Summary SpaceX accused of releasing pollutants from deluge system at Starbase. The company claims environmental regulators gave it the go-ahead to use water deluge system. FAA could pull SpaceX's launch license if found in violation of environmental regulations.
SpaceX could find itself in hot water after falling foul of environmental regulations at its Starbase facility in South Texas. The aerospace company reportedly released pollutants into or nearby surrounding bodies of water without sufficient permits for its water deluge system. SpaceX accused of Starbase water pollution According to a report by CNBC , a notice of violation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) says that SpaceX released pollutants from the water deluge system at its Boca Chica Starbase launch facility on multiple occasions this year.
In records seen by CNBC, the TCEQ said it received 14 complaints " alleging environmental impacts from the Facility's deluge system ," and that, after an environmental investigation, determined that the company had discharged industrial wastewater four times between March and July of this year. In March, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also issued a notice of violation to SpaceX that its activities had violated the Clean Water Act. The aerospace firm initially did not build a water-cooled flame deflector system - or deluge system - at Starbase, but constructed one after its launchpad exploded during Starship's first test flight in April 2023.
However, it did so with exemptions from the usual permitting process and did not apply for a permit until July 1st of this year. SpaceX responds In a post published on X - owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk - the company said it has coordinated closely with both the TCEQ and EPA and " explicitly asked if operation of the deluge system needed to stop ," stating clearly that it was informed that "operations could continue." Apparently, neither the TCEQ nor the EPA would respond to SpaceX's refutation when questioned by CNBC.
The post adds that the deluge system does not cause any harm to the environment, citing that a single use of the system creates " potable water equivalent to a rainfall of 0.004 inches " in an area that averages 27 inches of rain annually. Elon Musk was clearly not happy with the reporting done by CNBC - in typical fashion, Musk posted "CNBC sucks" beneath the SpaceX post.
CNBC's report notes that the TCEQ report found " very large exceedances of the mercury water quality criteria " - however, SpaceX claims that samples have found " either no detectable levels of mercury whatsoever or found in very few cases levels significantly below the limit the EPA maintains for drinking water ." Future launch complications Should SpaceX face state or federal investigations, it could impact the company's ability to deliver launches under its authorization with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Starbase is where the company's Starship spacecraft - powered by Super Heavy rockets - will launch from, carrying payloads and people into orbit as part of missions like NASA's Artemis program and the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
The FAA has now postponed environmental assessment meetings scheduled for this week, which were due to discuss raising SpaceX's launch thresholds at Starbase. The agency said it is now " seeking additional information from SpaceX " before rescheduling these meetings. Phase 3 contracts worth $5.
6 billion will be handed out next year..
