Texas Tribune / Michael Gonzalez
SpaceX rockets on the launch pad on the Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. Texas Parks and Wildlife is negotiating a land swap that will give the corporate a part of Boca Chica State Park.
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A coalition of Rio Grande Valley organizations have filed a lawsuit towards the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, searching for to dam the state company from pursuing a land swap with Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft firm.
Final month, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Fee voted unanimously to pursue an trade that will give 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX in trade for 477 acres adjoining to Laguna Atascosa Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. Rio Grande Valley residents opposed the trade, arguing that Boca Chica is sacred to the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and that the general public park has lengthy been a favourite leisure outpost for almost all Hispanic neighborhood within the Rio Grande Valley.
Within the lawsuit filed final week within the district courtroom of Travis County, environmental teams argue that the trade is illegal as a result of the state failed to contemplate options to gifting away public land and failed to make sure the minimization of hurt to public land. The teams additionally argue that the state didn’t take into account the very best pursuits of the area people. The go well with states that SpaceX doesn’t personal the land the state would obtain within the swap. The Texas Commonplace reported in January that Musk was nonetheless negotiating the acquisition of the non-public land.
“That is simply the most recent instance of our state officers failing to satisfy their obligations to Texans, at any time when SpaceX is concerned,” Marisa Perales, an legal professional representing the three Rio Grande Valley organizations who filed the lawsuit, mentioned in an announcement. “Defending public park land and the general public’s curiosity means saying ‘no’ to the calls for of SpaceX, whose area flight actions have precipitated hurt to public lands and wildlife habitats.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division acquired Boca Chica State Park, positioned at Texas’ southernmost level alongside the Gulf Coast, in 1994 by a federal program aimed to protect the land. The realm offers habitat for some endangered species.
SpaceX started buying land within the space in 2012 to construct a rocket manufacturing and check launch facility. The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX’s operations have precipitated injury to public lands by growing runoff of stormwater and creating air pollution.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division declined to touch upon the lawsuit however mentioned the company has, for a few years, been within the 477 acres they are going to purchase by the land swap.
“The 477 acres provided to TPWD close to Laguna Atascosa Nationwide Wildlife Refuge embody probably the most biologically numerous areas in North America, sheltering endangered species, winter fowl and different migratory birds,” mentioned Cory Chandler, an company spokesperson. “The land has been of curiosity to us and the conservation neighborhood for a few years and an trade would create a tenfold return whereas permitting TPWD to work with companions within the area to plan for a brand new state park for public enjoyment with entry for fishing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, mountain climbing, biking and household gatherings in a quickly growing area of Texas.”
This text initially appeared within the Texas Tribune.
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