The FAA is releasing the Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (Draft EA). The FAA is the lead agency for the Draft EA and the Department of the Air Force (DAF), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and National Aeronautics and Aerospace Administration (NASA) are cooperating agencies.

Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Draft EA, the FAA would:

• Issue a license modification that would allow SpaceX to increase the annual number of Falcon 9 launches at SLC-40, construct and operate a Falcon 9 first-stage booster landing zone (LZ) at SLC-40.
• Approve related airspace closures for launch and landing operations.

The Draft EA analyzes:

• Up to 120 Falcon 9 launches annually at SLC -40, an increase of 70 launches annually from the 50 previously analyzed
• Construction and operation of a landing zone at SLC-40
• Up to 34 first-stage booster landings at the new landing zone annually SpaceX’s proposal to increase the annual number of Falcon 9 launches at SLC-40, and construct and operate a Falcon 9 first-stage booster landing zone at SLC-40. 

The Draft EA and appendices are available below:

• Draft EA, SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40
• Appendix A - Air Quality
• Appendix B - Noise
• Appendix C - Cultural Resources
• Appendix D - Biological Resources

The FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. Comments, statements, or questions concerning Draft EA analyses must be identified with FAA-2025-0114 and may be provided to FAA as follows:

• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal:  https://www.regulations.gov. Click here to retrieve the online docket: FAA-2025-0114. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• By U.S. mail to Ms. Eva Long, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza Reston, VA 20190.

The FAA encourages submitting comments electronically through the Federal E-Rulemaking Portal. If comments are submitted electronically, commenters do not need to also submit a hard copy. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including any personal identifying information you provide – may be publicly available at any time.  While you can request in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is a Cooperating Agency for this Draft EA. In order to meet DAF’s National Environmental Policy Act requirements for adopting the FAA’s Environmental Assessment as a Cooperating Agency, (see 32 CFR § 989.15(e)), the FAA has also posted a link to the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for public comment on behalf of DAF. The DAF Draft FONSI can be viewed here.

The public comment period for the Draft EA and DAF’s Draft FONSI will close on April 24, 2025.

Public Meeting

The FAA will hold a virtual public meeting on the Draft EA on April 16, 2025. Interested parties must register to join the virtual public meeting. Registration is now available at the link below.

• April 16, 2025; 6:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern
• Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8qtN8bzPS1eApVobqo8poA
• Dial-in phone number: 888-788-0099 (Toll Free), Webinar ID: 853 9161 5696, Passcode: 743444

If any accommodation for public meeting is needed (such as additional translation services), please submit a request by April 4, 2025 to SpaceXFalconSLC40@icf.com.

The FAA will provide a pre-recorded presentation during the first half of the public meeting. The public all have an opportunity to submit comments during the meetings. Both English and Spanish versions of the presentation will be made available to the public on April 16, 2025, on this website. 

For media inquiries, please contact the FAA Press Office at pressoffice@faa.gov.