The FAA issues long-awaited environmental decision on SpaceX's Starship program in Boca Chica:
Mitigated FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact), requiring over 75 additional protective measures but effectively clearing a major hurdle for Texas launches.
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
FAA in a statement says SpaceX is required "to take more than 75 actions to mitigate environmental impacts from its proposed plan" before a launch license is considered.
Full statement: cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
The FAA also published two key documents (linked in the story above as well) about the decision:
Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment: faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/…
Mitigated FONSI: faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/…
SpaceX made changes to its Starbase plans, removing the below infrastructure:
- desalination plant
- natural gas pretreatment system
- liquefier
- power plant
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
The FAA has some straightforward requirements for SpaceX, such as:
– daily inspections during turtling hatching season
– road closure limitations during holidays and weekends
– quarterly beach cleanups
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
SpaceX also must make $5,000 annual contributions to select organizations:
– Adopt-an-Ocelot program
– Endangered birds of prey non-profit
– Texas recreational fishing program
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
The FAA also has some (in my opinion) surprising requirements for SpaceX:
– Report on the Mexican and Civil wars
– highway pull-off & platform for viewing wildlife
– Starlink-powered wildlife viewing
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
Also, SpaceX employee shuttle from the city of Brownsville to Starbase:
cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
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