SpaceX gets federal clearance for South Texas launch site
SpaceX has received a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration to construct a spaceport in South Texas.
The Environmental Impact Statement (see .pdf of documents), issued by the FAAs Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation George Nield, concludes with:
The undersigned finds that the Proposed Action is consistent with existing national environmental policies and objectives as set forth in Section 101(a) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
The proposed 56.5-acre launch site at Boca Chica beach would launch up to 12 rockets a year, including two Falcon 9 Heavy rockets, which could begin flying in 2015. These launches would be for commercial (i.e. satellites) as well as possibly NASA purposes.
According to the FAA, the proposed site is completely undeveloped and consists of 25.43 acres of wetlands and 31.07 acres of sporadically vegetated sand dunes. The area surrounding the proposed vertical launch area is primarily used for recreational purposes.
More at
http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2014/05/spacex-gets-federal-clearance-for-south-texas-launch-site/#22787101=0