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MCALLEN — A Rio Grande Valley organization is suing the Texas Environmental Commission for allowing SpaceX to temporarily release industrial water at its South Texas launch site without proper permits and circumventing state regulations. I’m suing.
Groups including the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, the Carizo/Comecrude Nation of Texas, and Save RGV have cited the agency’s decision last month to allow SpaceX to continue operating for 300 days, or until the company obtains legal regulations. As a result, he filed a lawsuit on Monday. Appropriate permissions.
This is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by environmental groups aimed at curbing the potential environmental impacts of SpaceX’s operations in Boca Chica, in southern Texas.
TCEQ earlier this year cited SpaceX for using water to protect the launch pad from heat damage during four Starship launches this year and then discharging water into nearby waterways.
SpaceX admitted no violation but agreed to pay a $3,750 penalty. Some of the fines were deferred until SpaceX obtains the appropriate permits and on the condition that future water releases meet pollution regulations.
Environmental groups argue that allowing SpaceX to continue violates permit requirements and that TCEQ is acting in excess of its authority.
“The Clean Water Act requires TCEQ to submit to certain procedural and technical requirements when issuing discharge permits intended to protect public participation and ensure compliance with Texas surface water quality standards. “It requires that they do so,” said Lauren Ice, an attorney for the three Rio Grande Valley organizations. statement.
“By circumventing these requirements, the commission is putting Boca Chica’s environment at risk of deterioration,” Ice said.
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A TCEQ spokesperson said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.
Some Rio Grande Valley groups are also involved in a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to conduct an environmental review of SpaceX’s rocket test launch in April. The case is pending in federal court.
They also sued the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for agreeing to a land swap that gave SpaceX 43 acres in Boca Chica State Park in exchange for 477 acres adjacent to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. SpaceX terminated the contract in November.
Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Disclosure: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has financially supported The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by contributions from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. See the complete list of them here.
