[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45864-45866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19661]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0845]


Safety Zone; Spaceport Camden, Woodbine, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is seeking comments from interested persons 
regarding a proposal to establish safety zones on the navigable 
waterways in the vicinity of the proposed Spaceport Camden, near 
Woodbine, Georgia during rocket tests, launches, and landing 
operations. The proposed safety zones would be necessary to protect 
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards 
created by rocket launches and landings, and by various rocket tests.

DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on 
or before October 11, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0845 using the Federal portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See 
the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice of inquiry, call or email LT Joseph Palmquist, Marine Safety 
Unit Savannah, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 912-652-4353 x221, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register

[[Page 45865]]

II. Background and Purpose

    The Board of County Commissioners of Camden County, Georgia 
proposes to develop and operate a commercial space launch site, called 
Spaceport Camden, in an unincorporated area of Camden County, Georgia, 
approximately 11.5 miles due east of the town of Woodbine, Georgia. The 
site, near Floyd Creek, is on the coast, surrounded by salt marshes to 
the east and south, and the Satilla River to the north. In support of 
Spaceport Camden, the Board of County Commissioners of Camden County, 
Georgia requested that the Coast Guard establish safety zones which 
would be enforced during launch, landing, and rocket test activities at 
the site.
    The Coast Guard establishes safety zones over areas of water and/or 
shore for safety or environmental purposes pursuant to the authority 
contained in 33 CFR part 165. A safety zone is a ``. . . water area, 
shore area, or water and shore area to which, for safety or 
environmental purposes, access is limited to authorized persons, 
vehicles, or vessels.''
    The applicants for Spaceport Camden propose up to 12 annual 
launches and landings during daylight hours, with one possible 
nighttime launch per year, of liquid-fueled, small to medium-large 
lift-class, orbital and suborbital vertical launch vehicles. In support 
of the proposed launches, the applicants for Spaceport Camden propose 
up to 12 static fire engine tests per year. Launch trajectories would 
vary from 83 to 115 degrees for vehicles up to and including medium-
large lift class. Because the trajectory of these launches would take 
the rockets over various navigable waterways, creeks and tributaries, 
sections of land, and areas offshore, applicants are required to limit 
or restrict access to certain areas surrounding a rocket test/launch 
site based on specific hazard analysis. The applicant's request to 
establish safety zones during rocket launches, landings, and various 
tests is one element in meeting these safety requirements.
    The range of potential safety zones for launch and landing 
activities encompasses an area which accounts for safety concerns 
associated with all potential launch trajectories. Individual launch 
safety zones could be smaller and depend on several factors unique to 
each event, such as actual trajectory, lift class, and payload. The 
range of potential safety zones for rocket tests encompasses a smaller 
area directly around the commercial space launch site. In all 
instances, the proposed safety zones would be necessary to safeguard 
persons, property, and the marine environment during rocket launches, 
landings, and rocket test activities.

Proposed Launch/Landing Safety Zone

    The geographic area which encompasses all potential launch 
trajectories and accounts for the largest possible launch vehicle is 
defined by nine total corner points, identified below. Individual 
launch safety zones could be smaller dependent upon aspects unique to 
each launch activity, such as specific launch trajectories and the size 
of each launch vehicle:

1. In vicinity of the western portion of Shellbine Creek, south of 
Union Carbide Rd, Latitude: 30[deg]54'17.0'' N, Longitude: 
81[deg]30'45.0'' W
2. In vicinity of Cabin Bluff, at the end of Union Carbide Rd, 
Latitude: 30[deg]53'6.75'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]30'56.5'' W
3. Cumberland River, just west of Cumberland Island, approximately 2 
nautical miles (2.3 miles) north of Stafford Island, Latitude: 
30[deg]50'56.15'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]28'39.4'' W
4. Plum Orchard--West side of Cumberland Island, approximately 1.5 
nautical miles (1.7 miles) south of Table Point, Latitude: 
30[deg]51'22.12'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]27'55.3'' W
5. Kings Bottom Trail Head--West side of Cumberland Island, 
approximately 1 nautical mile (1.15 miles) south of Table Point, 
Latitude: 30[deg]51'58.53'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]27'44.8'' W
6. Offshore--Approximately 13 nautical miles (15 miles) east of the 
southern portion of Cumberland Island; approximately 5 nautical miles 
(5.75 miles) northeast of St. Mary's entrance buoy, Latitude: 
30[deg]46'1.80'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]10'15.5'' W
7. Offshore--Approximately 10 nautical miles (11.5 miles) east of 
Jekyll Point; approximately 3.5 nautical miles (4 miles) southeast of 
St. Simons Sound entrance buoy, Latitude: 31[deg]01'33.65'' N, 
Longitude: 81[deg]10'15.5'' W
8. St. Andrew Sound--600 yards south of Jekyll Point, Latitude: 
31[deg]00'23.6'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]26'4.75'' W
9. In vicinity of Todd Creek, approximately 1 nautical mile (1.15 
miles) west of Floyd Basin, Latitude: 30[deg]57'38.0'' N, Longitude: 
81[deg]32'25.5'' W

Proposed Test Activity Safety Zone

    The proposed safety zone for test activities encompasses an area 
within a one nautical mile (1.15 miles) radius in each direction from 
the location of the launch site pad. The location of the launch site: 
Latitude: 30[deg]56'50.67'' N, Longitude: 81[deg]30'23.34'' W.

III. Information Requested

    In support of the applicant's request and to provide for the public 
safety in connection with potential operations at Spaceport Camden, the 
COTP Savannah is seeking comments from interested persons on the 
establishment of two proposed safety zones on the navigable waters 
surrounding Spaceport Camden, in the vicinity of Woodbine, Georgia. 
These safety zones would be enforced during rocket launches, landings, 
and various rocket tests. Launch/landing safety zones would support 
launch/landing activities while test site safety zones would support 
rocket test activities. Vessels, both commercial and recreational, 
would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or 
remaining within the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the 
COTP Savannah or a designated representative.
    For launch activities, the safety zone is anticipated to be in 
effect for approximately four to six hours for medium-large launchers, 
but not longer than 12 hours. For small launches, the safety zone is 
anticipated to be in effect for two to three hours. A safety zone for 
rocket test activity is anticipated to be in effect for approximately 
60 minutes or less. The COTP Savannah or a designated representative 
would inform the public through broadcast notice to mariners of the 
enforcement periods of the safety zone.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using 
http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. In your submission, please include the docket number for 
this notice of inquiry and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this notice of inquiry as being available in 
the docket, and all public comments, will be in our online docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that 
website's instructions.

[[Page 45866]]

    We plan to hold a public meeting to receive oral comments on this 
notice of inquiry and will announce the date, time, and location in a 
separate document published in the Federal Register. If you signed up 
for docket email alerts mentioned in the paragraph above, you will 
receive an email notice when the public meeting notice is published and 
placed in the docket.

    Dated: September 4, 2018.
N.C. Witt,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2018-19661 Filed 9-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P