1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Mosquito Lagoon and Merritt Island area is one of the premier fishing destinations in Florida’s six billion dollar saltwater recreational fishery. Florida’s fishery is the largest in the U.S., and twice the value of the second largest state. It is one of the major economic engines driving Florida’s tourist economy.
NASA is proposing to develop a commercial space launch facility. NASA consultants have identified two 200 acre alternatives. One of the alternatives is right on the southwest shoreline of Mosquito Lagoon. Major objections to both areas were voiced by a large turn out of saltwater anglers, hikers, bird watchers and other conservationists at recent public hearings.
More detailed information on the proposed project and alternatives can be found on the NASA website at:
http://environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/projects/ksc-cvlc.htm
Both of the proposed areas have environmentally sensitive areas that serve as critical habitat for endangered and threatened species that will be negatively impacted if developed. In addition, there are substantial public access and angler access restriction problems in both areas. Our initial review indicates that it does not make any sense to use either of the two areas recommended by NASA consultants when nearby property owned by the U.S. Air Force already has unused launch sites. In fact, it appears that one of the private space companies is already planning to use one of the launch sites at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Comments should be sent to NASA opposing the two alternatives and urging them to work with the U.S. Air Force to utilize existing and unused launch sites for the proposed private, commercial spacecraft launch site.
Send your comments and objections to:
Mario Buscacca, Environmental Program Office
Mail Code TA-C3
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
or email: KSC-CVLC@NASA.COM
COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 7.
Please also contact U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and urge them to get these two federal agencies to start talking to each other to work cooperatively to use the existing, unused launch areas on the Air Force property.
