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Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to Spacex for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the Mcgregor Test Site, Texas September 2011

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Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to Spacex for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the Mcgregor Test Site, Texas September 2011 Federal Aviation Administration Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas September 2011 HQ-111451 Draft EA for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... iv 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose and Need for Agency Action .............................................................................2 1.3 Request for Comments on the Draft EA .........................................................................2 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ......3 2.1 Proposed Action ..............................................................................................................3 2.1.1 Grasshopper RLV ..............................................................................................5 2.1.1.1 Description ......................................................................................... 5 2.1.1.2 Pre-flight and Post-flight Activities ................................................... 5 2.1.1.3 Flight Profile (Takeoff, Flight, and Landing) .................................... 6 2.1.2 Grasshopper Launch Pad and Infrastructure ......................................................6 2.2 No Action Alternative .....................................................................................................7 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed ..........................................................................7 2.4 Impacts and Resources Not Analyzed in Detail ..............................................................8 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................9 3.1 Air Quality .....................................................................................................................10 3.2 Noise and Compatible Land Use ...................................................................................12 3.3 Land Use (Including U.S. Department of Transportation Section 4(f) Properties) ......16 3.4 Biological Resources (Fish, Wildlife, and Plants) ........................................................18 3.4.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................................18 3.4.2 Wildlife ............................................................................................................18 3.4.3 Special Status Species ......................................................................................19 3.5 Historical, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources ..............................21 3.6 Hazardous Materials, Pollution Prevention, and Solid Waste .......................................22 3.7 Light Emissions and Visual Resources .........................................................................23 3.8 Natural Resources and Energy Supply ..........................................................................24 3.9 Water Resources (Surface Waters and Wetlands, Groundwater, Floodplains, and Water Quality) ...............................................................................................................24 3.9.1 Surface Waters and Wetlands, and Water Quality ...........................................25 3.9.2 Floodplains .......................................................................................................26 3.9.3 Groundwater ....................................................................................................26 3.10 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Children’s Environmental Health and Safety ......................................................................................................................27 3.10.1 Demographics and Housing .............................................................................27 3.10.2 Economy and Employment ..............................................................................28 3.10.3 Environmental Justice ......................................................................................28 3.10.4 Children’s Environmental Health and Safety ..................................................30 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............................................................................32 4.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................32 4.1.1 Air Quality .......................................................................................................32 September 2011 i Draft EA for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas 4.1.1.1 Impacts from Construction .............................................................. 32 4.1.1.2 Impacts from Operations .................................................................. 32 4.1.1.3 Impacts from Launch Failures ......................................................... 35 4.1.2 Noise and Compatible Land Use .....................................................................35 4.1.2.1 Construction Noise........................................................................... 35 4.1.2.2 Engine Noise .................................................................................... 36 4.1.2.3 Human Exposure to Launch Noise .................................................. 36 4.1.2.4 Compatible Land Use ...................................................................... 37 4.1.3 Land Use (Including U.S. Department of Transportation Section 4(f) Properties) ........................................................................................................37 4.1.4 Biological Resources (Fish, Wildlife, and Plants) ...........................................38 4.1.4.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................ 38 4.1.4.2 Wildlife ............................................................................................ 38 4.1.4.3 Special Status Species ...................................................................... 39 4.1.5 Historical, Architectural, Archaeological, and Cultural Resources .................39 4.1.6 Hazardous Materials, Pollution Prevention, and Solid Waste .........................40 4.1.7 Light Emissions and Visual Resources ............................................................40 4.1.8 Natural Resources and Energy Supply ............................................................41 4.1.9 Water Resources (Surface Waters and Wetlands, Groundwater, Floodplains, and Water Quality) ......................................................................41 4.1.9.1 Surface Waters and Wetlands, and Water Quality ........................... 41 4.1.9.2 Floodplains ....................................................................................... 42 4.1.9.3 Groundwater .................................................................................... 42 4.1.10 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Children’s Environmental Health and Safety .............................................................................................42 4.1.10.1 Impacts to Demographics and Housing ........................................... 42 4.1.10.2 Impacts to Economy and Employment ............................................ 43 4.1.10.3 Impacts to Environmental Justice Populations ................................ 43 4.1.10.4 Impacts to Children’s Environmental Health and Safety ................ 43 4.1.11 Secondary (Induced) Impacts ..........................................................................43 4.2 No Action Alternative ...................................................................................................44 5. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ...................................................................................................45 6. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................47 7. LIST OF PREPARERS ..........................................................................................................51 7.1 Government Preparers ...................................................................................................51 7.2 Contractor Preparers ......................................................................................................51 8. DISTRIBUTION LIST ...........................................................................................................53 ii September 2011 Draft EA for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas LIST OF EXHIBITS Exhibit Page 2-1 McGregor, Texas ................................................................................................................ 3 2-2 McGregor Test Site ............................................................................................................. 4 3-1 Operating Area ...................................................................................................................
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