The FAA has yet to approve a new commercial spaceport in Camden County, Georgia.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the new port include everyone from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.<\/p>\n
However, a vocal contingent of local residents is speaking out against the project.<\/p>\n
In particular, they say theyre worried about the impact of launching experimental rockets over the environmentally sensitive Cumberland Island National Seashore.<\/p>\n
Harriet Bluffs resident Steve Weinkle, who opposes the spaceport spoke out on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Cumberland Island is a national treasure. Its unique in that, it has a 10,000-acre wilderness area. Wilderness areas are accorded the highest level of environmental protection in the United States. Launching rockets over a wilderness is far more impactful than launching rockets over the Grand Canyon or launching rockets over the Statue of Liberty, Weinkle said.<\/p>\n
Related: Listen to the full interview with Weinkle<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, supporters of the Camden Spaceport say it would bring good-paying, high tech jobs to the communities of Kingsland and St. Marys.<\/p>\n
According to a Tribune & Georgianstory published in March, the county has spent more than $6.5 million on Spaceport Camden and that cost could rise to well over $11 million.<\/p>\n
Melissa Ross can be reached at mross@wjct.org<\/a>, 904-358-6382 or on Twitter at@MelissainJax.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See the article here:<\/p>\n Opponents Worried About Spaceport Camden's Impact On Cumberland Island - WJCT NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The FAA has yet to approve a new commercial spaceport in Camden County, Georgia. Supporters of the new port include everyone from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. However, a vocal contingent of local residents is speaking out against the project Continue reading