Overview

• Three Rio Grande Valley organizations filed a lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for permitting SpaceX to discharge wastewater without a proper permit.
• The groups argue that the discharges, which occur at SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site, risk degrading wetlands and violate the Clean Water Act's procedural requirements.
• SpaceX uses water as part of its deluge system to protect launch pads during rocket launches, claiming the water is safe and contains negligible contaminants.
• The TCEQ allowed SpaceX to continue operations for 300 days or until a permit is issued, a move environmental activists say sets a harmful precedent.
• This lawsuit adds to ongoing legal challenges against SpaceX, including disputes over land use and environmental reviews for its operations in South Texas.