By Federal Register notice dated August 23, 2018, the FAA announced the availability of and requested comments on a draft Environmental Assessment for Space Florida’s proposed operation of the Shuttle Landing Facility as a launch site at Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Cape Canaveral Spaceport encompasses, according to the draft EA, the same areas as NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The draft EA applies to construction of facilities related to Space Florida’s proposed horizontal launch and horizontal landing site and the FAA’s issuance of a launch site operator license to Space Florida.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act, when a government agency such as the FAA plans to engage in a major federal action, it must conduct an environmental review of the effects of its action. Issuing a license to operate a launch site is a major federal action.
Comment deadline: September 17, 2018