Notice2026-19178
Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Reentry Vehicle Operations in the Marine Environment
Primary source
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Published
September 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), DOT Order 5610.1D, DOT's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Reentry Vehicle Operations in the Marine Environment (Draft PEA). FAA is also requesting comment on proposed new categorical exclusions (CATEXs) as described in and substantiated by the Draft PEA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 180 (Friday, September 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59294-59295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19178]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2026-10264]
Notice of Availability, Notice of Public Comment Period, and
Request for Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment
for Reentry Vehicle Operations in the Marine Environment
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), DOT Order 5610.1D, DOT's Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts, and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, FAA is announcing the
availability of and requesting comment on the Draft Programmatic
Environmental Assessment for Reentry Vehicle Operations in the Marine
Environment (Draft PEA). FAA is also requesting comment on proposed new
categorical exclusions (CATEXs) as described in and substantiated by
the Draft PEA.
DATES: The public comment period for the Draft PEA will close on
October 19, 2026.
ADDRESSES: The Draft PEA is available for public review at <a href="https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs">https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs</a>. Public comments can be
submitted electronically to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-
2026-10264, or by postal mail to Nicholas Baker, FAA Environmental
Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA
20190. The Unique ID for this document is PEAX-012-12-000-1774526578.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, visit <a href="https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs">https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs</a> or send an email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9ebdcdcd7cdcbc0fad8c9caccd5dce9fcf8f9d0dadf97dad6d4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="227047474c56505b61435251574e47726763624b41440c414d4f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FAA is the lead federal agency, and the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Coast Guard are
cooperating agencies. FAA has prepared this Draft PEA to evaluate the
potential environmental impacts associated with issuing vehicle
operator licenses or experimental permits to commercial reentry vehicle
operators, which would authorize reentry operations of vehicles in the
marine environment. In addition to issuing a license or permit, FAA's
federal actions include issuing airspace closures to ensure reentry
operations are conducted safely. FAA intends to use this PEA to comply
with its National Environmental Policy Act requirements for subsequent
reviews of license or permit applications involving reentry operations
in the marine environment, as well as to establish three new CATEXs, as
described in the Draft PEA. The new CATEXs would be added to FAA Order
1050.1G, Appendix B-2.2 (Categorical Exclusions for Certification
Actions). Concurrent with this public review period, FAA is consulting
with the Council on Environmental Quality on its PEA and proposed
CATEXs, in accordance with Section 1.4(b)(2) of FAA Order 1050.1G.
Proposed Categorical Exclusions
The first proposed CATEX is for issuing FAA vehicle operator
licenses or experimental permits for reentry operations that are within
the scope of operations described in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed
Action and Alternatives, of the PEA. All FAA-licensed or -permitted
reentry operations would occur within the study area analyzed in the
PEA and the applicant's annual frequency of reentry operations would
not exceed the cumulative number of annual FAA-licensed and -permitted
reentries described in the PEA.
The second proposed CATEX is for renewing FAA vehicle operator
licenses or experimental permits for reentry operations that are within
the scope of operations described in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed
Action and Alternatives, of the PEA. All FAA-licensed or -permitted
reentry operations would occur within the study area analyzed in the
PEA and the applicant's annual frequency of reentry operations would
not exceed the cumulative number of annual FAA-licensed and -permitted
reentries described in the PEA.
The third proposed CATEX is for modifying FAA vehicle operator
licenses or experimental permits for reentry operations that are within
the scope of operations described in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed
Action and Alternatives, of the PEA. Such modifications might include
new splashdown locations within the study area analyzed in the PEA or
new expended or reused components within the type and frequency
described in Chapter 2 of the PEA.
Basis for Establishing the Categorical Exclusions
FAA Order 1050.1G states FAA may establish a CATEX through a
decision document supported by a programmatic environmental document
that substantiates the FAA's conclusion that the category of actions
analyzed in the programmatic environmental document does not have
significant effects, individually or in the aggregate.
As described in the PEA and consistent with CEQ's guidance
memorandum, Establishing, Revising, Adopting, and Applying Categorical
Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (April 9, 2026),
FAA has analyzed previously implemented reentry operations in multiple
environmental documents prepared in accordance with NEPA and determined
there would not be significant impacts on the human environment. Each
EA resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (refer to Appendix B
of the PEA for a list of these EAs).
Public Disclosure Statement
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the FAA
in your comment
[[Page 59295]]
to withhold from public review your personal identifying information,
FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2026.
Stacey Molinich Zee,
Manager, Operations Support Branch.
[FR Doc. 2026-19178 Filed 9-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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