Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Description:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the lead Federal agency is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a new of modifying an existing commercial launch vehicle operator license to SpaceX for the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. SpaceX proposes to construct launch, landing, and other associated infrastructure at and in proximity to LC-39A. The proposal also includes Starship-Super Heavy launches at LC-39A; recoverable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings at LC-39A or on a droneship; and expendable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings in the ocean.  

SpaceX must obtain a new or modification of an existing vehicle operator license from the FAA for Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations. Issuance or modification of a vehicle operator license and approving airspace closures is considered a major Federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In consideration of SpaceX’s revised proposal, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and FAA have determined that an EIS is the appropriate level of NEPA analysis to address the adjusted scope of Starship-Super Heavy at LC-39A. SpaceX has prepared the EIS under the supervision of the FAA which is serving as the lead agency at NASA’s request. While the 2019 Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by NASA provides an analytical baseline, the environmental impacts of these proposed changes to Starship-Super Heavy LC-39A development and operations will be specifically analyzed in this EIS. 

The EIS considers the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA would issue a new or modification of an existing vehicle operator license. The project must also meet all FAA safety, risk, and indemnification requirements for the appropriate license.