[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14173-14174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05938]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Availability
of the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for NASA's Final
Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Antares 200 Configuration
Expendable Launch Vehicle at Wallops Flight Facility (SEA)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTIONS: Notice of availability of the FONSI.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on
Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal
Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1,
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing
the availability of the FAA's FONSI for the SEA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas W. Graham, Office of
Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Ave. SW., Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; email
[email protected]; telephone (202) 267-8568.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SEA was prepared by NASA to analyze the
potential environmental impacts of the FAA modifying Orbital ATK's
Launch Operator License to include launches of the modified Antares 200
medium lift launch vehicle from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia. NASA issued a FONSI on August 29, 2015. Based on its
independent review and consideration of the SEA, the FAA concurs with
the analysis of impacts and findings in the SEA and formally adopts the
SEA in its entirety. After reviewing and analyzing available data and
information on existing conditions and potential impacts, including the
SEA, the FAA has determined that its Proposed Action of modifying
Orbital ATK's launch license to conduct 200 Configuration Antares
launch operations at MARS Pad 0-A would not significantly affect the
quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA. Therefore,
the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required,
and the FAA is issuing this FONSI. The FAA made this determination in
accordance with applicable environmental laws and FAA regulations.
The FAA has posted the FONSI on the FAA Office of Commercial Space
Transportation Web site: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/operator/.
A copy of the SEA may be found at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code250/Antares_FSEA.html.
A copy of the Biological Opinon issued by the Fish and Wildlife
Service regarding this action may be found at: http://www.faa.gov/
about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/
[[Page 14174]]
environmental/nepa_docs/review/launch/.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 9, 2016.
Daniel Murray,
Manager, Space Transportation Development Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-05938 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
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