28 June 2006
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[Federal Register: June 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 36870]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn06-143]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability
and Request for Comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for
the Blue Origin West Texas Commercial Launch Site
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of Commercial
Space Transportation (AST) is the lead Federal agency for the
development of this EA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
regulations, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting
comments on the Draft EA for the Blue Origin West Texas Commercial
Space Launch Site.
Under the proposed action, the FAA would issue one or more
experimental permits and/or licenses to Blue Origin to launch reusable
launch vehicles (RLVs) \1\ on suborbital, ballistic trajectories. In
addition, Blue Origin would construct a private launch site, which
would include a vehicle processing facility, launch complex, vehicle
landing and recovery area, space flight participant training facility,
and other minor support facilities. The EA evaluates potential impacts
to the environment from the proposed activities. The FAA may use the
analysis in the EA as the basis for making a determination to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement or a Finding of No Significant Impact
regarding the issuance of a license and/or permit(s) to Blue Origin.
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\1\ RLVs are launch vehicles that have stages or components that
can return to Earth and be recovered or reused. A suborbital rocket
is a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for
flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the thrust of which is
greater than its lift for the majority of the rocket-powered portion
of its ascent. (49 U.S.C. 70102(19)).
DATES: The public comment period for the NEPA process begins with
distribution of the Draft EA. To ensure that all comments can be
addressed in the Final EA, comments must be received by the FAA no
later than July 27, 2006. The Draft EA is available for download at
http://ast.faa.gov. A paper copy of the Draft EA can also be viewed at
the Van Horn City County Library at 410 Crockett Street, Van Horn,
Texas 79855.
A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, 2006
at the Van Horn Convention Center at 1801 West Broadway, Van Horn,
Texas 79855.
Contact Information: Comments, statements, or questions concerning
the Draft EA should be mailed to Mr. Doug Graham, FAA Environmental
Specialist, FAA Blue Origin EA c/o ICF Consulting, 9300 Lee Highway,
Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to
BlueOriginEA@icfi.com or by fax to 703-934-3951.
Additional Information: Under the proposed action, the FAA would
issue one or more experimental permits and appropriate licenses to Blue
Origin to authorize Blue Origin to conduct the activities described in
the EA. Blue Origin proposes to launch space flight participant-
carrying RLVs on suborbital, ballistic trajectories. To conduct these
operations, Blue Origin proposes to construct a private launch site on
privately-owned land in Culberson County, Texas.
Blue Origin proposes to develop, launch, and land a suborbital RLV
referred to as the New Shepard Reusable Launch System. Blue Origin
proposes to develop the RLV incrementally, beginning with low-altitude
vehicle testing, progressing to higher-altitude testing, and
culminating with commercial flights.
Blue Origin's proposed activities would include:
Construction of an RLV launch site and landing/recovery area,
Launch and landing/recovery operations,
Space flight participant training activities, and
Sustained commercial launch, flight, landing, and recovery of space
flight participants.
The FAA considered the no action alternative in addition to the
proposed action in the Draft EA. Two alternatives were considered but
dismissed. One alternative would use an alternative facility
configuration, and another alterative would use a different plot of
land in Culberson County. Different locations of the proposed facility
layout within the proposed site boundaries were also considered and
dismissed. Under the no action alternative, the FAA would not issue
permits or licenses to Blue Origin to conduct launch operations in
Culberson County, Texas. Blue Origin would not conduct RLV testing or
launch operations, and the proposed site in Culberson County would
remain private property.
Potential impacts of the proposed action and alternatives were
analyzed in the Draft EA. Potential environmental impacts of successful
launches include impacts to the air resources, ecological resources,
cultural/Native American resources, hazardous materials and hazardous
waste management, health and safety, geology and soils, land use,
noise, socioeconomics and environmental justice, transportation, visual
and aesthetic resources, and water resources. Department of
Transportation Section 4(f) lands are addressed as part of land use;
floodplains, wetlands, and wild and scenic rivers are addressed as part
of water resources; and natural resources and energy supply are
addressed as part of socioeconomics. Potential impacts of the no action
alternative would be the same as those described in the affected
environment in the Draft EA. Potential cumulative impacts of the
proposed action also are addressed in the Draft EA.
Date Issued: June 16, 2006.
Place Issued: Washington, DC.
Herbert Bachner,
Manager, Space Systems Development Division.
[FR Doc. E6-10191 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P