FAA Draft Environmental Assessment: Blue Origin New Glenn Launches at Cape Canaveral SLC-36, Public Meeting October 22

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for a Blue Origin proposal. Blue Origin seeks to raise the maximum number of New Glenn launches from Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Brevard County from 12 to 50 a year. The FAA announced the Draft EA in a Federal Register notice published September 29, 2026, under Docket No. FAA-2026-9841. A virtual public meeting is set for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. The comment period closes October 30, 2026.

What Blue Origin Proposes at SLC-36

Blue Origin holds an FAA vehicle operator license, VOL 24-133, issued in December 2024. The Draft EA states that the license allows up to 12 launches and downrange landings a year for up to five years.

The Federal Register notice describes the proposal as an increase from 12 to 50 launches a year. It includes static fire engine testing, first-stage landings on an ocean platform downrange, payload fairing recovery, and FAA approval of related airspace closures. The notice states that the proposal would not include new construction.

New Glenn is a two-stage rocket about 320 feet tall and 23 feet in diameter. Its reusable first stage uses seven BE-4 engines. The Draft EA analyzes up to 50 static fire tests of the integrated launch vehicle and up to 50 of the second stage each year. It states that Blue Origin does not expect to run static fires before every launch. The Draft EA assumes that half of all launches and static fires would take place between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

The first stage would land on a platform vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, typically 300 to 500 nautical miles from the launch point. Fairing halves would descend by parachute for recovery at sea and then be taken to Port Canaveral. The Draft EA also reports that a New Glenn vehicle was lost in a static fire test anomaly in May 2026. Blue Origin is rebuilding pad infrastructure within the existing launch site footprint.

The Legal Framework: NEPA Review and FAA Licensing

Under 51 U.S.C. 50904, a license or permit is required to launch a launch vehicle in the United States. Under 51 U.S.C. 50905, the Secretary of Transportation issues a license if the applicant complies with the law and its regulations. That decision must be consistent with public health and safety, safety of property, and national security and foreign policy interests.

The Draft EA states that the FAA's action would be a license modification under 14 CFR part 450. Section 450.47 of those rules says the FAA must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before it issues a launch or reentry license.

NEPA is codified at 42 U.S.C. 4321 and following sections. Under 42 U.S.C. 4336, an agency prepares an environmental impact statement (EIS) for an action with a reasonably foreseeable significant effect on the human environment. An environmental assessment is prepared when an action does not have such an effect or when the significance of the effect is unknown. The statute calls an EA a concise public document. It sets out the basis for a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) or a decision that an EIS is needed.

The FAA is the lead agency, with the Department of the Air Force, NASA, and the U.S. Coast Guard as cooperating agencies. The Draft EA compares the proposal with a No Action Alternative, under which Blue Origin would stay limited to 12 launches a year. The Draft EA states that the FAA "has preliminarily concluded that the Proposed Action would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment." The FAA's meeting script states that finishing the review does not guarantee that a license change will be issued. Blue Origin must also meet the FAA's safety, risk, and financial responsibility requirements.

What the Draft EA Says About Residents, Travelers, Boaters, and Wildlife

The Draft EA names the City of Cape Canaveral, about five miles southwest of SLC-36, as the closest community. It lists Cocoa Beach, parts of Merritt Island, and the City of Cocoa as other urbanized areas in the noise study area.

According to the Draft EA, the noise of each launch would not change, but loud events would happen more often. Launch noise exceeds 85 decibels in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, a level the document describes as likely to interfere with activities. Late night launches could wake an estimated 4 percent of people in parts of Titusville, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, and Cocoa Beach. Sonic booms on land would not exceed 1 pound per square foot, which the Draft EA compares to a clap of thunder. It states that the risk of structural damage would remain low.

For air travelers, the Draft EA estimates that aircraft hazard areas for launches could affect 9 to 242 commercial aircraft per hour. It reports an average expected flight delay of about 30 minutes, with delays of up to four hours. Domestic flights on coastal routes are expected to be rerouted inland.

For boaters and other mariners, the Coast Guard would issue Notices to Mariners before launches. The Draft EA states that shipping lanes would not be altered or closed. Launches and landings would be short and scheduled in advance.

The Draft EA estimates about 15,000 propellant truck deliveries a year to the station. It puts water use at up to about 292.5 million gallons a year. That is about 4 percent of the water the City of Cocoa processed in 2025. The Department of the Air Force determined that the proposal may affect and is likely to adversely affect seven listed species. They are the Florida scrub-jay, the Eastern indigo snake, and five species of sea turtles. Blue Origin would update its lighting plan for the site. The Final EA will report the outcome of consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Public Meeting and Comment Process

The virtual meeting will be held as a Zoom webinar on Thursday, October 22, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. The Federal Register notice states that interested parties must register to join. The FAA project page states that the meeting will include an FAA presentation followed by a comment period. Speakers may give oral comments of up to three minutes, which the FAA will transcribe.

The FAA has asked for comments on the accuracy of the Draft EA, the adequacy of its analysis, and any new information. The notice states that all comments received during the comment period will be given equal weight. It also warns that comments, including any personal identifying information, may be made public. After the comment period, the FAA will prepare a Final EA. The meeting script states that the FAA will then issue a FONSI, a mitigated FONSI, or a notice of intent to prepare an EIS.

Written comments on Docket No. FAA-2026-9841 may be submitted at regulations.gov or by postal mail to Ms. Amy Hanson, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190. The comment period closes October 30, 2026. Registration is required to join the October 22 virtual meeting.