IRLNews:Brevard Environmental Groups Comment on NASA-KSC Roberts Rd Assessment
Several Brevard County environmental groups responded to IRL Roundtable's Call to Action. The environmentalist's comments primarily concern wildlife preservation, habitat conservation, wetland mitigation, air, water and soil monitoring, stormwater management and the use of low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GIS) within NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Roberts Rd Environmental Assessment Comments
Here are excerpts from the public comments Brevard County environmental groups submitted to Don Dankert, Kennedy Space Center Environmental Branch Planning Lead, concerning the KSC SpaceX Roberts Road 100 Acre Expansion Supplemental Environmental Assessment.
IRL Roundtable EA Comments
"The destruction of thirty one acres of uplands and sixty eight acres of wetlands from the KSC Conservation Buffer, originally set aside in the 2020 KSC Master Plan and managed by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, will set a dangerous precedent that contradicts KSC’s long standing legacy as a steward of Cape Canaveral’s endangered wildlife and the habitat it needs to survive."
Download: IRL Roundtable Roberts Road EA Comments (PDF)
Surfrider Foundation Space Coast Chapter SEA Comments
"Surfrider has significant concerns with the DSEA that can only be resolved by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) developing an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”). The project requires an EIS because its impacts, including indirect effects, to wetlands, local waterways, and the ecosystem will be significant. Additionally, the DSEA fails to explain the full extent of cumulative impacts resulting from expanded SpaceX operations at the KSC."
Download: Surfrider Foundation Space Coast Chapter SEA Comments (PDF)
Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) EA Comments
"The filling of 66.8 acres of high-quality wetlands is treated as a minor issue but considering the destruction of wetlands since the creation of the space center and additional new construction, this is significant. Wetlands provide buffers for storm events and are one of the most productive ecosystems. The mention that wetland mitigation could occur outside of the IRL Basin is unacceptable. The mitigation should occur on the MINWR. If there is not adequate areas for mitigation in the IRL Basin perhaps that is sign that the carrying capacity has been reached."
Download: Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) EA Comments (PDF)
Marine Resources Council (MRC) EA Comments
"We are concerned that the expansion stated in the subject EA will destroy significant wetland and upland areas that are critical to reaching acceptable water quality in a badly impaired northern Indian River Lagoon."
Download:Marine Resources Council (MRC) EA Comments (PDF)
Space Coast League Of Women Voters (LWV) EA Comments
"We are very concerned that the expected increase in launch rates could cause closures of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore for 100 days or more each year. We hope a solution can be made that prevents any impact to these areas."
Download: pace Coast League Of Women Voters EA Comments(PDF)
Laurilee Thompson Roberts Rd SEA Comments
"Over a half billion dollars are being spent by the citizens of Brevard County through a sales tax, and funding is coming from many state and federal government agencies on projects to repair damage to the Indian River Lagoon from past, poorly managed development. The destruction of wetlands in the watershed will be counterproductive to projects funded by the above agencies, as will freshwater discharges to the wildlife refuge impoundments or the Indian River itself. Any increase in freshwater discharges will alter its salinity and hinder the recovery of seagrass and endanger the success of projects to reintroduce clams and oysters."
Download: Laurilee Thompson Roberts Rd SEA Comments (PDF)
Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition (BIRLC) EA Comments
"The Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition supports the world-leading developments taking place at the Florida Spaceport but is deeply concerned about inadequate monitoring and coordinated management of Cumulative Impacts (SEA § 5) of this and other existing and coming projects, particularly related to the salinity of the already impaired Indian River Lagoon (IRL), both an Outstanding Florida Water and Estuary of National Significance. Maintaining the proper salinity is crucial to the health of the IRL."
Download: Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition (BIRLC) EA Comments (PDF)
Turtle Coast Sierra Club EA Comments
"The Sierra Club hopes that SpaceX will consider the use of Low Impact Development to minimize water that enters the local water system. The Indian River Lagoon is in bad condition and fresh water is a pollutant to the system."
Download: Turtle Coast Sierra Club EA Comments (PDF)
Space Coast Audubon Society EA Comments
"The Space Coast Audubon Society has grave concerns with the construction plans in regards to the pine scrub area which is prime habitat for the critically endangered Florida Scrub Jay. "
Download: Space Coast Audubon Society EA Comments (PDF)
Brevard County Environmental Groups
- Indian River Lagoon Roundtable (IRLRT)
- Surfrider Foundation Space Coast Chapter
- Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA)
- Marine Resources Council (MRC)
- League of Women Voters of the Space Coast
- Laurilee Thompson
- Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition (BIRLC)
- Turtle Coast Sierra Club
- Space Coast Audubon Society
References
- NASA KSC - SpaceX Roberts Road 100 Acre Expansion Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) Public Notice KSC-01-23
- NASA KSC - SpaceX Roberts Road 100 Acre Expansion Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA)
- Kennedy Space Center Environmental Management Branch
- KSC National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- KSC Roberts Road Expansion Web Page
