Comment from Gary Rowland
Gary RowlandOpposeIndividual
Summary: A concerned resident and taxpayer of Port Isabel opposes the draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX's Starship reentries. The commenter argues that the assessment period is too short, underestimates the impact on commercial air traffic, and fails to adequately evaluate the safety consequences of land-based malfunctions or compatibility with local industrial developments.
I choose to comment as a concerned resident and taxpayer of Port Isabel and eyewitness to the destruction caused by Starship launches and mishaps. I have learned that the FAAhas released a draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX’s proposed Starship reentries to Starbase, expanding the potential Crash areas in the Pacific Ocean.
1. The Comment time period is too Short and should have public meeting for the affected citizens.
2. Assessments minimize the impact of interruptions on commercial atr traffic, disrupting public passengers and air cargo. 22 launches per year will effect an estimated 6600 flights per year
3. Assessment does not adequately assess rocket anomalies over land and does not evaluate the environmental or public safety consequences of a malfunction occurring over land.
4. Port of Brownsville is planning major expansion that includes Saronic Technologies Military Manufacturing Facility. Has the FAA evaluated whether this development is compatible with frequent Starship launches and landings?
5. SpaceX has announced plans to build a natural gas liquefaction (LNG) facility at Starbase. Have all safety and security implications been considered?