Proposed Action and Alternatives

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of the Air Force (DAF) prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental effects associated with:

• •    The DAF’s authorization of the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6 to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations, including launch and landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB);
• •    The DAF’s authorization of an increase in Falcon 9 launches and landings at VSFB and downrange landings in the Pacific Ocean; and
• •    The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) licensing Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) Falcon operations at VSFB and approval of related airspace closures.

The DAF is the lead agency for the EIS, with the FAA and the United States Coast Guard as cooperating agencies.

In preparing the Draft EIS, the DAF evaluated a Proposed Action, Alternative 1, and a No Action Alternative to determine potential effects on human, natural, and cultural environments. The Draft EIS is now available for public review and comment through July 7, 2025.

Proposed Action: The DAF would increase the annual Falcon launch cadence at VSFB through launch and landing operations at SLC-4 and SLC-6, including modification of SLC-6 for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles to support future U.S. Government and commercial launch service needs. The overall launch cadence would increase from 50 Falcon 9 launches per year at SLC-4 to 100 launches per year for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs combined. Under the Proposed Action, Falcon Heavy, which has not launched from VSFB in the past, would launch up to five times per year from SLC-6. The existing horizontal integration facility (HIF) located north of SLC-6 would be modified into a hangar for use by SpaceX. No modification of SLC-4 infrastructure is proposed. The FAA would license SpaceX Falcon operations at VSFB and approve related airspace closures.

Alternative 1: The DAF would implement the Proposed Action, but rather than modifying the existing HIF, the DAF would authorize SpaceX to construct a new hangar south of the HIF and north of SLC-6 to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy integration and processing.

No Action Alternative: The DAF would not authorize any Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy launches or landing operations at, or modifications to, SLC-6, nor would the DAF authorize additional Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4. The FAA would not license Falcon operations at SLC-6 or an increase in Falcon 9 launches at SLC-4.

Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to increase the space launch mission capability of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other federal and commercial customers and enhance the resilience and capacity of the nation’s space launch infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space industry.

As directed by U.S. policy, the United States seeks to provide greater launch and landing capabilities and infrastructure to support national security objectives, including deploying satellites and other space assets that enable intelligence, reconnaissance, and global security operations. The United States aims to promote a hybrid space architecture that diversifies access to space, reduces dependency on singular systems, and ensures rapid reconstitution capabilities.

The Proposed Action is needed to meet current and near-term U.S. government space launch requirements from the DoD space launch range that supports launches centered at VSFB (Western Range), specifically for medium and heavy-lift launches to polar, geostationary, and other orbits less reliably available elsewhere without compromising current launch capabilities. The Proposed Action is also needed to expand launch capacity by returning heavy-lift launch capability to the Western Range. Finally, the Proposed Action is needed to fulfill (in part) 10 U.S.C. Section 2276(a), “Commercial space launch cooperation,” authorizing the Secretary of Defense to:

• •  Maximize the use of the capacity of the space transportation infrastructure by the DOD by the private sector in the U.S.;
• •  Maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the space transportation infrastructure of the DOD;
• •  Reduce the cost of services provided by the DOD related to space transportation infrastructure at launch support facilities and space recovery facilities; 
• •  Encourage commercial space activities by enabling investment by covered entities in the space transportation infrastructure of the DOD; and
• • Foster cooperation between the DOD and covered entities. “Covered entity” means a non-federal entity that is organized under the laws of the U.S. or of any jurisdiction within the U.S. and is engaged in commercial space activities.

Environmental Analysis

The DAF used new, relevant information and best available science to evaluate potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action and Alternatives.

The Draft EIS contains the description of the Proposed Action and alternatives, affected environment, and environmental consequences, including cumulative effects, for 15 resource areas under each alternative:

• •  Air Quality
• •  Noise
• •  Terrestrial/Freshwater Biological Resources
• •  Marine Biological Resources
• •  Water Resources
• •  Cultural Resources
• •  Coastal Resources​​​​​​​
• •  Department of Transportation Section 4(f) Resources​​​​​​​
• •  Utilities​​​​​​​
• •  Socioeconomics​​​​​​​
• •  Transportation​​​​​​​
• •  Human Health and Safety​​​​​​​
• •  Hazardous Materials and Waste Management​​​​​​​
• •  Solid Waste Management​​​​​​​
• •  Geology and Soils​​​​​​​

For the Air Quality analysis, the Draft Amended General Conformity Determination is available for 30-day public review. It is available for viewing or download on the VSFB website at www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Environmental/EAS, or below under the Public Documents heading, when selecting the Air Quality tab.

For detailed information about potential environmental effects, please refer to the Draft EIS, which is available to view or download. Hard copies are also available to view at the eight information repositories (listed in the next section).

Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS and Public Comment Period

The DAF prepared a Draft EIS and published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on May 23, 2025, to announce the release of the Draft EIS and to initiate a 45-day public review and comment period, which closes July 7, 2025. The public is invited to review the Draft EIS and provide substantive comments on the Proposed Action and the environmental analysis. “Substantive” comments, in the context of an environmental analysis, are comments on the analysis that contain practical importance, value, or effect. Submitting substantive comments on the Proposed Action is a critical aspect of the public involvement process. The public’s involvement is an important part of both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 processes. The Draft EIS, its corresponding appendices, and a summary are available for viewing or download. Hard copies may be viewed at the following information repositories:

• •  Avenue Library, 606 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura, CA 93001
• •  E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001
• •  Lompoc Public Library, 501 E. North Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436
• •  Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023
• •  Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
• •  Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, CA 93454
• •  South Oxnard Branch Library, 4300 Saviers Road, Oxnard, CA 93033
• •  Vandenberg Space Force Base Library, 100 Community Loop, Building 10343A, Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437​​​​​​​

Public Involvement and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process

NEPA is a U.S. federal law that requires federal agencies to identify and analyze the potential environmental effects of a proposed action before deciding whether to proceed with that action. The law encourages and facilitates public involvement to inform decision makers on actions that may affect the community or the environment. The purpose of public involvement during the Draft EIS public comment period is to inform the public of the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action and alternatives and solicit public input regarding the results of the analysis presented in the Draft EIS.

Public involvement is a fundamental part of the NEPA process and opportunities are available for the public to participate throughout the development of the EIS.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 Process

Section 106 of the NHPA is a U.S. federal law that requires federal agencies to consider the potential effects of their actions on historic properties and look for ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate those effects. The DAF’s outreach efforts support consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA and its implementing regulations. Members of the public are invited to participate, provide comments, or raise concerns about potential effects on historic properties during established public comment periods.

Public involvement is an important part of the NHPA Section 106 process. The DAF encourages the public to help identify historic properties and share information regarding potential effects on historic properties by providing a written comment during designated public comment periods. Historic properties may include archaeological sites, sacred and religious sites, traditional cultural properties, or historic buildings, structures, or objects.

Public Outreach

Submitting Public Comments

The DAF welcomes the public’s participation during the Draft EIS public review and comment period from May 23, 2025, through July 7, 2025. This public comment period also supports consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA and its implementing regulations. The DAF requests comments on the Proposed Action and Draft EIS from elected officials; federal, state, and local agencies; Native American tribes; and interested members of the public. To ensure DAF has sufficient time to consider public input during the preparation of the Final EIS, please submit comments by July 7, 2025. Public comments may be submitted in the following ways:

• •  In-person at one of the three public hearings
• •  During the virtual public hearing
• •  Via the online comment form
• •  By mail to:
      ATTN: VSFB Falcon Launch EIS
      c/o ManTech International Corporation
      420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 100
      Solana Beach, CA 92075

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