Comment from Imrie, Parker

I strongly support the re-purposing of offshore platforms for space launch and recovery, if economically sustainable without direct continuous government subsidy (not to exclude government-funded infrastructure). It would help ensure the USA continues to lead in the nascent space economy, and make good use of existing resources that would otherwise be costly to dismantle in a responsible way. There are many valid concerns with proper execution, which OEMB seems to be aware of based on the language of this RFI. I hope the relevant experts weigh in, but as a member of the public I value proper planning to minimize public safety risks, environmental harm, and disruption to existing economic and recreational use of the surrounding areas. I believe this will require some degree of ongoing formal government oversight, as ocean platforms are far removed from the public scrutiny that keeps corporate actions in check on land. To that end, I would also support some level of government investment in physical and logistical infrastructure that supports access to and from these platforms, both for personnel and for transportation of resources and waste management. Make it easier for companies to do the right thing, and harder to act against the public good. This is a great opportunity, with nevertheless significant concerns. The devil is in the details.