[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