Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment Available for the Front Range Airport Launch Site Operator License
/The FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for Front Range Airport Launch Site Operator License, Spaceport Colorado (Final PEA and FONSI/ROD). The Final PEA was prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a launch site operator license to the Adams County Board of County Commissioners (the BOCC) to operate a commercial space launch site, called “Spaceport Colorado,” at the Front Range Airport (KFTG), in Watkins, Colorado.
Under the Proposed Action described in the Final PEA, the FAA would: 1) issue a launch site operator license to the BOCC, which would authorize the BOCC to offer Spaceport Colorado to commercial launch providers to conduct launch operations of horizontal take-off and horizontal landing reusable launch vehicles, and 2) conditionally approve FTG’s modified Airport Layout Plan showing the launch site boundary. The Proposed Action does not include the approval of any launches. Any future application for a launch license would be subject to a separate environmental review, as explained in the Final PEA.
The FAA published a Draft PEA for public comment on April 18, 2018. In response to preliminary comments received on the Draft PEA, the FAA extended the comment period from May 25, 2018 to June 15, 2018. The FAA has posted the Final PEA and FONSI/ROD on the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation website at: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/front_range/. For further information please contact: Stacey Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20591; phone (202) 267-9305; email Spaceport_Colorado_PEA@icf.com.