the San Antonio Express-News reports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently reviewing a plan that could potentially increase Starship rocket launches and landings at SpaceX's Starbase in South Texas. This new proposal aims to allow up to 456 launches and 912 landings per year, a significant jump from the current limit of 25 launches and 50 landings. Starships have two stages - an upper-stage Starship and a lower-stage booster, both of which are expected to land at Starbase, resulting in twice as many landings.

The plan is divided into two phases. The first phase allows for 100 launches and 200 landings, which can happen any day or time of the week. The second phase, which would be implemented within several years, would increase to the higher number of launches and landings, but only during weekdays.

The Starbase landings could also potentially include Starships launched from other locations, such as Florida or Louisiana in the future. The FAA is currently preparing an environmental review of the plan and has scheduled public meetings for November. The agency is considering waiving portions of 13 environmental laws, including those that protect air, water, endangered species, and marine mammals, for commercial space licenses and permits.

Environmental advocates are concerned that the review may be rushed and not fully comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). They argue that the review should adhere to the full weight of NEPA, including a comprehensive Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, to properly evaluate the environmental, social, and regional consequences of increasing the frequency of launches at Boca Chica.

Earlier in the year, the FAA approved additional departure and landing routes for Starships that would take it over parts of Southwest U.S. states. The agency also approved another return path that takes it over the Pacific Northwest and expanded emergency landing areas off the coasts of Hawaii, South America, and the Aleutian Islands. Despite concerns from environmentalists, the FAA maintains that these changes are necessary to provide greater mission capability to NASA and the Department of Defense.