIS, including an analysis of environmental effects of
the Proposed Action and Alternatives when added to the effects of other
past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. As part of
that effort, the cumulative impacts analysis in the EIS will examine
the effects of the Proposed Action that was the subject of the
Environmental Assessment of Falcon 9 Cadence Increase at Vandenberg
Space Force Base, California (EAXX-007-57-USF-1724161195), the final of
which was published in November 2024. SpaceX would be required to
obtain or modify an FAA vehicle operator license for Falcon 9 and
Falcon Heavy at SLC-6, which could include launch, reentry, or both. A
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit may be required.
The Proposed Action and Alternatives are within wetlands and
floodplains; therefore, the Proposed Action is subject to the
requirements and objectives of Executive Order 11988 ``Floodplain
Management'' and Executive Order 11990 ``Protection of Wetlands'', and
this NOI initiates early public review and requests public comment on
the Proposed Action and any practicable alternatives.
Scoping and Agency Coordination: Consultation will include, but not
necessarily be limited to, consultation under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, consultation under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act, to include consultation with federally
recognized Native American Tribes, and consultation under the Coastal
Zone Management Act. 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. Comments are requested on
alternatives and effects, as well as on relevant information, studies,
or analyses with respect to the Proposed Action.
Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-29446 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P
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