PIRG Starts Campaign Advocating Satellite Environmental Reviews

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group launched an online letter-writing campaign urging that the FCC require environmental reviews for proposed satellites and constellations. Pointing to greater amounts of debris expected in the atmosphere from planned mega constellations, PIRG said the FCC should temporarily halt additional satellite low earth orbit launches until after it conducts environmental reviews for mega constellations and ends its categorical exclusion for satellites. Under the National Environmental Policy Act's categorical exclusion, an environmental assessment is needed only if the FCC determines the license could have a significant environmental impact. "The new space race doesn’t need to create massive space waste," PIRG said.