SpaceX’s Control Over South Texas
SpaceX may soon have greater authority over recreational activities in South Texas. According to reports from The Houston Chronicle (via Gizmodo) and San Antonio Express-News, two state senate bills introduced earlier this month would grant officials in the likely Starbase city the power to decide when a nearby beach is closed for weekday launch activities. Furthermore, a third bill introduced on Wednesday would make it a criminal offense for individuals on the beach to disregard SpaceX’s evacuation orders.
Upcoming Election and Its Implications
These bills are possible due to an upcoming election that will likely give SpaceX officials control over the area. On May 3, voters will decide whether Starbase becomes a Texas city, a proposal first introduced by Elon Musk in 2021. Given that the area near the rocket site is primarily populated by SpaceX employees, the election’s outcome is unlikely to be a surprise.
Bills and Their Provisions
Republican state senator Adam Hinojosa’s first bill, SB 2188, would allow Starbase city officials to decide when Boca Chica Beach is closed for weekday rocket tests and flights. An identical bill, HB 4660, was introduced in the state house by Republican Janie Lopez. Cameron County officials would maintain control over closures on Friday afternoons and weekends.
Image: Texas state senator Adam Hinojosa
Hinojosa’s second senate bill, SB 2230, would make it a Class B misdemeanor for individuals on the beach to disregard Starbase’s evacuation orders. The freshman state senator believes this bill would give the commercial spaceport "real teeth" to "compel people to do the right thing."
[Figure: Texas state senator Adam Hinojosa (Campaign for Adam Hinojosa)]Environmental Concerns and Opposition
The FAA’s Environmental Assessment shows that SpaceX has moved much of its testing to a site that doesn’t require the closure of State Highway 4. However, environmental groups argue that SpaceX’s activities are damaging the area. Last year, the Center for Biological Diversity, American Bird Conservancy, and other groups sued the FAA for allegedly rushing SpaceX’s permitting process without a full environmental review. The Environmental Protection Agency also fined the company for allegedly dumping pollutants into Texas wetlands adjacent to the Rio Grande River.
Testimony and Concerns
Craig Nazor, conservation chair for the Sierra Club’s Lone Star chapter, testified to the state senate on Wednesday that SB 2188 would "put beach closures directly in the hands of SpaceX." He expressed concern that the second senate bill could put individuals who are unaware of an upcoming launch into legal trouble. "[SB 2230] could potentially make a criminal out of someone who’s out there and lost track of exactly what may be going on at the launch pad," he said.
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