Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 06/28/06

County amends spaceport deal By Velda Hunter, The Facts, 06/28/06

Important Meetings on Spaceport

This is a reminder of three important dates with regard to the proposed spaceport project:

June 28, 2006 (Wednesday)
Planning Meeting of Friends Spaceport Committee for FAA presentations
6:00 PM
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (Lake Jackson)

June 29, 2006 (Thursday)
Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
3:00 PM
Pearland City Hall

July 11, 2006 (Tuesday)
FAA Public Meeting on Spaceport Licensing
6:00 PM
Lake Jackson Civic Center

The agenda for the June 28th Friends Spaceport Committee meeting will be:

1. Finalize the topics that will be presented at the FAA Meeting.

2. Prioritize the topics.

3. Select presenters.

4. Finalize the subjects that will be covered in our written response to the FAA and select authors.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday.

Torry Tvedt
President
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges
979-849-8725

Stacey Zee's response to Brandt Mannchen's message of dated 06-21-06

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

Thank you for the information Brandt. The meeting materials will be posted on the FAA/AST website immediately after the July 11th meeting - http://ast.faa.gov/lrra/comp_coop.htm

Stacey M. Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
(202)267-9305 voice (202)267-5463 fax
email: Stacey.Zee@faa.gov

[Attachment (letter from Brandt Mannchen to Stacey Zee 06-21-06) deleted]

Letter from Brandt Mannchen (Sierra Club) to Stacey Zee (FAA) 06-21-06

Dear Stacey,

I could not remember if I had sent you this document so I am sending it now. I went through all the minutes and other information on the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation website and pulled statements that appear significant when looking at the magnitude of the proposed spaceport.

I received your email about the July 11, 2006 FAA meeting and saw on June 20, 2006 in the Houston Chronicle the public notice. Unfortunately I will be at the airport seeing a child off to Minnesota that evening. I will try to get another representative of the Houston Sierra Club to come but I may not be successful. I really wanted to come and am very interested in this issue.

Please send me any information you distribute at the meeting and please keep me on your list. The letter I sent you previously, copies of letters to the GCRSDC, and this document I am sending you now are part of the Houston Sierra Club's scoping input for this proposal. Please keep me informed. Thank you.

Brandt Mannchen, Chair, Forestry Subcommittee, Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club, 5431 Carew, Houston, Texas 77096, 713-664-5962, brandtshnfbt@juno.com


Spaceport Items of Interest

1) There is a Texas Aerospace Commission (TAC). Minutes, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation, November 29, 2000

2) There are requirements for range safety, environmental studies, and a business plan to get approval from the FAA on license. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

3) The GCRSDC can sign a memorandum of understanding with the TAC and FAA which allows the TAA to assist in the pre-licensing process and shore information with GCRSDC. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

4) The Phase I and Phase II part of the study funded by the state grant "would address an environmental overview to identify all elements of an environmental impact statement needed to secure licensing." Minutes, GCRSDC, May 22, 2002

5) The Phase I report has been turned into the TAC and comments returned on the report and the GCRSDC approved work on Phase II. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

6) "The results are that we can operate and launch certain expendable launch systems and sub orbital rockets from the Brazoria county site. FAA coordination has also been very favorable for the study." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

7) "Consider and take possible action on request from Johnson Space Center Model Rocket Club for possible small rocket launches from proposed GCRSDC site". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 30, 2003

8) "Consider and take possible action on the grant proposal to receive funding from the State of Texas for up to $325,000 to support work outlined in Phase III of our work from Turner, Collie, and Braden Engineering." Agenda, GCRSDC, April 14, 2004

9) "Ratify Property Lease with The Dow Chemical Company". Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

10) "Consider and take possible action on proposed revision of Corporate Bylaws". Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

11) "There is an opportunity for the GCRSDC to become the first market-driven spaceport … so we must look at the public sector customers including agriculture, energy, homeland security, intelligence, nano and bio technology, transportation, environmental and flood control … There is a five to one multiplier for non-launch activity as opposed to launch activity." Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

12) "… reported that they met with the licensing group of the FAA, discussed Phase I and Phase II and received positive feedback from the FAA … The FAA wants the group to look at a five-year window for a business plan and environmental assessments. The business plan must show viability of the project." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

13) "Anyone using the facility will have to be insured. The agreement is a seven-year lease on four acres of land for the facilities site and an agreement to have access for retrieval on over 3,000 acres." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

14) "… reported that one item remains to be clarified with the State which is insurance. We cannot obtain an insurance binder not knowing what activity we are insuring … added that we have the ability to insure suborbital rockets which are exempt from licensing due to size and distance. Once we obtain a licensed launch, the companies involved must carry their own insurance." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

15) "… the outline of a business plan was done in Phase II work … the work done in Phase I and Phase II can be rolled into a business plan … the efforts in Phase I and Phase II will assist in suborbital licensing … suborbital rockets are smaller and reach an altitude of up to 15,000 feet. They are also exempt fro licensing … that it will be suborbital rocket activity that will be addressed in the initial business plan that will cover the next three to five years. The impact will be negligible with possibly three to five events a year." Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

16) "… Dow is not looking at research, but rather supporting a good think for the county." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

17) "Consideration and Possible Approval of Request Relating to Stationary Rocket Engine Test from Robert Morehead of ASA". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

18) "Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and Two-Stage Rocket Launches". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

19) "Request for Funding Under New Texas Emerging Technology Fund". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

20) "Previous to today, we have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because our project affects their land which is adjacent to our site and we have access through their land to access the 3,600 acres on which we will be located. We have worked with the Dow Chemical Company to obtain a lease on the site and surrounding land for retrieval." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

21) "Our 1.3 million request did not make it through the last session of the legislature." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

22) "In terms of new prospective customers, meetings have taken place with SpaceHab representatives to discuss potential possibilities of using our site to assist with recovery of a spacecraft they would launch from Florida,, splash down in the Gulf and then could possibly be through Port Freeport and brought to our site for refurbishment … With respect to our business plan, we could possibly use a portion of the funding earmarked for U.T. to go toward a competitive analysis and a potential customers list provided by Michael Bomba." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

23) "David Stedman has met with Al Sterks, Director of the Demi-John Island Property Owners Associations, who has forwarded a letter of concern to Herb Bachner. David assured Mr. Sterks that we have plans to launch small test rockets, that we are not putting in a runway in our initial plans, and promised that if we ever got to a point where we were going to do any kind of horizontal launch or recovery where we would need a runway, we would let him know up front and talk to him about it honestly. Mr. Sterks seemed okay with what we are doing." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

24) "We have been working with David Stedman to accelerate the approval of the funds from the State." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

25) "Chairman Willy reported that the 2006 legislative funding is $325,000 … David Stedman reported that there are two potential avenues for funding that are still available to us. One is the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Also, there may be an opportunity to obtain funding through our educational proponent." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

26) "Phase I was actually a feasibility study in terms of locating and identifying a site in Brazoria county that is capable of launching sub-orbital rockets and expendable launch vehicles … The Dow site is the primary site and capable of launching both sub-orbital and expendable vehicles. This site has also been identified as a location for overall development, not just in terms of launching vehicles, but also a location for attracting space related industries into the area … Phase II went through more of an analysis as to whether or not there were any fatal flaws in terms of these sites, with regard to launch safety aspects, environmental impacts and the economics. Phase II resulted in additional launch safety analysis primarily associated with suborbital vehicles and median, small expendable launch vehicles … A preliminary business plan was prepared to look at the economics in terms of developing a spaceport in Brazoria County. Both Phase I and Phase II reports were provided not only to the Spaceport Board, but also to the FAA for their review and comments. At the meeting held in January, we received very positive feedback from the FAA relative to those studies and they also provided some initial guidelines in terms of proceeding to provide the documentation necessary to obtain a site license. The site license we are about to begin now in terms of Phase III will focus on license to launch sub-orbital vehicles from our site. We are looking at licensing the site in a step license fashion as recommended by the FAA. We will begin with the sub-orbital vehicle license and alter extend that into the expendable vehicle license. The Phase III studies will focus primarily on environmental assessment along with additional flight safety analysis with some specific rockets or a family of rockets that we may want to focus on. As we proceed with Phase III, we will continue to coordinate with the FAA … but initially this process is estimated to take from sixteen to eighteen months due to the environmental assessment … David recommended that since we only have a lease on one site, that we only request licensing for the one site. Fred Welch added that an environmental assessment would be for only one site, and reported that the FAA had recommended that we use one class of rocker on one azimuth and strongly suggested that maybe we use something like the Black Brandt where there has already been a lot of data compiled." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

27) "… Amateur Spaceflight Association … Three or four high school and/or college teams will particulate with ASA throughout the development of the rocket motor, rocket test facility and the rocket test itself … The fuel will be liquid oxygen and methyl alcohol. The system is a pressure fed motor so there are pressure tanks the blow the propellants into the motor. Helium is used to pressurize the tanks, nitrogen to dry the system out and liquid nitrogen is for the preparation test to verify the system work … write a letter to the county requesting the infrastructure that has been previously talked about including the concrete pad, the gravel road into the site, the electrical and the observation area … in reference to the budget of roughly 18.8 ($18,800) … This would be over and above the grant … The fastest we could get it done is about eighteen weeks that would put us at Thanksgiving weekend." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

28) "Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and two-Stage Rocket Launches … They currently use soccer fields for launching D-engine rockets, running on two-stage, solid engines." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

29) "The aerospace future is in private development and private interest." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

30) "Presentation Apex Commercial Payload" and "Presentation on Space Commerce Park". Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

31) "We have concentrated on commercial space operations. There is a lot of publicity focused on space tourism. The board should consider this possible direction in the future." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

32) "The environmental engineers will be working with Stacey Zee to obtain and coordinate the use of existing environmental documentation available from the FAA, as it relates to rocket characteristics. The information will need to be translated to the specific site and need to reflect our plans for at least the next five years … We are looking at the Black Brandt family of suborbital launch vehicles, as a viable commercially available launch vehicle, for pursuit of a site license. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

33) "A field investigation was performed … to evaluate wetlands, water of the U.S. and archeological resources for the proposed launch pad site, parking areas, and rocket staging area. Subsequent to that investigation, the location of the launch pad was adjusted due to flight safety concerns." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

34) "Agency coordination letters were mailed to a number of resources agencies. To date responses have been received from the Texas Historical Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, Coastal Coordination Council, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Corps of Engineers. There is no indication of any opposition to the project. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

35) "Alan reported that the concern is to what extent we can license the site with an environmental assessment versus a full blown EIS. That will be a question until the FAA reviews the work that the engineers have been doing. Chairman Willy noted that the site work the country has planned can now move forward since the lease and location issues are solved." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

36) "Chairman Willy reported that plans have been submitted to Dow to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for infrastructure that would be built from funds coming from the county. The plans include a 20 x 20 (or 40 x 40) concrete pad including bolt structures that would accommodate different types of launch rails. The plans also include a quarter mile of road, 220 electrical wiring, and an observation deck attached to an office." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

37) "Mike Kearney, of SpaceHab, gave a brief update on their activities and reported that NASA has a draft RFP for a commercial orbital cargo transportation service." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

38) "Mike Kearney presented his idea for a Space Commerce Park targeting commercial space enterprise. The goal is to provide executives offices, laboratory facilities and light manufacturing space." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

39) "We have received the approval to go ahead with the slab, wiring, culverts and roadway. The county facilities crew is tied up in Alvin until April. The GCRSDC is asking local industry to donate a construction office that can be elevated above the floodplain." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

40) "In terms of environmental, the archeologist report is complete." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

41) "All infrastructure avoids the wetlands area, except for a small area the road would have to cross. TCB has met with Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Their concern is wildlife impact." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

42) "Alan Jefts responded that the FAA is willing to receive everything piecemeal." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

43) "Chairman Willy asked if we have zeroed in on the Environmental Impact Study as opposed to an Environmental Assessment. Alan Jefts responded that no potential environmental impact has been determined, but that decision will be us to the FAA. Environmental studies will continue over the next couple of months." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

44) For the rocket engine test, "A timeline was presented which includes development beginning in March and public test firing in June". Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

45) "Chairman Willy reported that a 40 x 40 concrete slab will be poured for the launch pad. Electricity will be a 200 conversion to 110 going back to a generator. Parking and road will be fresh concrete, with culverts set by the county Engineering Department. The office building will not be in the initial work." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

46) "Goal: Establish a process to fully license a regional spaceport/airport site in Brazoria County by mid-2002." April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

47) There are three vehicles that will return to earth at spaceport including the aerospacecraft ramjet, reusable spacecraft, reusable orbit transfer craft. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

48) Discussions with the FAA began as early as September 15, 1999. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

49) One of the industries that the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County has targeted is aerospace. Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, June 2006, http://www.eda-bc.com/aboutus/aboutus.asp

50) The GCRSDC website has a illustration of a completely developed spaceport which includes consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aerospacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, ramps, propellant loading area, tank farm, runway, ejector ramjet run-up area, cryogenic propellant supply line, and aerospacecraft run-up area. April 21, 2006, http://www.gulfcoastspaceport.org/SpaceAccess1.jpg

51) Companies in the re-usable launch vehicle competition include Lockheed Martin, Kelly Aerospace Boeing, Space Access, and Kistler Aerospace. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

52) The GCRSDC was created by the Texas Legislature in 1998. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

53) "The commercial spaceport would operate like an airport. It would be a gateway for the launch of commercial air cargo into space. The initial market for the US spaceport industry is the commercial satellite market." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

54) "The spaceport will be a multi-billion dollar project. It is estimated that the cost to design and build the launch vehicles used at the spaceport will be close to $5 billion dollars. The cost for construction of the spaceport is estimated at %500 million dollars." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

55) "It is estimated between $3 to $5 million dollars will be needed for engineering and design work to develop and license the facility. The Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will be seeking assistance from the State of Texas and Washington to support this effort. It is estimated that a local match of $500,000 to $1 million will be needed to leverage with the additional funding being sought. Support will be sought from business, industry, and others having a direct or indirect benefit from the spaceport, through private sector donations." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

56) "But having experimental launches shows the FAA the site has the capability and demonstrates the safety measures necessary for approval for larger vehicles. Welch said the site could be prepared for less than $30,000. But first the board must conclude a lease with Dow Chemical Co., which owns the land for the site near Demi-John the agency would use for experimental launches." Spaceport advocates re-launch campaign, Michael Wright, The Facts, August 27, 2004

57) "The Amateur Spaceflight Association, will take one step closer to this goal on Saturday, May 3, with a rocket launch from the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport in Brazoria County … The May 3 launch will consist of a ½ scale version of their space-capable rocket … This flight will go faster than the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet … The full-scale launch would fly to an altitude of 75 miles above the earth and provide a zero gravity environment for research and development purposes for several minutes. The vehicle would return to Earth with its payload and touch down via parachute." Press release, GCRSDC, April 15, 2003

58) "We got a lot of great ideas and we are going to begin a phased approach starting with suborbital vertical launches … Fred has done a remarkable job of gathering all of our resources and I look forward to working with him to create a master plan for our Spaceport initiative that will be focused on job creation in Brazoria County … On the other hand, West Texas recognizes our advantage for launches over water, and for orbital launches toward a polar or equatorial orbit." Press release, GCRSDC, April 23, 2004

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club
5431 Carew
Houston, Texas 77096
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
June 9, 2006

"Spaceport Items of Interest" from Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club

Posted by Neal on behalf of Brandt Mannchen:

These are exerpts or facts I found on the webiste of the GCRSDC. They would be useful in making our arguements against the site of the spaceport.

Brandt Mannchen

Spaceport Items of Interest

1) There is a Texas Aerospace Commission (TAC). Minutes, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation, November 29, 2000

2) There are requirements for range safety, environmental studies, and a business plan to get approval from the FAA on license. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

3) The GCRSDC can sign a memorandum of understanding with the TAC and FAA which allows the TAA to assist in the pre-licensing process and shore information with GCRSDC. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

4) The Phase I and Phase II part of the study funded by the state grant “would address an environmental overview to identify all elements of an environmental impact statement needed to secure licensing.” Minutes, GCRSDC, May 22, 2002

5) The Phase I report has been turned into the TAC and comments returned on the report and the GCRSDC approved work on Phase II. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

6) “The results are that we can operate and launch certain expendable launch systems and sub orbital rockets from the Brazoria county site. FAA coordination has also been very favorable for the study.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

7) “Consider and take possible action on request from Johnson Space Center Model Rocket Club for possible small rocket launches from proposed GCRSDC site”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 30, 2003

8) “Consider and take possible action on the grant proposal to receive funding from the State of Texas for up to $325,000 to support work outlined in Phase III of our work from Turner, Collie, and Braden Engineering.” Agenda, GCRSDC, April 14, 2004

9) “Ratify Property Lease with The Dow Chemical Company”. Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

10) “Consider and take possible action on proposed revision of Corporate Bylaws”. Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

11) “There is an opportunity for the GCRSDC to become the first market-driven spaceport … so we must look at the public sector customers including agriculture, energy, homeland security, intelligence, nano and bio technology, transportation, environmental and flood control … There is a five to one multiplier for non-launch activity as opposed to launch activity.” Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

12) “… reported that they met with the licensing group of the FAA, discussed Phase I and Phase II and received positive feedback from the FAA … The FAA wants the group to look at a five-year window for a business plan and environmental assessments. The business plan must show viability of the project.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

13) “Anyone using the facility will have to be insured. The agreement is a seven-year lease on four acres of land for the facilities site and an agreement to have access for retrieval on over 3,000 acres.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

14) “… reported that one item remains to be clarified with the State which is insurance. We cannot obtain an insurance binder not knowing what activity we are insuring … added that we have the ability to insure suborbital rockets which are exempt from licensing due to size and distance. Once we obtain a licensed launch, the companies involved must carry their own insurance.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

15) “… the outline of a business plan was done in Phase II work … the work done in Phase I and Phase II can be rolled into a business plan … the efforts in Phase I and Phase II will assist in suborbital licensing … suborbital rockets are smaller and reach an altitude of up to 15,000 feet. They are also exempt fro licensing … that it will be suborbital rocket activity that will be addressed in the initial business plan that will cover the next three to five years. The impact will be negligible with possibly three to five events a year.” Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

16) “… Dow is not looking at research, but rather supporting a good think for the county.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

17) “Consideration and Possible Approval of Request Relating to Stationary Rocket Engine Test from Robert Morehead of ASA”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

18) “Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and Two-Stage Rocket Launches”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

19) “Request for Funding Under New Texas Emerging Technology Fund”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

20) “Previous to today, we have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because our project affects their land which is adjacent to our site and we have access through their land to access the 3,600 acres on which we will be located. We have worked with the Dow Chemical Company to obtain a lease on the site and surrounding land for retrieval.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

21) “Our 1.3 million request did not make it through the last session of the legislature.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

22) “In terms of new prospective customers, meetings have taken place with SpaceHab representatives to discuss potential possibilities of using our site to assist with recovery of a spacecraft they would launch from Florida,, splash down in the Gulf and then could possibly be through Port Freeport and brought to our site for refurbishment … With respect to our business plan, we could possibly use a portion of the funding earmarked for U.T. to go toward a competitive analysis and a potential customers list provided by Michael Bomba.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

23) “David Stedman has met with Al Sterks (sic), Director of the Demi-John Island Property Owners Associations, who has forwarded a letter of concern to Herb Bachner. David assured Mr. Sterks that we have plans to launch small test rockets, that we are not putting in a runway in our initial plans, and promised that if we ever got to a point where we were going to do any kind of horizontal launch or recovery where we would need a runway, we would let him know up front and talk to him about it honestly. Mr. Sterks seemed okay with what we are doing.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

24) “We have been working with David Stedman to accelerate the approval of the funds from the State.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

25) “Chairman Willy reported that the 2006 legislative funding is $325,000 … David Stedman reported that there are two potential avenues for funding that are still available to us. One is the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Also, there may be an opportunity to obtain funding through our educational proponent.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

26) “Phase I was actually a feasibility study in terms of locating and identifying a site in Brazoria county that is capable of launching sub-orbital rockets and expendable launch vehicles … The Dow site is the primary site and capable of launching both sub-orbital and expendable vehicles. This site has also been identified as a location for overall development, not just in terms of launching vehicles, but also a location for attracting space related industries into the area … Phase II went through more of an analysis as to whether or not there were any fatal flaws in terms of these sites, with regard to launch safety aspects, environmental impacts and the economics. Phase II resulted in additional launch safety analysis primarily associated with suborbital vehicles and median, small expendable launch vehicles … A preliminary business plan was prepared to look at the economics in terms of developing a spaceport in Brazoria County. Both Phase I and Phase II reports were provided not only to the Spaceport Board, but also to the FAA for their review and comments. At the meeting held in January, we received very positive feedback from the FAA relative to those studies and they also provided some initial guidelines in terms of proceeding to provide the documentation necessary to obtain a site license. The site license we are about to begin now in terms of Phase III will focus on license to launch sub-orbital vehicles from our site. We are looking at licensing the site in a step license fashion as recommended by the FAA. We will begin with the sub-orbital vehicle license and alter extend that into the expendable vehicle license. The Phase III studies will focus primarily on environmental assessment along with additional flight safety analysis with some specific rockets or a family of rockets that we may want to focus on. As we proceed with Phase III, we will continue to coordinate with the FAA … but initially this process is estimated to take from sixteen to eighteen months due to the environmental assessment … David recommended that since we only have a lease on one site, that we only request licensing for the one site. Fred Welch added that an environmental assessment would be for only one site, and reported that the FAA had recommended that we use one class of rocker on one azimuth and strongly suggested that maybe we use something like the Black Brandt where there has already been a lot of data compiled.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

27) “… Amateur Spaceflight Association … Three or four high school and/or college teams will particulate with ASA throughout the development of the rocket motor, rocket test facility and the rocket test itself … The fuel will be liquid oxygen and methyl alcohol. The system is a pressure fed motor so there are pressure tanks the blow the propellants into the motor. Helium is used to pressurize the tanks, nitrogen to dry the system out and liquid nitrogen is for the preparation test to verify the system work … write a letter to the county requesting the infrastructure that has been previously talked about including the concrete pad, the gravel road into the site, the electrical and the observation area … in reference to the budget of roughly 18.8 ($18,800) … This would be over and above the grant … The fastest we could get it done is about eighteen weeks that would put us at Thanksgiving weekend.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

28) “Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and two-Stage Rocket Launches … They currently use soccer fields for launching D-engine rockets, running on two-stage, solid engines.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

29) “The aerospace future is in private development and private interest.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

30) “Presentation Apex Commercial Payload” and “Presentation on Space Commerce Park”. Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

31) “We have concentrated on commercial space operations. There is a lot of publicity focused on space tourism. The board should consider this possible direction in the future.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

32) “The environmental engineers will be working with Stacey Zee to obtain and coordinate the use of existing environmental documentation available from the FAA, as it relates to rocket characteristics. The information will need to be translated to the specific site and need to reflect our plans for at least the next five years … We are looking at the Black Brandt family of suborbital launch vehicles, as a viable commercially available launch vehicle, for pursuit of a site license. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

33) “A field investigation was performed … to evaluate wetlands, water of the U.S. and archeological resources for the proposed launch pad site, parking areas, and rocket staging area. Subsequent to that investigation, the location of the launch pad was adjusted due to flight safety concerns.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

34) “Agency coordination letters were mailed to a number of resources agencies. To date responses have been received from the Texas Historical Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, Coastal Coordination Council, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Corps of Engineers. There is no indication of any opposition to the project. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

35) “Alan reported that the concern is to what extent we can license the site with an environmental assessment versus a full blown EIS. That will be a question until the FAA reviews the work that the engineers have been doing. Chairman Willy noted that the site work the country has planned can now move forward since the lease and location issues are solved.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

36) “Chairman Willy reported that plans have been submitted to Dow to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for infrastructure that would be built from funds coming from the county. The plans include a 20 x 20 (or 40 x 40) concrete pad including bolt structures that would accommodate different types of launch rails. The plans also include a quarter mile of road, 220 electrical wiring, and an observation deck attached to an office.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

37) “Mike Kearney, of SpaceHab, gave a brief update on their activities and reported that NASA has a draft RFP for a commercial orbital cargo transportation service.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

38) “Mike Kearney presented his idea for a Space Commerce Park targeting commercial space enterprise. The goal is to provide executives offices, laboratory facilities and light manufacturing space.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

39) “We have received the approval to go ahead with the slab, wiring, culverts and roadway. The county facilities crew is tied up in Alvin until April. The GCRSDC is asking local industry to donate a construction office that can be elevated above the floodplain.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

40) “In terms of environmental, the archeologist report is complete.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

41) “All infrastructure avoids the wetlands area, except for a small area the road would have to cross. TCB has met with Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Their concern is wildlife impact.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

42) “Alan Jefts responded that the FAA is willing to receive everything piecemeal.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

43) “Chairman Willy asked if we have zeroed in on the Environmental Impact Study as opposed to an Environmental Assessment. Alan Jefts responded that no potential environmental impact has been determined, but that decision will be us to the FAA. Environmental studies will continue over the next couple of months.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

44) For the rocket engine test, “A timeline was presented which includes development beginning in March and public test firing in June”. Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

45) “Chairman Willy reported that a 40 x 40 concrete slab will be poured for the launch pad. Electricity will be a 200 conversion to 110 going back to a generator. Parking and road will be fresh concrete, with culverts set by the county Engineering Department. The office building will not be in the initial work.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

46) “Goal: Establish a process to fully license a regional spaceport/airport site in Brazoria County by mid-2002.” April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

47) There are three vehicles that will return to earth at spaceport including the aerospacecraft ramjet, reusable spacecraft, reusable orbit transfer craft. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

48) Discussions with the FAA began as early as September 15, 1999. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

49) One of the industries that the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County has targeted is aerospace. Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, June 2006, http://www.eda-bc.com/aboutus/aboutus.asp

50) The GCRSDC website has a illustration of a completely developed spaceport which includes consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aerospacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, ramps, propellant loading area, tank farm, runway, ejector ramjet run-up area, cryogenic propellant supply line, and aerospacecraft run-up area. April 21, 2006, http://www.gulfcoastspaceport.org/SpaceAccess1.jpg

51) Companies in the re-usable launch vehicle competition include Lockheed Martin, Kelly Aerospace Boeing, Space Access, and Kistler Aerospace. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

52) The GCRSDC was created by the Texas Legislature in 1998. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

53) “The commercial spaceport would operate like an airport. It would be a gateway for the launch of commercial air cargo into space. The initial market for the US spaceport industry is the commercial satellite market.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

54) “The spaceport will be a multi-billion dollar project. It is estimated that the cost to design and build the launch vehicles used at the spaceport will be close to $5 billion dollars. The cost for construction of the spaceport is estimated at %500 million dollars.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

55) “It is estimated between $3 to $5 million dollars will be needed for engineering and design work to develop and license the facility. The Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will be seeking assistance from the State of Texas and Washington to support this effort. It is estimated that a local match of $500,000 to $1 million will be needed to leverage with the additional funding being sought. Support will be sought from business, industry, and others having a direct or indirect benefit from the spaceport, through private sector donations.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

56) “But having experimental launches shows the FAA the site has the capability and demonstrates the safety measures necessary for approval for larger vehicles. Welch said the site could be prepared for less than $30,000. But first the board must conclude a lease with Dow Chemical Co., which owns the land for the site near Demi-John the agency would use for experimental launches.” Spaceport advocates re-launch campaign, Michael Wright, The Facts, August 27, 2004

57) “The Amateur Spaceflight Association, will take one step closer to this goal on Saturday, May 3, with a rocket launch from the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport in Brazoria County … The May 3 launch will consist of a ½ scale version of their space-capable rocket … This flight will go faster than the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet … The full-scale launch would fly to an altitude of 75 miles above the earth and provide a zero gravity environment for research and development purposes for several minutes. The vehicle would return to Earth with its payload and touch down via parachute.” Press release, GCRSDC, April 15, 2003

58) “We got a lot of great ideas and we are going to begin a phased approach starting with suborbital vertical launches … Fred has done a remarkable job of gathering all of our resources and I look forward to working with him to create a master plan for our Spaceport initiative that will be focused on job creation in Brazoria County … On the other hand, West Texas recognizes our advantage for launches over water, and for orbital launches toward a polar or equatorial orbit.” Press release, GCRSDC, April 23, 2004

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club
5431 Carew
Houston, Texas 77096
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
June 9, 2006

Letter from Sierra Club to GCRSDC, 06/02/06

Posted by Neal McLain with permission of the author:

Mr. David A. Stedman
Chief Executive Officer
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
201 East Myrtle, Suite 139
Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Mr. Stedman,

This letter is in response to the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation's (GCRSDC) May 1, 2006 letter to the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) regarding our April 25, 2006 pre-scoping letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning spaceport.

1) Regarding GCRSDC's assertion that spaceport's location, about 0.7 miles from the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR), is similar to the location of the John F. Kennedy Space Center to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, we disagree.

The John F. Kennedy Space Center was established before the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A buffer zone was needed to provide a safety and security zone for John F. Kennedy Space Center. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service accepted management within the buffer zone, which became Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, with the understanding that it would serve a subservient purpose to the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

The GCRSDC is very a different situation. BNWR has been in existence for four decades and its purpose, protection of fish and wildlife resources, is established and not subservient to any other purpose. GCRSDC is attempting to regulate, intrude on, and take part of BNWR as part of its airspace and use as a safety zone. This impact, which we believe is not compatible with the creation of the BNWR, is in addition to any direct impacts that spaceport may have on BNWR due to launches, fires, explosions, accidents, spills, erosion, debris fall, propellant or other toxic chemical releases, and interruption of visitor use or refuge management.

2) Regarding the GCRSDC's assertion that wildlife has not been hazed, the HSC believes that if spaceport s constructed and operated as indicated on its website including amateur rocket launches and more long-term development including a consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aero-spacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, runway, propellant loading area, tank farm, cryogenic propellant supply line, aero-spacecraft run-up area, and ejector ramjet run-up area that wildlife will be hazed by operation of the spaceport and wildlife habitat will be degraded or destroyed.

3) Regarding the assertion that GCRSDC will create 7,000 jobs the HSC believes it is GCRSDC's responsibility to reveal what types of jobs these are; where they will occur; what direct, indirect, connected, secondary, and cumulative impacts they will have; and the methodology and accuracy that estimated the number of jobs created by spaceport.

4) Regarding GCRSDC's assertion that DOW will use the spaceport site for a chemical manufacturing facility the HSC believes that the likelihood of DOW using this site for such a facility is limited. If DOW wanted to use this site for a chemical plant why would it allow GCRSDC to construct spaceport? Surely DOW, after over two decades, would have plans for this site. The site is not located near DOW's main chemical plant. Its location next to BNWR does not make it an ideal site to develop a new chemical plant.

The HSC has a number of questions we request GCRSDC answer about itself and its operations. These questions include:

1) Is GCRSDC a public or private entity?

2) If GCRSDC is a public entity, what legislative authorization does it have and who provided that authorization?

3) What other public entities sponsor GCRSDC?

4) If GCRSDC is a private entity, what corporate or other private entities sponsor it?

5) If GCRSDC is a public-private entity, what public and private entities sponsor it?

6) Does GCRSDC own the site near the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR)?

7) Does GCRSDC plan to buy the site?

8) How large is the GCRSDC spaceport site?

9) Are there plans to expand the GCRSDC spaceport site?

10) Does GCRSDC lease the site from DOW?

11) If GCRSDC leases the site from DOW what is the cost of the lease per year?

12) What is the extent of DOW's involvement in the GCRSDC?

13) Who are the investors in GCRSDC?

14) Are the directors of the GCRSDC appointed or elected?

15) Who appoints or elects the GCRSDC directors?

16) When are the GCRSDC directors elected or appointed?

17) Where does funding for GCRSDC come from?

18) How many employees does GCRSDC have?

19) What are the job titles of all GCRSDC employees?

20) Are any GCRSDC employees salaried?

21) If GCRSDC employees are salaried what are their salaries?

22) Are GCRSDC directors paid?

23) If GCRSDC directors are paid how much are they paid per year?

24) Does GCRSDC plan to move spaceport, for larger flights, at a later date to Peach Point or some other place in Brazoria County or some other county?

25) Can GCRSDC legally fly rockets over public or private structures?

26) Where does GCRSDC's legal authorization for over-flight of public or private structures come from?

27) Does GCRSDC have liability insurance for accidents or damage to private lands or BNWR?

28) How will GCRSDC retrieve rocket parts?

29) Will GCRSDC close the road to BNWR pre, during, or post launches?

30) Where will re-entry for spaceport craft occur?

31) Does GCRSDC have a budget?

32) What is the GCRSDC budget?

33) How many launches from spaceport will occur per year and per month?

34) Who will use spaceport for amateur rocket launches?

35) What liability insurance will amateur rocket launches at spaceport have?

36) Who will use spaceport for commercial rocket launches?

37) Will there be safety zones established at spaceport?

38) What limitations come with the safety zones at spaceport?

39) What evacuation plan does spaceport have?

40) What emergency plan does spaceport have?

41) Where will the 7,000 jobs created be located?

42) What are the job titles for the 7,000 jobs?

43) What grants does the GCRSDC have?

44) Who administers those grants?

45) What technology will spaceport use to launch payloads?

46) Who makes the rocket technology that spaceport will use?

The HSC requests a copy of the follow documents:

1) The 2005 and 2006 GCRSDC budgets.

2) The GCRSDC Federal Aviation Administration application for a license for spaceport.

3) The legislative authorization that created GCRSDC.

4) The GCRSDC by-laws.

5) A copy of any GCRSDC grant.

The HSC appreciate this opportunity to communicate with GCRSDC and looks forward to the responses to our questions and our document request. Thank
you.

Sincerely,

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Sierra Club
Lone Star Chapter
5431 Carew St.
Houston, Texas 77096-1247
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com

FAA Press Release (06/02/06)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding a public information meeting for the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation's proposal to develop and operate a commercial launch facility in Brazoria County, Texas. The public information meeting will provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn about the FAA's licensing process and provide input on the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that will be prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft EA will analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed action. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at 6:00 pm at the Lake Jackson Civic Center, 333 Highway-332-East, Lake Jackson, Texas. An informal poster session will start at 6:00 pm followed by a formal FAA presentation at 6:30 pm. After the presentation, there will be a public statement period during which members of the public may provide up to a three-minute statement. The FAA also will accept written comments at the public meeting. Comments or questions also can be submitted to the FAA by mail to Ms. Stacey M. Zee, FAA Environmental Specialist, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport EA, c/o ICF Consulting, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031; by fax at (703) 934-3951; or by e-mail to GCRSpaceportEA@icfi.com.

Stacey M. Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
(202)267-9305 voice (202)267-5463 fax
email: Stacey.Zee@faa.gov

News article, The Facts, 06/01/06

Spaceport raising concerns by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 06/01/06