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) is evaluating Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) proposal to launch, land, and construct other associated infrastructure at and in proximity to Launch Complex-39A (LC-39A) for Starship Super-Heavy operations at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The proposal would include 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.

The FAA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of all proposed construction and operational activities including those from launch and landing.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a cooperating agency because it is responsible for managing areas on KSC for space-related development and operations and provides oversight for non-NASA space and technology development activities that occur on KSC property. NASA has special expertise with respect to potential environmental impacts from space launches and the operation of a launch site. Department of Air Force (DAF) is a cooperating agency because of its special expertise with regards to launch activities on the Eastern Range; the Eastern Range extends from the eastern U.S. mainland through the south Atlantic Ocean are eastward into the Indian Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is a cooperating agency because of its regulatory authority over waters subject to jurisdiction of the United States pursuant to the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, 46 U.S.C. Chapter 700, regulatory authority of U.S. and foreign flagged vessels as outlined in 33 and 46 CFR, and to review/advise KSC and DAF on all launch and reentry site evaluation risk assessments with a focus on vessel navigation safety and security. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is a cooperating agency due to its special expertise and management responsibilities for land potentially affected by the activities evaluated in the EIS. The USFWS manages the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR), which includes property within the boundary of KSC. The National Park Service (NPS) is a cooperating agency due to its special expertise and management responsibilities for land potentially affected by the activities evaluated in the EIS. The Canaveral National Seashore (CANA) was created by Public Law 93-326 and an agreement with the Department of the Interior was formed in 1975 due to a portion of CANA being located within KSC boundaries.