Oklahoma Spaceport

1
Oklahoma Spaceport Draft Environmental
Assessment
Public Meeting Douglas W. Graham March 9, 2006
2
AGENDA

• Information Session 730 800 pm
• Presentation 800 820 pm
• Break 820 825 pm
• Public Statements 825 900 pm
• Information Session 900 930 pm

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ADMINISTRATIVE POINTS

• Please sign up at the registration table
• To be on mailing list
• To present oral comments/statements
• Submit written comments at registration table or
  use methods described in Fact Sheet
• All comments must be received by March 13, 2006
• Please pick up handouts and review posters for
  more information

4
BACKGROUND

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  licenses commercial launches and the operation of
  launch sites to ensure
• Protection of public health and safety
• Safety of property
• Protection of U.S. national security and foreign
  policy interests
• FAA is the lead Federal agency for this
  Environmental Assessment (EA)
• The U.S. Air Force is a cooperating agency for
  this EA
• The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
  (OSIDA) is the action proponent

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WHY IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS NECESSARY?

• OSIDA is applying to the FAA to operate a launch
  site at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark
  (CSIA)
• Licensing the operation of launch sites is a
  major Federal action subject to the requirements
  of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• NEPA requires the FAA to identify and analyze
  impacts of licensing the operation of launch
  sites
• The FAA determined that an EA is the appropriate
  level of analysis for this proposed action
• An environmental determination based on the EA
  must be made before a license is issued

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PROPOSED ACTION

• FAA would issue a launch site operator license to
  OSIDA to operate the Oklahoma Spaceport at the
  CSIA in Washita County
• Ownership of the CSIA would be transferred from
  the City of Clinton to OSIDA

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PROPOSED ACTION

• Horizontally-launched suborbital reusable launch
  vehicles would be launched from the CSIA
• Environmental impacts from the launch of these
  vehicles are analyzed in the Draft EA
• Three horizontally-launched concept vehicles were
  considered Concept X, Y, and Z

Concept X Vehicle
Concept Z Vehicle
Concept Y Vehicle
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ALTERNATIVES

• Alternative 1 Launch only Concept X and Y
  vehicles
• Alternative 2 Launch only Concept X and Z
  vehicles
• No Action Alternative FAA would not issue a
  launch site operator license for the facility
  current operations at the CSIA would continue
• Other
• Alternatives eliminated from further study are
  described in the Draft EA
• The preferred alternative is identified in the
  Draft EA as the proposed action

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RESOURCE AREAS ANALYZED IN EA

• Air Quality
• Airspace
• Biological Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Geology and Soils
• Hazardous Materials and Waste
• Health and Safety

• Land Use
• Noise
• Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice
• Transportation
• Visual Resources
• Water Resources

No significant impacts are associated with any
resource area
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RESOURCE AREA IMPACTS

• Air Quality
• No Hazardous Air Pollutants or ozone-depleting
  chemicals produced
• Criteria pollutants are less than Environmental
  Protection Agency de minimis levels
• Biological Resources
• No impacts to threatened or endangered species
• Land Use
• No plans to alter land use using existing
  Spaceport Territory
• Noise
• Concept X and Z engine noise similar to noise
  from C-141A aircraft already using the CSIA
• Concept Y engine noise similar to noise from
  aircraft already using CSIA
• Concept X and Z would create sonic booms that are
  below significance thresholds

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SCHEDULE FOR EA

• February 3, 2006 Notice of Availability of
  Draft EA published
• March 9, 2006 Public hearing in Burns Flat, OK
• March 13, 2006 Close of comment period for the
  Draft EA
• Next Steps
• Release Final EA
• Issue Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or
  Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental
  Impact Statement

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TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION

• Pick up handouts and review posters at tonights
  meeting
• Visit FAAs website at http//ast.faa.gov
• Visit project website at www.okspaceporteis.com/
• Request copy of Executive Summary or Final EA at
  registration table
• Visit local library to review a copy of Final EA
  when available

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TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS

• Use comment form at registration table and submit
  tonight
• Mail written comments to
• Mr. Doug Graham
• FAA Environmental Specialist
• FAA Oklahoma Spaceport EA
• c/o ICF Consulting
• 9300 Lee Highway
• Fairfax, VA 22031
• Fax written comments to [phone]
• E-mail comments to FAAOklahomaSpaceportEA_at_icfconsu
  lting.com

All comments must be received by March 13, 2006
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TO MAKE ORAL COMMENTS

• During five minute break, sign up at registration
  table to make a comment or statement
• You will have three minutes to provide your oral
  comment
• You may either
• Make public statement in front of all
  participants or
• Wait and make statement directly to transcriber

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FIVE MINUTE BREAK
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PUBLIC STATEMENTS