Seattle, WA — A group of environmental and scientific organizations, represented by Earthjustice, filed comments today calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reject the agency’s proposal to waive all major environmental protection requirements for commercial space launches and other activities. The group warned that the sweeping waiver would violate federal law and have negative impacts on public health, wildlife, and the safety of the communities living near rocket launch and reentry sites.  

Companies across the space industry have in recent months ramped up plans to increase space launches. SpaceX just announced plans to build a $100 billion rocket launch complex in Louisiana, which would enable thousands of launches a year. The site SpaceX selected is a sensitive coastal marsh more than eight times the size of Manhattan. The area presently protects Louisianans from storm surges and is a key wintering site for migratory birds.  

“This proposed rule is outrageous, unwise, and illegal. Instead of catering to the for-profit space industry, the FAA needs to do its job and properly oversee commercial space activities to protect our communities and our environment,” said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of Dark Sky International.  

“A 21st century gold rush to extract profits from space is arriving at the same time as an all-of-government deregulatory program,” said Tim Whitehouse, Executive Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “We will continue to insist that the government fulfills its obligations to protect our people, our communities, and our wildlife, and to comply with anti-pollution and wildlife protection laws.”  

“The environmental laws on the books are there for a reason: to ensure companies remain responsible for and accountable to the frontline communities in which they are operating,” said Scott W. Stern, Senior Associate Attorney, Earthjustice. “We will not stand idly by if the federal government refuses to do its job.”  

Commercial space activities are known to have numerous environmental impacts, including emissions from rocket launches, falling debris, and light and noise pollution that would disrupt and harm wildlife. 

Earthjustice filed comments on behalf of DarkSky International, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and American Bird Conservancy. Comments are available here.

###

PEER protects public employees who protect our environment, natural resources, and public health. We support current and former environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers, and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values across federal, state, local, and tribal governments.

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.