GCC is transitioning to a dedicated conservation organization. While this shift means we may not have the resources to combat every inappropriate development, we will continue our advocacy in the case of projects that significantly and widely impact wildlife and human communities, and impact the conservation values of the Gaviota Coast. 

We encourage the public and other organizations concerned about environmental harm to the Gaviota Coast from this and other projects to actively participate in public processes to help safeguard our shared coastal resources.

Environmental review commencing for the Falcon Launch Program Changes

The Department of the Air Force is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed changes at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), including:

• The redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6 to support Falcon 9 and new Falcon Heavy operations, including launch and landing at VSFB;
• An increase in Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4 with landings at VSFB and downrange landings in the Pacific Ocean; and
• Licensing of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations at VSFB and approval of related airspace closures.

Additional details about the proposal are available on the Project website.  Click here for comments submitted by several of allies.

The overall launch cadence for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs would be 100 launches per year. By comparison, the average launch cadence was 6.2 per year before the recent ramp up in SpaceX launches. 

GCC and others, including the California Coastal Commission, have raised concerns about the pace of increased launches and the potential effects on coastal resources and the quality of life for area residents. The Coastal Commission objected to the proposed increase in SpaceX launches to 50 per year in 2024 (the launches proceeded anyway).

We urge anyone interested in the effects of increased rocket launch activity from VSFB to participate in this process, by attending one of the scoping meetings (listed below) and by submitting written public comments by January 27th.

The proposed Falcon Launch Program Changes risk jeopardizing the integrity of an important biodiversity hotspot.

VSFB is a biodiversity hotspot, supporting  an incredible variety of threatened, endangered, and protected species.  For many of these species, Vandenberg provides the most valuable habitat areas within their limited range.  Biological and acoustic monitoring is presently underway, to help evaluate how the increase from 6 to 50 annual launches is impacting sensitive species at the individual and population level.  It’s important that the EIS disclose and analyze the results of these monitoring efforts, and take into account existing evidence showing that frequent exposure to launch noise and sonic booms risks substantial harm to sensitive species.

• The US Department of Fish & Wildlife has already concluded, based on existing data and scientific research, that 36 annual launches are likely to adversely affect threatened and endangered speciesincluding western snowy plover, California least tern,southwestern pond turtle, and California red-legged frog.
• Likely effects include hearing loss, stress hormone accumulation, deleterious physiological effects, and overall habitat degradation. For western snowy plover, repetitive launch noise could decrease reproductive success and undermine long-term survival across the majority of the VSFB population. 
• Initial data from 2023 shows an atypical increase in western snowy plover nest abandonment, a decrease in nest establishment at Surf Beach, and indicates a declining trend in western snowy plover residency time during the breeding season at sites near the SpaceX launch facility. 

Protecting the quality of wildlife habitats on and around VSFB should be a key objective of the proposed action.  To achieve this, the EIS should identify one or more additional alternatives that achieve this objective and minimize environmental effects, including a reduced launch cadence alternative, a no-Falcon Heavy alternative, and an alternative that phases-in launch increases over a longer period of time. 

The Gaviota Coast Conservancy suggests these talking points:

• Protecting the quality of wildlife habitats on and around VSFB, and protecting the quality of life for area residents, should be key objectives of the proposed action.
• The EIS should describe and recognize the national and global significance of habitat areas on VSFB and impacted areas including the Gaviota Coast and Channel Islands.
• The EIS should fully describe and analyze the results of all ongoing biological and acoustic monitoring, including those recently required by the California Coastal Commission.
• The EIS should identify alternatives to the proposal with reduced environmental effects, including a reduced launch cadence alternative, a no-Falcon Heavy alternative, and an alternative that phases-in launch increases over a longer period of time.

How to participate in the environmental review process:   

The public scoping period required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is underway, during which the federal agency and the public collaborate to define the range of issues and potential alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. 

The Department of the Air Force is seeking input as it prepares an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with changes to the Falcon Launch Program.

A virtual public scoping meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. 

The Zoom link is: https://mantech.zoomgov.com/j/1608982564

Zoom Meeting ID: 160 898 2564

PHONE
Call in #: 1-669-254-5252

Public scoping comments may also be submitted:

• Via comment form on the project website at: www.VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com
• Via email to: [email protected], with the subject line “Falcon EIS”
• Via U.S. mail to: Ms. Allison Turner, ManTech International Corporation, 420 Stevens Avenue, Suite 100, Solana Beach, CA 92075

More information is available here:

DAF: https://www.vsfbfalconlauncheis.com

VSFB: https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4001026/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-authorizing-c/

SB Independent: https://www.independent.com/2024/12/17/spacex-rocket-launches-to-be-subjected-to-public-review/

Noozhawk: https://www.noozhawk.com/vandenberg-sfb-launches-environmental-study-for-100-spacex-liftoffs-a-year/

SLO Tribune: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article297234079.html#storylink=cpy

Meet new County Supervisor Roy Lee and new SB City Councilmember Wendy Santamaria during our Combined Roundtable Friday, Jan. 24 at noon.

SBCAN Combined Roundtable
Friday, January 24, 2025
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. First District Supervisor Roy Lee gives brief remarks followed by questions and comments from participants
3. Santa Barbara City Councilmember Wendy Santamaria gives brief remarks followed by questions and comments from participants
4. Other issues or announcements
5. Closing

Register for the Zoom meeting here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_9Kj2Q09RESOPWmYkbMgKQ