Two Agencies Go After SpaceX
A new notice has been released by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) alleging that SpaceX knowingly and repeatedly released various pollutants into or near bodies of water in the Lone Star State.
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This notice comes only five months after the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 office, which covers the Texas region, stated that SpaceX had violated the Clean Water Act.
Polluting Texas Waters
According to this most recent notice, SpaceX has been “discharging deluge water without TCEQ authorization.”
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This has happened repeatedly, as the document said, “In total, the Harlingen region received 14 complaints alleging environmental impacts from the Facility’s deluge system.”
SpaceX’s Water Deluge Systems
These violations stem from the company’s water deluge systems. These systems help to diffuse sound, heat, and energy that is often generated during rocket launches and test flights.
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At first, SpaceX didn’t have a new system built into its Boca Chica launch site. After its largest rocket, Starship, exploded during a test flight in April 2023, the company built a launch site with a needed water deluge system.
A New System
SpaceX built a new launchpad. However, while the company did install a new water deluge system, they didn’t receive an accurate permit, instead choosing to completely avoid this entire process.
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These permits require the company to only reach certain pollutant discharge limits. It also requires the company to accurately handle its wastewater disposal.
The EPA Starts an Investigation
After learning of a test of a new water deluge system in 2023, the EPA quickly began a probe into SpaceX and reached out to receive information about this situation.
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An official violation was then filed on March 13. However, one day after this violation was sent, SpaceX reportedly conducted a Starship test flight, using this unauthorized system.
Violating the Clean Water Act for Years
Some analysts have long claimed that it appears that SpaceX has been violating the Clean Water Act and polluting water in Texas for years.
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Environmental engineer Eric Roesch said, “They’ve been violating wastewater regulations for years, and they continue to do so seemingly with the FAA’s blessing.”
Harmful Toxins in Water
In response to these allegations, SpaceX has claimed that its water system is not putting anybody in harm’s way.
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However, analysts have disagreed. In fact, SpaceX’s permit application that the company recently completed even states that the concentration of mercury in SpaceX wastewater is 113 micrograms per liter. This is much higher than the state’s requirement of 2.1 micrograms per liter maximum.
Impacting Animals and Humans
Experts have further stated that these incredibly dangerous pollutants could end up destroying ecosystems and harming both animals and humans.
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The U.S. Geological Survey has stated that mercury is “one of the most serious contaminants threatening our nation’s waters because it is a potent neurological poison in fish, wildlife, and humans.”
SpaceX Responds on X
On X, formerly known as Twitter, SpaceX responded to these notices of violations through a long post, stating that the reporting on this issue was false. The company also insinuated that they’ve never been told to stop their practices.
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The company wrote on X, “Throughout our ongoing coordination with both TCEQ and the EPA, we have explicitly asked if operation of the deluge system needed to stop and we were informed that operations could continue.”
How This Could Hurt SpaceX
So far, SpaceX has stated that they’ve worked with all agencies to ensure they are following proper protocol — even though this doesn’t necessarily seem to be the case, according to analysts.
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Regardless, if SpaceX isn’t in compliance with all laws, then they may fail to get approval from the FAA for any future launches.
Further Problems for SpaceX
These violations could become a consistent problem for SpaceX, particularly because these notices have stated that the company repeatedly violated these acts.
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This could lead to delays in approvals from the FAA for future launches. However, the company could also face anything from civil monetary penalties — or even criminal charges.