SpaceX Launch Program Expansion Comes With Serious Risks for California's Coast

SpaceX’s proposed program expansion has the potential to reduce public beach access, increase marine debris, and produce harmful noise and sonic booms. As a result of these risks, the protective measures proposed by the Commission staff are necessary to ensure the protection of our coast and your voice is needed to support the staff recommendation!

On Thursday, August 8, the California Coastal Commission will consider "concurring" with Vandenberg Space Force and SpaceX's proposal to increase rocket launches to 36 launches annually on the Central Coast. The term "concurrence" essentially means that the state agency does not object to federal activities. This is the latest in a series of hearings and postponements due to public concerns and the Commission's calls for more information.

Public pressure paid off as Commission staff has strengthened the requirements of their "conditional concurrence" with federal activities and is asking Vandenberg to complete numerous monitoring and mitigation efforts to offset the impacts of the launches.

Given the potentially significant impacts of SpaceX’s proposed program expansion on beach access, water quality, and coastal species, Surfrider is urging the Commission to ensure all of the suggested conditions are included in their final approval.

If Vandenberg and SpaceX do not agree to all the protective measures proposed by Commission staff, Surfrider is urging the Commission to object to the consistency determination.

Specifically, we strongly support the 30 day requirement for several of
the conditions for monitoring and mitigation plans as this will help inform future requests for launch increases, expected before the Commission as early as October 2024.

The improved conditions for concurrence, include:

Limit public access impacts to 12 times annually
Coastal access and recreation enhancement plan
Contribute to marine debris cleanup efforts
Create a marine debris minimization plan
Acoustic monitoring, including sonic booms and avoiding noise impacts where feasible
Enhanced biological monitoring plan, analysis and reporting
Commercial and recreational fishing coordination plan

These conditions, which Vandenberg has yet to agree to, represent the minimum necessary measures to minimize and mitigate impacts to the California coast.

We urge the Commission to direct Vandenberg and SpaceX to adopt a more controlled and cautious rate of increase of launches so we can monitor and understand all the potential impacts associated with rocket launches. Already, Vandenberg has indicated that they intend to apply for an increase to 50 launches annually by October 2024! Launch inceases should occur stepwise, at a cadence that ensures no impacts to coastal resources, public access or marine life.

Join us on Thursday, August 8 at the Coastal Commission meeting to call for reasonable precautions and a slow, stepwise increase in launch cadence informed by monitoring data.

Where: In-person in Calabasas or over Zoom
When: On Thursday, August 8 (timing is uncertain but likely in the afternoon)
How: Get more information and submit a speaker slip here

For more information, suggested talking points or if you have any questions, contact Mandy at msackett@surfrider.org.