U.S. extends environmental review for SpaceX program in Texas
Send a link to a friend
[October 01, 2021]
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) said on Thursday it would extend the public comment
period for the draft environmental review of the proposed SpaceX
Starship/Super Heavy program in Boca Chica, Texas, to Nov. 1.
The extension comes after federal and state agencies participating in
the review made the request to extend the period for public input in the
environmental assessment. SpaceX, the space company led by Elon Musk
cannot launch the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle until the FAA completes
its licensing process, which includes the environmental review.
The FAA released a 151-page draft environmental in September. The review
looks at potential environmental impacts of SpaceX’s initial mission
profile and reviews debris recovery, local road closures in Boca Chica
and other issues.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Oct/01/images/ads/current/ccaonline_lda050208.png)
If the FAA determines environmental impacts of the proposed project
would be significant "and those impacts could not be properly mitigated
to less-than-significant levels, the agency would conduct a more
intensive" review. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Reuters reported in July the FAA warned SpaceX that the agency could
order SpaceX to take down a new tower because the environmental review
was not complete.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/100121PIX/news_I15.jpg)
A SpaceX SN15 starship prototype is seen as it sits on a transporter
after Wednesday's successful launch and first landing from the
company's starship facility, in Boca Chica, Texas, U.S. May 6, 2021.
REUTERS/Gene Blevins/File Photo
![](../images/ads/current/centraldirect_lda_SPONSOR_2021.png)
The FAA in July said the review of SpaceX’s proposed
rocket assembly "integration tower" was "underway," and added that
"the company is building the tower at its own risk."
A May 6 letter from the FAA to SpaceX said construction activity on
one of the two proposed 480-foot towers "may complicate the ongoing
environmental review process for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch
Vehicle Program."
Based on the environmental review, the FAA could order SpaceX to
take down the tower. "It is possible that changes would have to be
made at the launch site, including to the integration towers to
mitigate significant impacts.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and
Marguerita Choy)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Oct/01/images/ads/current/christianvillage_sda_SPONSOR_042720.png) |