Public Notice

Future Plans by NASA for New Launch Facility Could Close Portions of
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

NASA is proposing a new Commercial Launch Facility on 200 acres of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which could have significant environmental and visitor impacts. Merritt Island NWR is an overlay of the Kennedy Space Center and the Refuge manages NASA lands through an agreement. The agreement allows NASA to withdraw lands for space facilities. The new facility would result in loss of scrub habitat, loss of wetlands, impact sea turtle nesting due to lighting issues, result in loss of habitat for several endangered or threatened species, and eliminate use of most visitor facilities and programs.

NASA has selected two potential sites for the commercial launch facility. Site 1 is located within the existing restricted area of Kennedy Space Center, but Site 2 is located in an area currently open to the public. Either site will have significant environmental impacts; however, Site 2 has the potential to close all areas south of Haulover Canal to the public. Impacts to Refuge facilities are still unclear, but based on the proximity to Site 2 the following facilities will likely be affected (closed):

The development of Site 2 would affect approximately 750,000 Refuge visitors annually.

Impacts associated with the development of Site 1 or 2 to Playalinda Beach are unclear, but could potentially affect another three quarters of a million visitors each year.

NASA is preparing an Environmental Assessment on the project and the public will be allowed to comment on the proposals. Several public meetings are planned:

February 25, 2008, Titusville City Hall - Council Chambers, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

February 28, 2008, New Smyrna Beach Public Library, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

To provide comments or obtain additional information the following options are available:

  1. Go to the NASA website http://environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/projects/ksc-cvlc.htm
  2. Send an email: KSC-CVLC@nasa.gov
  3. Call, FAX or Mail Mario Busacca; Environmental Program Office

Phone (321) 867-8456, FAX (321) 867-8040, Mail Code TA-C3, Kennedy Space Center, FL. 32899

 

Locations of Alternative Sites 1 and 2 for the proposed Commercial Vertical Launch Complex
Locations of Alternative Sites 1 and 2 for the proposed Commercial Vertical Launch Complex
on Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Map as a pdf file