SpaceX found itself in hot water again, as the company continues the process of operating under the mantra of “it’s better to apologize than to be right.”
Which one is happening?
CNBC reports that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a notice of violation to the company led by Elon Musk this summer for releasing pollutants into or near bodies of water in Texas. .
These specific violations relate to four cases between March and July of this year when SpaceX allegedly removed industrial waste water without authorization. The saga is connected to the previous launch of the Starship rocket company and the use of an unauthorized flood system, according to CNBC.
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SpaceX disputed the report and said in a statement sent to X, formerly known as Twitter, that their release does not harm the environment. Onlookers are suspicious. Kenneth Teague, a coastal environmentalist, told CNBC that SpaceX’s permit application, which was filed about 80 days late, showed “extreme limits of mercury water quality standards.”
Why is SpaceX’s disregard for those rules important?
Laws and regulations surrounding wastewater disposal are intended to protect fish, wildlife and humans. Mercury, in particular, is “toxic” and “readily absorbed into the food supply,” according to the US Geological Survey.
In addition, Teague points out that high temperatures and mercury emissions are causing “extreme concerns” for wildlife that are vital to the ecosystem, including critters and waterfowl.
This is not the first time SpaceX has done something illegal. Investigators accuse the company of following the pattern of ignoring the rules and permitting procedures from the TCEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more than a year, CNBC reports.
SpaceX’s vision for the urban environment yields dire results. For example, the first failed Starship launch burned four acres of a nearby Texas state park and set fire to wildlife. The second spill damaged 11 acres of sand dunes that are critical to endangered seabirds, according to MySanAntonio.com.
What is being done about SpaceX’s violations?
The biggest thing these violations could do is push the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to stop SpaceX’s future operations.
Until the company complies with state and federal laws, the FAA can use its power to promote the initiative. Heavy fines like the FAA’s recent one for SpaceX’s safety violations are another option for companies or third parties to take action.
It is highly doubtful that SpaceX will change anything without input from the FAA. Environmental engineer Eric Roesch told MSNBC that the company continues to dispose of wastewater “with the blessing of the FAA.”
At the very least, SpaceX’s flooding system should be subject to proper compliance procedures before another rocket launches with potential environmental damage.
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