Notice2025-03359
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Rocket Cargo Test and Demonstration at Johnston Atoll, United States (EAXX-007-57-USF-1728497279)
Primary source
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Published
March 3, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentAir Force Department
Abstract
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this notice of intent (NOI) to advise the public of the pending preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of construction and operation of two landing pads at Johnston Atoll for up to 10 reentry vehicle landings per year over four consecutive years to support the test, demonstration, and evaluation of capabilities under the DAF Rocket Cargo Vanguard program (Proposed Action). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System (USFWS) are cooperating agencies.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 40 (Monday, March 3, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 40 (Monday, March 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11045-11046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03359]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for
Rocket Cargo Test and Demonstration at Johnston Atoll, United States
(EAXX-007-57-USF-1728497279)
AGENCY: United States Space Force, 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
[[Page 11046]]
intent (NOI) to advise the public of the pending preparation of an
Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of construction
and operation of two landing pads at Johnston Atoll for up to 10
reentry vehicle landings per year over four consecutive years to
support the test, demonstration, and evaluation of capabilities under
the DAF Rocket Cargo Vanguard program (Proposed Action). The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Wildlife Refuge System (USFWS) are cooperating agencies.
DATES: The DAF anticipates that a Draft EA and Draft Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) will be available for public review in early
April 2025 and posted on U.S. Air Force websites for the Pacific Air
Forces (PACAF) and the Air Force Installation and Mission Support
Center. During a 30-day public review period, agencies and the public
will be encouraged to submit written comments for the DAF's
consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Once available, electronic copies of
the Draft EA and Draft FONSI may be found online at <a href="https://www.afcec.af.mil/Home/Environment/National-Environmental-Policy-Act-Center/">https://www.afcec.af.mil/Home/Environment/National-Environmental-Policy-Act-Center/</a> and <a href="https://www.jber.jb.mil/Services-Resources/Environmental/NEPA/">https://www.jber.jb.mil/Services-Resources/Environmental/NEPA/</a>. The public and agencies will be advised to submit questions or
comments concerning the Draft EA or the Draft FONSI to the project
managers at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fabbbcb9bfb9d4b9b3bfd4a89599919f8eb99b889d95ba8f89d49b9cd4979396"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aeefe8edebed80ede7eb80fcc1cdc5cbdaedcfdcc9c1eedbdd80cfc880c3c7c2">[email protected]</span></a>; media inquiries should be
directed to the PACAF Regional Support Center Public Affairs Officer,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d392220202428632f2c26283f0d383e632c2b63202421"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed998280808488c38f8c86889fad989ec38c8bc3808481">[email protected]</span></a>, or mailed to 10471 20th Street, Suite 243,
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska 99506-2101 (Attn: Tommie
Baker).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to
safely test and demonstrate the expeditious delivery of tons of
materiel through space in support of ongoing research, development,
test, and experimentation under the DAF Rocket Cargo Vanguard program.
Under the Rocket Cargo Vanguard, the Air Force Research Laboratory is
leading a science and technology effort to determine the viability and
utility of using large commercial rockets for Department of Defense
(DoD) global logistics, potentially expanding the portfolio of
capabilities the United States Space Force presents to combatant
commanders. The need for the Proposed Action is to advance novel space
capabilities to transport materiel in hours anywhere around the globe.
Current military modes of transportation require days to weeks of
planning and logistics to provide materiel to distant locations at the
time and place of need. The Proposed Action would explore the military
utility of this technology to address rapid global mobility challenges
by leveraging commercial technology to mature critical capabilities.
To begin the testing, demonstration, and evaluation of these
capabilities as soon as 2025, the DAF's operational requirements
necessitate use of a landing location that ensures public safety and
adherence to applicable sections of 14 CFR part 450, Launch and Reentry
Licensing Requirements, as implemented by the FAA, and limits impacts
to ongoing military operations. In accordance with these operational
requirements, the DAF further determined that the location must be
remote, securable, U.S. Government-controlled, capable of air or
maritime transport of personnel and materiel and support the
disposition and removal of reentry vehicles via barged transport. Based
on these operational requirements, the DAF identified several initial
locations potentially capable of supporting reentry vehicle landings:
Johnston Atoll, Kwajalein Atoll, Midway Island, and Wake Island. Upon
further examination, the DAF concluded that Johnston Atoll is the only
location that meets all operational requirements over the duration of
the four-year reentry and landing test program. Therefore, Johnston
Atoll is the alternative to be considered in the EA.
Johnston Island, an unincorporated territory of the United States
within Johnston Atoll located in a broad ocean area, was identified as
the safest and most viable location to meet operational requirements.
Johnston Atoll includes the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and
is within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument
(PIHMNM). This area has historically enabled decades of DoD operations
in support of national defense and holds important national ecological
and cultural values.
Expected effects of the Proposed Action that will be analyzed in
the EA include but are not limited to the potential effects on
essential fish habitat, migratory birds, and other protected species.
Potential effects to protected species will be addressed under
consultation with USFWS and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as
appropriate.
As required, the DAF will also analyze the no action alternative
for this Proposed Action. The DAF will coordinate and consult as
appropriate with the USFWS under Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act, and with the NMFS under Section 7 of
the ESA, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Additionally, the DAF is
committed to working with the FAA, USFWS, NMFS, other stakeholders, and
interested parties to advance cultural, ecological and conservation
protections at Johnston Atoll, the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife
Refuge, and the PIHMNM.
Tommy W. Lee,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-03359 Filed 2-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3911-44-P
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