Space Florida, the state's aerospace development organization, is currently seeking permits to develop 200 acres of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to make way for a new rocket launch pad and facility, even though existing launch pad sites have already been made available for commercial use 17 miles away at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
There are more endangered species on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge than on any other refuge in the continental United States! The impacts of constructing a brand new launch pad site would go well beyond the 200-acre facility and would put manatees and many other of these endangered species at further risk. Habitat would be eliminated or degraded and these animals' lives would be threatened by cars, boats, roadway construction, and pollution. Moreover, the possibility of a launch failure holds catastrophic consequences.
On February 11th and 12th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding public meetings to hear your thoughts on Space Florida's proposal. Please join us and speak in support of keeping Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge a safe haven for manatees and other endangered species.
Here are the details for the two FAA Public Scoping Meetings:
February 11, 2014, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
New Smyrna Beach High School Gymnasium
1015 10th Street
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168
February 12, 2014, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Florida State College, Titusville Campus
John Henry Jones Gymnatorium
1311 North U.S. 1
Titusville, Florida 32796
Thank you for your efforts to protect manatees and other endangered species.
Sincerely,
Patrick M. Rose
Patrick Rose
Aquatic Biologist, Executive Director
Save the Manatee Club
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