In the small, ecologically rich coastal town of Boca Chica, Texas, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is pushing forward with ambitious plans to launch its massive Starship rockets, part of a long-term vision to reach Mars. But, in the process, SpaceX has sparked regulatory battles and drawn the ire of local conservationists.

State and federal environmental agencies have cited the company for repeatedly discharging pollutants into nearby waters without the necessary permits, igniting public outcry and lawsuits from environmental advocates and local indigenous groups.

 

Unpermitted Wastewater Discharges Raise Alarms

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) investigators have found that SpaceX’s water deluge system, which sprays massive volumes of water beneath the launch pad to reduce heat and vibration during launches, has been discharging industrial wastewater into surrounding areas. The system released thousands of gallons of water used to absorb the intense heat from Starship’s engines, and according to the TCEQ, these discharges were unauthorized under state regulations, reports NBC. Following four instances of such discharges between March and July 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation under the Clean Water Act, calling for immediate corrective actions.

SpaceX’s response on social media maintained that the deluge system’s water is “potable” and does not harm the environment. However, TCEQ and EPA reports detail concerns over elevated mercury levels and other contaminants that could disrupt the local ecosystem.

Kenneth Teague, a Texas coastal ecologist, told CNBC that the high mercury content detected in some water samples “represents very large exceedances of mercury water quality criteria,” posing a serious risk to fish, seabirds, and other wildlife.

 

Local Environmental Impact Sparks Criticism

Boca Chica, located within a protected wildlife area, is home to endangered species and migratory birds, making the environmental stakes higher. Conservationists argue that SpaceX’s frequent launches have disrupted critical nesting sites. A June 2024 report observed that at least one egg in every snowy plover nest near the launch pad had been damaged following a Starship launch, NPR reports. The powerful rocket engines, designed for interplanetary missions, have also displaced concrete debris into the dunes and marshes.

Environmental engineer Eric Roesch pointed out that SpaceX was likely to face further investigations or even criminal charges if wastewater discharges continued without proper permits. Roesch, who predicted the need for a water deluge system at Boca Chica before the first launch, criticized SpaceX’s decision to proceed without securing the necessary regulatory approvals.

“Further wastewater discharges could trigger more investigations and criminal charges for the company or any of the people involved in authorizing the launches,” he told NPR.

 

Escalating Legal Actions and Community Pushback

Community groups and environmental advocates have voiced mounting opposition to SpaceX’s activities in the area. Save RGV, a local environmental group, filed lawsuits demanding extensive environmental reviews of SpaceX operations, citing pollution from wastewater as a prime example of the ecological damage at play.

“This is the last untouched piece of the Texas coast, essentially,” said Joyce Hamilton of Save RGV, told the Texas Tribune.

The Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, considering Boca Chica sacred, has joined efforts to halt further expansion, citing pollution concerns and restricted public access to beaches as core issues.

The tribe’s attorney, Jared Margolis, argued that regulatory agencies are failing to enforce compliance.

“More needs to be done to analyze the impacts, more needs to be done to address those impacts and mitigate those impacts,” Margolis told the Texas Tribune.

The lawsuits aim to halt the proposed increase in launches to 25 per year, a frequency that conservationists warn would overwhelm the delicate habitat.

SpaceX’s Defense and Continued Operations

Despite these mounting challenges, SpaceX has not shown signs of slowing down. The company’s official statements on social media described the environmental concerns as “unfounded,” with an emphasis on its continued cooperation with TCEQ and EPA. In response to CNBC’s report, SpaceX claimed there was “no detectable mercury” in its water samples, though discrepancies in reported data have left the issue open for further investigation, Space.com reports.

SpaceX’s influence reaches beyond environmental impacts, as it pushes to secure permits that would allow for an increase in launch frequency. Regulatory bodies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which issues launch licenses, have postponed public hearings on SpaceX’s request for more frequent launches amid ongoing concerns about its environmental record, according to NBC News.

Environment Versus Expansion