Notice and Opportunity to Comment on Requests for Consistency
Agreement/Concurrence Under the Texas Coastal Management Program
On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of September 3, 2026 to September 11, 2026. As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies. Pursuant to 31 TAC §§30.20(f), 30.30(h), and 30.40(e), the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, September 18, 2026. The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Federal License and Permit Activities:
Applicant: Space Explorations Technologies Corp.
Location: The project site is located in South Bay beginning at Milky Ave and terminating at the Space Explorations Technologies Corp (SpaceX) Production Facility in Starbase, Cameron County, Texas.
Latitude and Longitude: 25.967335, -97.208238
Project Description: The applicant proposes to construct an approximately 2.7-mile heavy haul route to transport Starship and Super Heavy rocket components and associated launch infrastructure between the Massey Test Facility and SpaceX Production Facility. The heavy haul route would consist of an approximately 38-foot-wide travel surface with 1-foot-wide shoulders and a 3:1 max fill slope on the north side. Three existing cross culverts under State Highway (SH) 4 and five proposed equalizer culverts associated with an unrelated project to widen SH 4 would be extended below the proposed haul route to maintain or improve water flow. In addition, a wildlife crossing proposed as part of the SH 4 Widening Project would be extended below the haul route to facilitate safe passage for wildlife across the larger SH 4 roadway facility. The proposed project would result in the unavoidable discharge of fill material into approximately 2.676 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 0.278 acres of estuarine emergent wetlands, 0.210 acres of estuarine scrub-shrub wetlands, and 7.185 acres of wind-tidal flats. The proposed project would also temporarily impact 0.692 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 0.092 acres of estuarine emergent wetlands, 0.001 acres of estuarine scrub-shrub wetlands, and 1.454 acres of wind-tidal flats.
The applicant has stated that they have avoided and minimized environmental impacts to waters of the United States associated with the proposed activity by staying within the Texas Department of Transportation State SH 4 right-of-way, designed slopes to a 3:1 gradient, and using silt fences to reduce run-off into adjacent special aquatic sites. The applicant has proposed to purchase 7.033 functional unit credits from the Rockhands Mitigation Bank to offset unavoidable impacts to waters of the US. The USACE will determine the type and amount of compensatory mitigation necessary to offset losses of waters of the United States which may result from the proposed activity in accordance with 33 CFR § 332.
Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application # SWG-2026-00492. This application will be reviewed pursuant Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Note: The consistency review for this project may be conducted by The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as part of its certification under §401 of the Clean Water Act.
CMP Project No: 27-1005-F1
Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov.