Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/26/06

Spaceport Project Would Be Waste Of Taxpayers' Money by Richard Antonette, Lake Jackson

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/25/06

Keep up pressure against Spaceport by Scott Martin, Freeport.

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/22/06

Canceled Spaceport Meetings Breed Suspicion by Susan Luycx, Freeport

Message from Torry Tvedt, 07/19/06

Attached is a list of our elected officials that I compiled. I have included physical addresses and phone numbers. It is probably best to send letters rather than e-mails. They seem to pay more attention. I have also included appropriate committee membership when the information was available. I have included a comment to thank the representative for their support of our position when the representative has voted against recent spending on the GCRSDC.

I hope to expand the list to include candidates for the respective offices and members of important committees.

If you have additions or corrections, please send them to me so that I can update this list.

I feel that letters to our elected officials is an important part of our efforts.

Torry Tvedt
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges

Attachment: http://www.refugefriends.org/pdf/Addresses.xls

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/19/06

Oppose Spaceport by Scott Martin, Freeport.

Letter from Meta Ann Kirby to Stacey Zee (FAA) 07-18-06

http://tinyurl.com/qpgdl

Letter from Brandt Mannchen (Sierra Club) to Stacey Zee (FAA) 07-18-06

July 18, 2006

Ms. Stacey Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
c/o ICF Consulting
9300 Lee Highway
Fairfax, Virginia 22031

Dear Ms. Zee,

Enclosed is a copy of an article that appeared in The Houston Chronicle on July 16, 2006, page B3, entitled, "Some say spaceport a bad idea - Concerns raised in Brazoria County about proximity to wildlife refuge".

The reason that the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) draws your attention to this article is due to the emphasis that the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) gives to the ultimate fully built spaceport project.

Notice the picture that accompanies this article shows the fully developed spaceport. Notice also the 7,000 job figure used to promote the fully developed spaceport is used prominently in the article.

It is important for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to understand that the GCRSDC is not interested in launching a few small rockets. If the spaceport never progressed beyond the so-called first phase, launching the Black Brandt V family of rockets, then the GCRSDC would not be interested in spaceport. It is the fully developed spaceport that GCRSDC wants and is attempting to get FAA to approve.

It is disingenuous for GCRSDC to on one hand to say they are interested in the smaller rockets while at the same time promoting the fully developed spaceport using the figures they have concocted for full build-out. Once GCRSDC gets its foot in the door it will be much harder for the FAA to muster the political courage to "just say no". Momentum due to approval of the first phase along with FAA's built-in conflict of interest of promoting and regulating space development will make it virtually certain that the fully developed spaceport will be approved.

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR) is no more than 0.7 miles from the proposed location for spaceport. The HSC drove the road that leads to BNWR and past the spaceport site and measured the distance. "As the crow flies" spaceport is even closer. The HSC urges FAA to look at the entire, fully built-out, spaceport in an environmental impact statement and not segment its review into two parts. Once the first phase location is approved it will be very difficult for citizens to protect the BNWR from the harmful impacts that spaceport will have.

The HSC appreciates this opportunity to comment. Thank you.

Sincerely,

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

Editorial, EarthHouston.net (07/17/06)

Crowd gathers to decry raising satelites (sic) from sensitive Lake Jackson site. EarthHouston.net.

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 07/16/06

Spaceport raises concerns in Brazoria County By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/16/06

Comments by David Plunkett, 07/14/06

FYI - There is an article in The Facts this morning ("Spaceport committee considers options").   In a message to Brazosport Birders last night I said:

"Hopefully, County officials have gotten the message that there needs to be a meaningful dialogue on the concerns.   I would characterize their attitude to date as “arrogant” and indicating that anyone opposed to the concept as 'unreasonable' and against progress."

Quotes in The Facts can be distorted but it appears that the attitude still has not changed for David Steadman.   A couple of his quotes in the article are:

• “I frankly could not believe the venom, the vilification that went through that room,” he said Wednesday during the organization’s board meeting.
  
• “The truth is we have to take into consideration most of what was said was sensationalized and some was distorted,” he said.   “I think to counter that kind of effort, really, is something we need to give serious thought to if we proceed farther with this.”

Fred Welch's comments below seem to be more in line with what we would hope for.   Unlike previous comments, there is finally a statement from their consultant that exclusion zones really are mandatory.

I also thought Rob Morehead, president of the Amateur Spaceflight Association in Houston, had some interesting things to say at the Tuesday meeting about the limitations at the Kennedy Spaceport and the proposed locations in New Mexico and Oklahoma.   I talked to him briefly before the meeting and suggest we open a dialogue with him so we better understand his perspective.

It is unfortunate that no one from the Spaceport Corporation offered any substantive information on what their plans really are.

David Plunkett

News article, The Facts, 07/14/06

Spaceport committee considers options by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 07/14/06

Message from Torry Tvedt, 07/13/06

I would like to thank everyone who attended and, especially those who participated, in the FAA meeting last Tuesday. We certainly got many peoples attention and demonstrated that there is serious opposition to the spaceport project. The story was picked up by the AP and reported several places other than locally. I think that everyone acted responsibly andshowed their concern and passion.

We won a battle, but unfortunately, the war continues. We need to maintain our effort. I feel that our effort should now be directed toward influencing the FAA, our elected officials, and the public. I suggest that we write letters to both elected officials and to the Facts and to the Chronicle expressing our views. I really feel that such letters will help. I'll soon be sending out a list of addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses to send these letters.

Thanks for the good work!!

Torry Tvedt
President
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges

News article, The Facts, 07/12/06

Opposition strong against spaceport at forum by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 07/12/06

News articles, The Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

Spaceport objections aired By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

Spaceport meeting to blast off in Brazoria By JUAN A. LOZANO Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

FAA Handouts, 07/11/06

Following are links to the handouts that the FAA provided to the public at the public information meeting earlier today.

• Public Information Fact Sheet
• Public Information Meeting Slides
• Proposed Action Poster
• NEPA Process Poster
• FAA Order 1050.1E Poster
• Agency Information Poster

Source: 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 Houston Chronicle, 07/11/06

Lake Jackson residents oppose proposed site for spaceport By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/11/2006

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 07/11/06

Spaceport meeting to blast off in Brazoria By JUAN A. LOZANO: Associated Press, 07/11/06

Letter from Demi-John resident to The Facts, 07/06/06

Launches endanger to homes, plants

Can Mr. Stedman say 41 percent? That's the percentage of rockets that failed on their maiden launch in 2005, according to Federal Aviation Administration statistics. I'm sorry, but that just doesn't sound like a good percentage rate to me.

It's amazing how people forget to mention that in all of the propaganda. Now, just why do you think that is? And do they think the abort button works every time a rocket goes off course or has a fuel leak? Not. Can you imagine what would happen when a rocket wouldn't abort and would come crashing down into the new LNG pipeline going down along Highway 523? A rocket makes a very big, deep hole on impact.

How about this: Hitting Dow or one of the petrochemical companies. And don't forget about people and homes. That certainly would boost our area's economy, now wouldn't it? Commissioner Dude Payne sees it as a "pie in the sky" situation. Perhaps. I see it as a "cow pie in the sky" debacle.

Bill Mladenka, Demi-John

Letter from Sierra Club to GCRSDC, 07/04/06

July 4, 2006

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

Dear Mr. Stedman,

On June 2, 2006, the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) sent the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) a letter that asked a series of questions and requested specific documents (copy enclosed).

On June 9, 2006, the GCRSDC sent the HSC a letter which did not respond to the request to answer questions and provide documents.

It has been 32 days since the HSC’s information request. When will GCRSDC answer the questions and provide the documents that the HSC has requested? The HSC is willing to visit the offices of the GCRSDC to review and pick-up the documents.

The HSC looks forward to the GCRSDC response regarding this information 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

Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation meeting announcement

The Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will hold the next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at 4:00 P.M. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Pearland City Hall. There will be representatives at the meeting from the FAA.

An agenda is attached for your review. A public notice will go out later today with the agenda only.

Please let me know if you have changes.

I hope you have a great weekend and 4th!

Best regards,

Debbie Pennington
Director of Operations
Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County
201 E. Myrtle, Angleton, Texas 77515
979-848-0560
debbiep@eda-bc.com
http://www.eda-bc.com

---

AGENDA
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

A quarterly meeting of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday July 12, 2006. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Pearland City Hall, located at 3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland, Texas 77581-5416. The following items will be brought before the board for consideration and or approval.

I. Consider and Approve Minutes from the March 27, 2006 Board Meeting.

II. Receive Chairman’s Report

III. Receive CEO’s Report

IV. Receive Consultant’s Report

V. Receive Status Report from FAA on Licensing Procedures

VI. Old Business
A. Website RFP
B. Update on Structures Planned at GCRSDC Launch Site
1. Interlocal Agreement
2. Road
3. Parking lot
4. Launch pad

VII. New Business
A. Update on Grant from State
B. Report on Public Meeting with FAA on July 11, 2006

VIII. Board Member Comments

IX. Public Comments

X. Adjournment

David A. Stedman
President, CEO
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation

Editorial, Sierra Club Houston Regional Group, July 2006.

Spaceport Threatens Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge – Letters Needed Now by Brandt Mannchen