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SpaceX’s massive Starship booster recently made its return to the launch pad during a test flight from Starbase, located in Boca Chica, Texas, on January 16, 2025.
As the community votes on potentially incorporating Starbase into an official Texas city, lawmakers have opted against granting SpaceX enhanced control over key access routes, specifically a significant highway and public beaches.
Starbase serves as the primary site for the company to construct and launch its rockets, situated along the Gulf Coast. The local population is deciding on this city status, with the election concluding soon.
On Monday, a legislative committee in Texas dismissed a bill aimed at providing SpaceX more authority over the highway and beach access, particularly if the city incorporation is successful. The area currently supports around 500 residents, inclusive of SpaceX personnel and approximately 120 minors, as noted by the Texas Tribune.
Historically, SpaceX has needed to restrict road and beach access for conducting test flights and rocket launches, especially for its ambitious Starship program, which Musk envisions as a step toward human missions to Mars. The necessity for these closures has required prior notification and permission from officials in Cameron County, Texas.
These frequent closures have sparked legal challenges against SpaceX and have led to protests from local residents and environmental advocates, including the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and the South Texas Environmental Justice Network.
In the Rio Grande Valley, where Starbase is positioned, activists have protested against proposed legislation for several weeks. New proposals may emerge before the state legislature reconvenes next month.
According to previous reports by CNBC, events at SpaceX have led to significant environmental repercussions, including fires and damage to habitats that are vital for endangered species in the surrounding area.
One notable incident involved SpaceX being penalized by the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the Clean Water Act, resulting in pollution in local waters. Following this fine, Musk threatened legal action against the FAA, citing “regulatory overreach,” but did not proceed with a lawsuit.
In July, a New York Times article highlighted the negative impact of SpaceX operations on local wildlife, prompting Musk to humorously comment on X, saying, “To make up for this heinous crime, I will refrain from having an omelette for a week.”
This occurred shortly before Musk voiced his support for Donald Trump in the wake of an assassination attempt against the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania. Musk subsequently invested nearly $300 million to assist Trump’s campaign efforts and has been influential in discussions surrounding spaceflight and environmental policies.
In his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has undertaken significant reductions within both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration. Under Trump’s administration, the EPA has committed to revising or eliminating numerous regulations that currently serve to limit pollution from various sectors.
Requests for comments from Tim Hughes, SpaceX’s head of government affairs, as well as from the offices of Republican State Representatives Gina Hinojosa and Janie Lopez—who sponsored the bills aimed at granting SpaceX local beach control—went unanswered.
WATCH: SpaceX launches third test flight of massive Starship rocket.
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