How is SpaceX affecting the local populations of humans and wildlife? Is there a possibility of cohabitation at the Brownsville Navigation District?
On, Feb. 9, SpaceX tested its Super Heavy rocket boosters. What are the actual events that happened on that date that all of us RGV locals should be aware?
1) According to TechCrunch, SpaceX faces a fine of $175,000 fine for not submitting info to the Federal Aviation Administration prior to the test.
2) In reviewing video of the heavy booster rocket test, which did not fire all its heavy boosters, a large plume of birds is noted to have risen during the test and then dropped to the ground.
Consequences of these heavy booster rockets for the local residents’ safety as well as their property — prior to this February test.
3) As reported by KRGV news, in 2013 former Gov. Rick Perry signed a state law that space companies testing, launching or recovering rockets can’t be held legally liable for damages caused to surrounding areas or properties, of which local Rep. Eddie Lucio III was a co-sponsor.
4) In a letter to the FAA for public comments and forwarded to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NextDecade or its local project of Rio Grande LNG describes its own apprehension “to permit boundless extension of the radius of impact of SpaceX experimental activities in South Texas without sufficient consideration of the substantial potential impacts on international commerce and community safety and vitality would be inconsistent with the authority delegated to FAA under the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984.”
Isn’t it time that FERC as well as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality treat all the LNG export terminals and SpaceX as cumulative impact? Isn’t it time that regulatory agencies work to safeguard the local environment and citizens rather than the corporations whose only incentives and concerns are their bottom line for their own monetary profit?
Diane Teter
Edinburg
Protecting
freedoms
As if active shooters were not enough, out of Hawaii comes news of an active arsonist. A man was convicted recently of torching surfboard lockers and about 500 surfboards in Waikiki. I have a feeling we can look forward to America the Beautiful cranking out even more of our new breed of “activists” in the future.
And how about big-city newspapers? It almost seems they have more lawyers on staff than reporters. They don’t want to say something politically incorrect. The journalist Thomas Paine didn’t have this problem. He wrote, “If you’re afraid to offend, you can’t be honest.”
Speaking of Mr. Paine, a CarShield commercial uses his name and this quote, likely because he famously called the British out for coming after the colonists’ liberties. Today, auto breakdowns come after our paychecks and liberals come after our children. CarShield provides protection against the first, but only standing up for far-right liberty can protect against the second. In the commercial’s words, “The future of this country rests on the people.”
Kimball Shinkoskey
Woods Cross, Utah
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