Public Scoping Meeting for Oklahoma Spaceport Environmental Impact Statement

1
Public Scoping Meeting for Oklahoma Spaceport
Environmental Impact Statement

• November 13, 2002
• Federal Aviation AdministrationAssociate
  Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation

2
Agenda

• Welcome
• Introductions
• Evening Agenda
• Information Session 600 630
• Presentation 630 645
• Break 645 650
• Public Statements 650 720
• Information Session 720 900

3
Administrative Points

• Please sign up at the registration table to
  present oral comments/statements
• Please submit prepared written comments tonight
  or send them to FAA by December 2, 2002
• Please visit the Environmental Impact Statement
  (EIS) website at http//www.okspaceporteis.com to
  obtain additional information

4
Background

• FAA licenses commercial 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 agency for this EIS for operation
  of a commercial launch site
• U.S. Air Force is a cooperating agency for this
  EIS

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Why is an EIS Necessary?

• Licensing operation of launch and reentry sites
  is a Federal action subject to the National
  Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• NEPA requires FAA to identify and analyze impacts
  of licensing launches and launch sites
• FAA determined a detailed analysis of
  environmental impacts and alternatives (including
  no action), cumulative impacts, and mitigation
  actions is appropriate
• Environmental determination, i.e., Record of
  Decision (ROD), must be made before a license is
  issued

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Proposed Action

• FAA to issue launch site operator license to
  Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
  (OSIDA) for Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark
  (CSIA) or an alternative site
• Activities to be analyzed in this EIS
• Launch of reusable launch vehicles carrying
  passengers, satellites, and other payloads into
  sub-orbital trajectories and prescribed orbits
• Subsequent reentry, landing, and recovery of
  reusable launch vehicles
• Related activities such as static engine firing,
  launch vehicle manufacturing, and other testing
  and manufacturing activities

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Proposed Action (continued)

• RLVs could be launched vertically or horizontally
• Potential users of proposed facility could
  include
• Pioneer Rocketplane
• Space Adventures
• SpaceDev
• Orbitec
• First sub-orbital launch proposed for 2006

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Alternatives

• No Action Alternative FAA would not license the
  facility, no commercial launches would occur
• Alternative Locations use of existing airports
  at Sayre, Hobart, or Frederick
• Other Alternatives
• Phase in of launch activities
• Alternate site configurations for proposed
  facility

9
OSIDA

• Founded in 1999
• Mission
• Establish launch facility in Oklahoma
• Attract aerospace commerce to Oklahoma
• Increase educational aerospace opportunities in
  Oklahoma
• Given municipal authority to develop established
  168-square mile Spaceport Territory

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Preferred Alternative CSIA

• 3,000 acres of inland property
• 13,500-foot runway
• Control tower
• Existing hangars
• Firing range
• Rail spur

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Overhead Photo of CSIA
12
EIS Scoping Process
Scoping Meetings
Public Comments
Oklahoma Spaceport EIS NOI
OCT 2002
Public/Agency Comments NOV 2002
Collect Public Input OCT DEC 2002
Draft EIS JUL 2003
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EIS Process
Public Hearings
Final EIS APR 2004
Conduct Hearings and Gather Public Comments AUG
2003
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Resource Areas

• Air and water quality
• Cultural and Native American resources
• Biological resources
• Hazardous materials and waste
• Noise
• Public safety
• Socioeconomic resources
• Threatened and endangered species
• Land use
• There are not necessarily
• impacts associated with each resource area

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To Get More Information

• Visit the EIS website at http//www.okspaceporteis
  .com
• Request a copy of the Executive Summary at the
  registration table or through the EIS website
• Request a CD ROM of the Draft EIS or download
  electronically from the EIS website
• Review paper copy of Draft EIS at
• Clinton Public Library
• Oklahoma City Public Library
• SWODA office

16
To Make Written Comments

• Use written comment sheets provided and turn them
  in tonight
• Mail written comments by December 2, 2002 to
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Suite 331/AST-100
• 800 Independence Avenue SW
• Washington, DC 20591
• Attn Doug Graham
• Re Oklahoma Spaceport EIS
• Submit comments through website
  http//www.okspaceporteis.com

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To Make Oral Comments

• Sign up at the registration table
• You will have three minutes to provide your oral
  comments
• Comments will be recorded on audio tape and by a
  court reporter to ensure an accurate record

18
Five Minute Break