SpaceX has been flagged by Texas authorities for alleged environmental violations due to the continuous discharge of pollutants into nearby bodies of water from its Starbase launch site.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a notice of violation, stating that SpaceX, the aerospace company also owned by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, is in breach of the Texas Clean Water Act. This notice echoes a previous warning from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Following the TCEQ’s warning, environmental groups filed lawsuits against SpaceX, demanding a halt to rocket launches until more stringent environmental reviews are conducted and adequate measures are taken to protect wildlife in the Boca Chica area.
The notice for violating the Texas Clean Water Act is not the first environmental alert against one of Elon Musk’s companies. Previously, Musk’s aerospace venture has repeatedly been accused of violating Texas environmental regulations by releasing pollutants into water bodies near its Starbase launch facility. As a result, organized environmental groups are threatening to push for the shutdown of its operations.
The Environmental Impact of SpaceX’s Expansion in Texas
A New York Times investigation revealed that SpaceX’s rapid expansion in the area has led to drastic changes in the fragile landscape, posing a significant threat to the habitat, whose protection falls under the responsibility of the U.S. government.
More repercussions are likely, both in South Texas and in other locations where SpaceX continues to grow. Musk has indicated his ambition to one day launch his Starship rockets (the largest model ever built) a thousand times a year.
In April 2023, SpaceX conducted the first full-scale test launch of a Starship rocket. Unfortunately, the rocket malfunctioned, and an onboard self-destruct mechanism caused it to explode. Sheets of steel, chunks of concrete, and metal fragments were hurled hundreds of meters through the air, crashing into bird habitats, the nearby state park, and the beach.
This was neither the first nor the last time that protected areas were bombarded with debris. Since 2019, at least 19 times, SpaceX has conducted rocket tests or Starship prototype launches that resulted in fires, leaks, explosions, or other issues associated with the rapid growth of Musk’s Boca Chica complex, which he dubs Starbase.
On July 25, 2024, a TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) inspector reviewed SpaceX’s environmental compliance records. The inspection concluded that the company had discharged industrial wastewater without the proper permits on four occasions between March and July of that year.
Water deluge systems, which include flame deflectors, are designed to mitigate the heat, noise, and energy produced during rocket launches, but SpaceX had not implemented these systems in Boca Chica, Texas before beginning test flights of the Starship rocket.
In a recent statement, SpaceX claimed that its water deluge system causes no environmental harm and that other permits granted to the company authorize its use.
Kenneth Teague, a coastal ecologist, assessed SpaceX’s permit application and identified significant gaps, particularly in the details regarding discharge volumes and concentrations of pollutants like mercury. Teague raised concerns about alarming mercury levels in SpaceX’s discharges, highlighting the potential negative impact on wildlife and the marine ecosystem.
The FAA, contacted by CNBC, declined to comment on these issues but announced the postponement of public meetings scheduled to discuss the increase in launches at Boca Chica. Although no reason was given for the postponements, the agency indicated that new dates would be announced soon.
