SpaceX under fire for environmental breaches at Texas launch site

[KARAH RUCKER]

SPACEX IS NOW UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS AT ITS SOUTH TEXAS STARBASE FACILITY.

ACCORDING TO A CNBC REPORT, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAVE ISSUED NOTICES TO SPACEX, CITING UNAUTHORIZED RELEASES OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER DURING ROCKET LAUNCHES.

ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY CNBC – A COMPLAINT IN AUGUST 2023 LED TCEQ TO UNCOVER MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF SPACEX OPERATING WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT APPROVALS. BY MARCH 2024, THE EPA FOUND THAT SPACEX HAD BREACHED THE CLEAN WATER ACT, HEIGHTENING SCRUTINY OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES.

SPACEX DISPUTES CNBC’S REPORT – CALLING THESE ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATION CLAIMS ‘FACTUALLY INACCURATE’ IN A POST ON X AND DECLARING THAT ITS LAUNCH OPERATIONS ARE SAFE. THE COMPANY EMPHASIZES THE USE OF POTABLE WATER AND MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION, ASSERTING COMPLIANCE WITH TCEQ’S GENERAL PERMIT FOR ITS WATER DELUGE SYSTEM.

IN RESPONSE TO THE REGULATORY CONCERNS, SPACEX SAYS THEY HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH REGULATORY BODIES. FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS, SPACEX SAYS THE EPA HAS PERMITTED ONGOING OPERATIONS WHILE IT SEEKS AN INDIVIDUAL PERMIT FOR FUTURE EXPANSIONS.

CNBC ALSO NOTED CONCERNS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS ABOUT POTENTIAL MERCURY CONTAMINATION AND ITS RISKS TO LOCAL WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS. SPACEX REFUTES THIS, CITING TEST RESULTS SHOWING NO DETECTABLE HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.

AS SPACEX CONTINUES TO PURSUE ITS AMBITIOUS STARSHIP PROGRAM TO SEND PEOPLE TO THE MOON AND EVENTUALLY MARS, SECURING THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS WILL BE CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING ITS LAUNCH SCHEDULE UNDER THE CLOSE WATCH OF REGULATORS AND THE PUBLIC.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED — STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING — DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.