Document ID: USCG-2018-0845-0010
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Safety Zones; Spaceport Camden, Woodbine, GA
Posted Date: 2018-09-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47324-47325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20335]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0845]

Safety Zones; Spaceport Camden, Woodbine, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard announces a public meeting to receive 
comments on a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) involving 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 NOI was published in the Federal 
Register on September 11, 2018. The purpose of this public meeting is 
to receive comments regarding the proposed safety zones.

DATES: A public meeting will be held on September 27, 2018 from 5 p.m. 
to 7 p.m. to provide an opportunity for oral comments. Written comments 
and

[[Page 47325]]

related material may also be submitted to Coast Guard personnel 
specified at that meeting. All comments and related material submitted 
after the meeting must be received by the Coast Guard on or before 
October 11, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Camden County Public 
Service Authority Recreation Center, 1050 Wildcat Drive, Kingsland, 
Georgia 31548. Parking is available at the Recreation Center.
    You may submit written comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0845 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning the 
meeting or NOI, please call or email LT Joseph Palmquist, Coast Guard; 
telephone 912-652-4353 ext. 221, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Purpose

    We are announcing a public meeting to receive comments regarding a 
proposal to establish safety zones on the navigable waterways in the 
vicinity of the proposed Spaceport Camden, near Woodbine, Georgia. We 
published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in the Federal Register on 
September 11, 2018 (83 FR 45864), entitled ``Safety Zone; Spaceport 
Camden, Woodbine, GA.'' In it we stated our intention to hold a public 
meeting, and to publish a notice announcing the location and date (83 
FR 45866). This document is the notice of that meeting.
    In the NOI, we announced that 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 effective 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 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 potential safety zones would be necessary to safeguard 
persons, property, and the marine environment during rocket launches, 
landings, and rocket test activities.
    You may view the NOI in our online docket and comments submitted 
thus far by going to http://www.regulations.gov. Once there, insert 
``USCG-2018-0845'' in the ``Keyword'' box and click ``Search.''
    We encourage you to participate in this NOI by submitting comments 
either orally at the meeting or in writing. If you bring written 
comments to the meeting, you may submit them to Coast Guard personnel 
specified at the meeting to receive written comments. These comments 
will be submitted to our online public docket. All comments received 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will 
include any personal information you have provided.
    Comments submitted after the meeting must reach the Coast Guard on 
or before October 11, 2018. We encourage you to submit comments through 
the Federal eRulemaking 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.
    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the March 24, 2005, issue of the 
Federal Register (70 FR 15086).

II. Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting, 
contact LT Joseph Palmquist at the telephone number or email address 
indicated under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.

III. Public Meeting

    The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to receive comments on 
the proposal to establish safety zones on the navigable waterways in 
and near the proposed Spaceport Camden, near Woodbine, GA. The meeting 
will take place on September 27, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Camden 
County Public Service Authority Recreation Center, 1050 Wildcat Drive, 
Kingsland, Georgia 31548. Parking is available at the Recreation 
Center.

    Dated: September 14, 2018.
N.C. Witt,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2018-20335 Filed 9-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P