Authorizing Changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

Authorizing Changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

The Proposed Action includes increasing the annual Falcon launch cadence at VSFB through launch and landing operations at Space Launch Complex (SLC) 4 and SLC-6. The Proposed Action also includes the Department of the Air Force (DAF) authorization of the modification of SLC-6 for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles to support future U.S. Government and commercial launch service needs. Modifications would include constructing commodity storage tanks, a vehicle erector, water tower(s), ground supporting equipment, a transport road with rail system from an existing horizontal integration facility to the launch pad, and two new landing pads adjacent to SLC-6. The DAF would also authorize an increase in Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4. No modification of SLC-4 is proposed. The overall launch cadence for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs, combined, would be up to 100 launches per year. Falcon Heavy, which has not launched from VSFB in the past, would launch a maximum of five times per year from SLC-6. The Proposed Action also includes the Federal Aviation Administration’s licensing Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) Falcon operations at VSFB and approval of related airspace closures.

Buellton, Camarillo, Carpinteria, Fillmore, Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Malibu, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Paula, Solvang, Ventura

Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura

Southern California

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 5 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region 3 (RWQCB), California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, District 6, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance

Other (U.S. Space Force Space Launch Complex)

Space Launch Program

Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Economics/Jobs, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Noise, Population/Housing, Recreation, Solid Waste, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian