SpaceX—SpaceX fined $150,000 by EPA for repeated Clean Water Act violations at Starbase
The EPA and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fined SpaceX over $150,000 for repeatedly polluting waters near its Boca Chica Starbase facility. SpaceX discharged industrial wastewater into wetlands without proper permits on at least 13 occasions, including a 2022 liquid oxygen spill. A September 2022 test launch scorched 68 acres of the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental groups and U.S. Fish & Wildlife documented significant harm to endangered species habitat including ocelots, aplomado falcons, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Transparency | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Environmental Sustainability | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.372 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (high ×1.5) × confidence (0.66)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (2 signals)
Environmental groups documented significant habitat damage from SpaceX launches near wildlife refuge
A September 2022 test launch scorched 68 acres of the Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish & Wildlife reported SpaceX activities significantly reduced bird populations at the critical coastal habitat, threatening endangered ocelots, aplomado falcons, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.
EPA fined SpaceX $150,000 for Clean Water Act violations at Starbase
The EPA reached a proposed settlement with SpaceX fining the company nearly $150,000 for breaking clean water laws and a fuel spill at its South Texas Starbase launch site. SpaceX had bypassed permitting and repeatedly discharged pollutants despite receiving violation notices.