Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), Open Public Scoping Period, and Hold Public Scoping Meetings on the Proposed SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Launch and Landing Operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, Texas and Expansion of Starship Landing and Expenditure Locations

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, FAA is announcing its intent to prepare a PEIS analyzing Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s (SpaceX) proposal to increase Starship-Super Heavy operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX and expand Starship landing and expenditure locations. Subsequent license modifications or renewals under 14 CFR part 400 are within the scope of the PEIS, and the issuance of temporary airspace closures associated with the Proposed Action are included in FAA's Federal Action. FAA is requesting comments concerning the scope and content of the PEIS. A Draft PEIS will be released for public review and comment at a later date.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65289-65291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20963]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[FAA-2026-12808]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (PEIS), Open Public Scoping Period, and Hold Public Scoping 
Meetings on the Proposed SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Launch and Landing 
Operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, Texas and 
Expansion of Starship Landing and Expenditure Locations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a PEIS, open a public scoping 
period, and hold public scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA) and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, FAA is announcing its 
intent to prepare a PEIS analyzing Space Exploration Technologies 
Corp.'s (SpaceX) proposal to increase Starship-Super Heavy operations 
at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX and expand Starship 
landing and expenditure locations. Subsequent license modifications or 
renewals under 14 CFR part 400 are within the scope of the PEIS, and 
the issuance of temporary airspace closures associated with the 
Proposed Action are included in FAA's Federal Action. FAA is requesting 
comments concerning the scope and content of the PEIS. A Draft PEIS 
will be released for public review and comment at a later date.

DATES: FAA invites interested agencies, organizations, Native American 
Tribes, and members of the public to submit comments on alternatives 
and impacts and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with 
respect to the proposed agency action. The public scoping period starts 
with the publication of this Notice in the Federal Register. To ensure 
sufficient time to consider issues identified during the public scoping 
period, comments should be submitted by one of the methods listed under 
ADDRESSES no later than November 30, 2026. All comments will receive 
the same attention and consideration in the preparation of the PEIS.

ADDRESSES: Comments, statements, or questions concerning scoping issues 
may be provided to FAA as follows:
    <bullet> Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Search for Docket No. FAA-2026-12808 to retrieve the docket and follow 
the instructions to submit a comment. Please note that all comments 
submitted to the docket will be posted on the internet without changes, 
including any personal identifying information provided.
    <bullet> By U.S. mail to: Ms. Amy Hanson, FAA Environmental 
Protection Specialist, SpaceX Boca Chica, c/o Kimley-Horn, 767 Eustis 
Street, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55114.
    We encourage the submission of comments electronically through the 
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal. If comments are submitted electronically, 
it is not necessary to also submit a hard copy. All comments received 
will be posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Starship-Super Heavy is composed of two stages: Super Heavy is the 
first stage

[[Page 65290]]

(or booster), and Starship is the second stage. SpaceX proposes to 
increase Starship-Super Heavy launch, as well as Super Heavy and 
Starship landing operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, 
TX. In addition, SpaceX proposes to expand Starship landing and 
expenditure locations to support the evolving needs of the Starship 
program and broader space exploration objectives. Currently, SpaceX is 
authorized by FAA to conduct up to 25 annual launches and 50 total 
annual landings (25 of the Starship and 25 of the Super Heavy) per year 
at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX. The Boca Chica Launch 
Site at Starbase, TX is an exclusive-use launch site that serves as 
SpaceX's primary research, development, and flight test launch facility 
for Starship-Super Heavy. Additional information can be found on the 
project website at: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/activity_archive">https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/activity_archive</a>.

Proposed Action

    This PEIS will evaluate a maximum annual capacity of up to 456 
annual launches originating from and up to 912 annual landings at the 
Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX.
    Phase 1 would include up to 100 annual launches and up to 200 
annual landings (100 of the Starship and 100 of the Super Heavy). 
Launches and landings could occur at any day or time of the week. As 
the vehicle continues to mature and reliability improves, launch and 
landing rates are expected to increase. Starship and Super Heavy are 
designed to require minimal post-flight refurbishment.
    Phase 2 would include up to 456 launches originating from, and 912 
annual landings at, the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX. 
Launches could occur at any time of day, but would only occur Monday 
through Friday. This phase represents a mature program launching more 
than 100 times annually and would be implemented within several years. 
These launch and landing thresholds represent the maximum annual number 
of landings that could occur at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, 
TX, regardless of the launch origin, and bound the analysis in this 
PEIS.
    SpaceX's Proposed Action within the context of this PEIS is to 
increase launch and landing operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site at 
Starbase, TX and expand Starship landing and expenditure locations to 
support the evolving needs of the Starship-Super Heavy program and 
broader space exploration objectives. The landing thresholds outlined 
herein represent the maximum annual number of landings that could occur 
at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX, regardless of the launch 
origin. Any currently unforeseen, future proposed increase in launch or 
landing cadence would require additional NEPA review. Super Heavy would 
either land at the launch site, soft water land in the Gulf of America, 
or be intentionally expended during flight. Starship would either land 
at the launch site; soft water land in the Gulf of America or in the 
broad open ocean; or be expended in the broad open ocean. Launches may 
occur during the day or night. For the purposes of the PEIS analysis, 
it is assumed that half of the launches and landings would occur during 
the day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and half would occur at night (10 p.m. to 7 
a.m.).
    Starship-Super Heavy launch trajectories would be specific to each 
particular mission. Approved trajectories would be based on launch 
vehicle performance and characteristics and would satisfy 14 CFR 
Chapter III regulations. Launch azimuths for the Starship-Super Heavy 
(the initial direction of travel for the vehicle for launch) would 
range from 40 degrees to 115 degrees, from a reference of due north at 
0 degrees and due east at 90 degrees. Super Heavy landing trajectories 
would also be within the Starship-Super Heavy launch azimuth range. 
Starship landing trajectories would range from 155 degrees to 185 
degrees and 240 degrees to 340 degrees.
    The potential environmental impacts of all proposed operational 
activities, including those from launches and landings, will be 
analyzed in the PEIS. The PEIS will evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts associated with aviation emissions and air 
quality; biological resources (including fish, wildlife, and plants); 
coastal resources; Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f); Land 
and Water Conservation Fund Act, Section 6(f); farmlands; hazardous 
materials, solid waste, and pollution prevention; historical, 
architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources; land use; 
natural resources and energy supply; noise and noise-compatible land 
use; socioeconomics and children's health and safety risks; visual 
effects; and water resources (including wetlands, floodplains, surface 
waters, groundwater, and wild and scenic rivers). This analysis will 
consist of an evaluation of potential reasonably foreseeable impacts 
resulting from the Proposed Action, as compared to a No Action 
Alternative.
    Concurrently with the NEPA process, FAA is initiating National 
Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation to determine the 
potential effects of the Proposed Action on historic properties. In 
addition, FAA is consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) regarding potential 
impacts on federally listed threatened and endangered species. FAA is 
also consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service under 
Section 7 of the ESA and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act for potential impacts on protected marine species. 
Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, the PEIS 
will comply with the requirements of Section 4(f) of the Act (codified 
at 49 U.S.C. 303), as applicable.

Alternatives

    FAA Order 1050.1G defines reasonable alternatives as those that are 
technically and economically feasible, meet the purpose and need for 
the Proposed Action, and, where applicable, meet the goals of the 
applicant. Prior NEPA documents have established the Boca Chica Launch 
Site at Starbase, TX as an approved location for Starship-Super Heavy 
operations. The Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX already has the 
necessary infrastructure to support launch operations, therefore other 
sites are not reasonable alternatives and do not meet the purpose and 
need of this project. Given these facts, the only alternative to the 
Proposed Action as described in this PEIS is the No Action Alternative.
    Under the No Action Alternative, FAA would not modify SpaceX's 
launch license for Starship- Super Heavy launch and reentry operations 
from the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX and would not issue any 
additional associated temporary airspace closures. In this scenario, 
SpaceX would be permitted to operate at the cadence approved in the 
2025 Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Mitigated Finding of No 
Significant Impact and Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship/Super 
Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in 
Cameron County, Texas. Potential impacts associated with the No Action 
Alternative will be analyzed in the PEIS.

Scoping Meetings

    FAA will hold four IN-PERSON public scoping meetings and one 
VIRTUAL public scoping meeting. The meetings will allow the public to 
receive information on the Proposed

[[Page 65291]]

Action and provide comments to the record.
    The IN-PERSON meetings will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 
and Thursday, November 19, 2026. The November 17, 2026, meetings will 
be held from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Central) at 
the Texas Southmost College, Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International 
Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520. The November 19, 2026, meetings will be 
held from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Central) at the 
Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 309 Railroad St, Port Isabel, TX 
78578. The IN-PERSON meetings will consist of an open house 
information-station format wherein FAA will provide information 
describing the purpose of the scoping meetings, project schedule, 
opportunities for public involvement, the Proposed Action and 
alternatives summary, and environmental resource area summary. The 
public will have the opportunity to provide verbal comments to a court 
reporter or written comments via a written comment form at one of 
several commenting stations at any time during the meetings.
    A VIRTUAL meeting will be held on November 18, 2026; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 
p.m. (Central); the URL and call-in number for the meeting will be 
provided in advance on FAA's project website: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship">https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship</a>. The virtual meeting will 
consist of a closed-captioned auto-run presentation describing the 
purpose of the scoping meetings, project schedule, opportunities for 
public involvement, Proposed Action and alternatives summary, and 
environmental resource area summary. The pre-recorded presentation will 
be run at the beginning of the meeting, followed by an opportunity for 
formal comments. Members of the public may provide comments verbally 
during the virtual meeting; comments received via the chat function 
will not be part of the public record. A moderator will facilitate 
verbal comments. English-Spanish translation services for verbal 
comments will be provided. Both English and Spanish versions of the 
presentation will be made available to the public on FAA's project 
website no later than November 10, 2026. If additional accommodations 
for the public meetings are needed beyond the planned Spanish 
translation services, please submit a request by November 2, 2026, to 
the project email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#deadaebfbdbba6bcb1bdbfbdb6b7bdbf9eb7bdb8f0bdb1b3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f6c6f7e7c7a677d707c7e7c77767c7e5f767c79317c7072">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    More information regarding the scoping meetings, is available on 
FAA's project website: <a href="https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship">https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship</a>.

Marcus Ward,
Division Manager, Safety Assurance Division, Commercial Space 
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-20963 Filed 10-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>