North Santa Barbara County residents raised concerns about the impacts of vibrations and sonic booms from rocket liftoffs at Vandenberg Space Force Base among potential environmental impacts that should be studied ahead of a proposed boost in the SpaceX launch cadence.
More than 100 people attended a scoping meeting Thursday night at the Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center in Lompoc.
The Lompoc session followed similar meetings in Santa Barbara and Ventura this week and centered on the environmental impact statement assessing the proposal to increase SpaceX launches at Vandenberg. Ventura saw 50 people show up Tuesday, with more than 100 at the Santa Barbara session on Wednesday.
SpaceX has proposed conducting Falcon 9 plus Falcon Heavy rocket launches from Space Launch Complex-6, in addition to the Falcon 9 missions occurring from SLC-4. The launch cadence would increase from the current 50 missions a year to 100 from the two sites.
Additionally, the existing horizontal integration facility (HIF) north of SLC-6 would be modified into a hangar for use by SpaceX to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations.
"Building out the Falcon Heavy capability is first and foremost about national security space launch missions, so that's what's really driving the second launch complex piece," said Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander.
"And then the expansion of launch quantity really is getting after the increasing demand in use of space for everything we do here in the United States," he added, ticking off assorted other uses for space-based capabilities.
In addition to military purposes, satellites have an increasing role in providing television, navigation, communications and other uses across the globe.
The EIS process is guided by the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and will look at potential impacts, including air quality, land-based and ocean-based species, water, human health and safety, and more.
"Does that mean the beaches will be closed every time you have a launch?" one woman asked Shoemaker.
After clarifying that she meant Jalama Beach County Park, Shoemaker added that Vandenberg is authorized to shut that section of shoreline only 10 times a year.
In the past nine months, Jalama closed one time because of a launch, he added. If an evacuation has to take place, he said they have tried to minimize the impact by reducing the time frame people would need to leave that area.
The format of the meetings irked attendees in Lompoc and Santa Barbara. Instead of providing a presentation to the entire audience, they had large displays with representatives sharing details to small groups. After visiting the various areas, people were invited to sit at a table and write their comments.
Orcutt resident Susan Bryant said she feels lucky she lives in the Santa Maria Valley.
"I really have empathy for the people who live here," she added, ticking off impacts on building foundations, sonic booms and more.
Lompoc Valley resident Sylvia King also attended the meeting with questions she hoped to have answered.
"I think my friends and I are mainly concerned about what do the additional launches do to our homes?" she said. "What type of damage could be happening?"
With houses being a primary investment, some people have questioned how the vibrations might affect properties and structures.
"It's nice to watch and see (launches) once in awhile, but now I think it's close to once a week and it'll be twice a week at least," King said.
Lompoc resident Janet Blevins also said she is worried about the impacts created by vibrations after suffering significant cracks in her residence.
"Each launch increases the damage," she said.
Along with the proposed project, the EIS will analyze Alternative 1. Instead of modifying the existing horizontal integration facility (HIF), the military would authorize SpaceX to construct a new hangar south of the HIF and north of the launch pad at SLC-6.
For the No Action Alternative, the Air Force would not authorize any Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy activity at SLC-6, or additional Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4.
For those who missed the three in-person sessions this week, a virtual public scoping meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. next Thursday with the link available here: VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com.
After receiving the comments, the contractor will conduct studies and prepare the draft EIS, expected to be released this spring or summer. Public hearings will be held and more comments would be collected on the draft document.
Comments must be submitted by Jan. 27. In addition to the meetings, other ways to comment are through the form on the project website at VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com or by email to [email protected] with the subject line "Falcon EIS."
Comments also may be mailed to: ATTN: VSFB Falcon Launch EIS c/o ManTech International Corp., 420 Stevens Ave., Suite 100, Solana Beach, CA 92075.