A lawsuit filed against SpaceX by the South Texas environmental group ‘Save RGV’ has been voluntarily dismissed, ending one of the ongoing environmental debates surrounding the company’s Boca Chica launch site.
Save RGV, a local advocacy group focused on protecting the Rio Grande Valley’s natural ecosystems, originally filed the lawsuit in2023. The suit alleged that SpaceX was polluting local waters in violation of the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit aimed to compel SpaceX to comply with environmental regulations or face penalties. The case was set to proceed to a hearing in mid-April, but the group has now opted to withdraw its legal action.
The dismissal, filed in a two-page brief on Tuesday, did not provide a detailed explanation for the decision. However, attorney Lauren Ice, who represented Save RGV, confirmed that the group could consider refiling at a later date, depending on future developments and legal constraints. (via KUT)
A key factor influencing Save RGV’s decision appears to be a recent permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). According to Jim Chapman, a board member of Save RGV, this permit effectively rendered their lawsuit “moot.” While the group remains convinced that its claims were valid, Chapman acknowledged that the lawsuit was unlikely to yield the desired outcome given the regulatory approval SpaceX has received.
SpaceX has consistently maintained that its operations comply with all applicable laws and permits. SpaceX has argued that the claims made by Save RGV did not demonstrate imminent or irreparable harm warranting immediate legal intervention.
The legal battle over SpaceX’s environmental impact is part of a larger pattern of scrutiny surrounding the company’s operations at Boca Chica. In addition to the now-dropped lawsuit, Save RGV and other environmental organizations have challenged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for allegedly failing to adequately assess the risks posed by SpaceX’s launches.
Despite dropping their federal lawsuit, Save RGV is still involved in other legal challenges, including a state-level case against TCEQ’s approval of SpaceX’s wastewater disposal permit.
