Proposed Action and Alternatives

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of the Air Force (DAF) prepared a Final 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 Final 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 Final EIS is now available for viewing and download.

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 and land up to five times per year from and at 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 and the FAA would implement the Proposed Action as described above, 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 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 of the DoD by the private sector in the United States;
• •  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 United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States and is engaged in commercial space activities.

The public’s interest in commercial space, as identified in the National Space Policy, largely intersect with the government interests identified, including greater mission capability for space exploration, and advancing reliable and affordable access to space which in turn advances the scientific and national security benefits of the U.S. space program as a whole.

Environmental Analysis

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

The Final 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 detailed information about potential environmental effects, please refer to the Final 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 Final EIS and Record of Decision

A Notice of Availability will be published in the Federal Register announcing the release of the Final EIS and the Record of Decision (ROD) following the end of the government shutdown. The DAF selected Alternative 1 after considering the need to meet 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, and other orbits less reliably available elsewhere without compromising current launch capabilities. The ROD provides the explanations for the DAF’s decision and outlines mitigation measures.

Following the completion of the Final EIS, the DAF signed a ROD on Oct. 10, 2025, selecting Alternative 1. This decision was based on matters discussed in the Final EIS, inputs from the public and regulatory agencies, and other relevant factors. With the implementation of Alternative 1, the DAF has decided to 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 will increase from 50 Falcon 9 launches per year at SLC-4 to up to 100 launches per year for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs combined. Falcon Heavy, which has not previously launched from VSFB, would launch and land up to five times per year from and at SLC-6. The DAF will 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. The FAA reviewed the contents of the EIS and issued an independent ROD on Oct. 16, 2025.

The Final EIS and signed ROD are available for viewing or download. Printed copies are available to view 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

The 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.

Public involvement is a fundamental part of the NEPA process and opportunities were provided 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 supported consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA and its implementing regulations. Members of the public were invited to participate, provide comments, or raise concerns about potential effects on historic properties during the established scoping and public comment periods.

Public Participation

Project Timeline

Public Documents