State Representative Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration released Spaceport Camden’s Environmental Impact Statement draft. FAA has been evaluating the environmental impacts of all proposed construction and operational activities at Spaceport Camden since fall 2015, and the recently released draft EIS includes potential environmental impacts associated with several factors, such as air quality, climate and natural resources.

“The much anticipated draft FAA Environmental Impact Statement has been released to the public for review,” said Rep. Spencer. “This major milestone in the process has been a long time coming, and we are very excited. Georgia has now officially entered into an elite group of space states.  Commercial space companies will see this as a major development and will start heavily considering Georgia’s aerospace assets and create high paying jobs for our citizens. This is just the beginning of a great and new economic development legacy for Georgia.”

“Today is a historic day for Camden County,” said Steve Howard, Camden County Administrator and Spaceport Camden project lead, in a recent statement. “We believe we are the only local government in the country to embark on an EIS for a vertical launch site, and it is a testament to the vision of the Board of County Commissioners and to the citizens of Camden County who supported us through this process.”

The draft EIS will be available for public review and comment until May 7, 2018. The FAA will hold public hearings to present the draft EIS and hear comments from the public on April 11, 2018, and April 12, 2018, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Camden County Public Service Authority Recreation Center.

Rep. Spencer is the author of the Georgia Space Flight Act, or House Bill 1, which passed during the 2017 legislative session. The Georgia Space Flight Act was designed to attract the commercial space industry to Georgia. Rep. Spencer also authored House Resolution 1107 urging the Georgia Department of Economic Development and other relevant state agencies to actively recruit and enhance the commercial space industry to Georgia.