FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 16, 2025
Contact: Bekah Hinojosa at (956) 975 – 6634 or bekah@sotxejn.org
Rio Grande Valley Organizations Reject FAA Meetings and SpaceX Rocket Launch
BROWNSVILLE, TX. – This afternoon, SpaceX tested the controversial Starship/SuperHeavy by launching from Brownsville’s Boca Chica beach for the seventh time. Residents witnessed the largest rocket in human history launch, releasing a plume of fire and smoke on sensitive wildlife habitat, a precious family beach, and lands that are sacred to the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas. Rio Grande Valley organizations and the Tribe opposed the launch and future launches in the region.
The rocket launch comes after several inadequate public meetings hosted in Brownsville and online by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of launches to 25 times per year. Rio Grande Valley organizations noted that the FAA meetings failed to allow for meaningful public participation because the administration did not translate all SpaceX permit materials into Spanish or include an open hearing format at the Brownsville meetings. The FAA’s insufficient draft environmental assessment of SpaceX’s proposal lacked crucial information. Local community organizations urged the FAA to conduct a complete environmental impact statement (EIS), including a thorough analysis of environmental justice, habitat loss, noise pollution, air pollution, and socioeconomic impact.
For years, Rio Grande Valley organizations have been outspoken about the risks and harms of SpaceX construction and operations on Boca Chica beach and sacred lands. These harms include home foundations shaking in the Brownsville and Laguna Madre area because of launches, excessive closure of Boca Chica Beach, increased housing costs and displacement, the destruction of dozens of acres of wildlife habitat, and more. These dangers will only increase if SpaceX is allowed to launch more times yearly. In 2024, organizations met with Congressman Gonzalez’s office and sent a letter with concerns but have not received a response from the Congressman.
In response, Christopher Basaldú, PhD, with South Texas Environmental Justice Network, issued the following statement:
“Musk has wasted taxpayers’ dollars to test dangerous, experimental rocket technology that pollutes the water, burns the wildlife habitat, and desecrates sacred sites of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation. The FAA continues to enable this destruction by ignoring the concerns of our local communities and deliberately not consulting with the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation. The FAA failed our communities by canceling the public meeting for Port Isabel, by refusing to translate all materials into Spanish, and by not allowing residents to share comments openly. SpaceX is unnecessary, wasteful, and threatens a livable future in our homelands.”
In response, Juan B. Mancias, with Esto’k Gna Tribal Nation ( Carrizo Comecrudo Nation ), issued the following statement:
“Musk continues to spread lies and propaganda with his false solutions and deceptive marketing of SpaceX while wearing a t-shirt that says “Occupy Mars.” Musk promotes and continues 500 years of invasion, occupation, and genocide of Native people. He has no “vision” for a livable future. His only motivation is lust for wealth and power. Colonizer.”
In response, Nansi Guevara, with Nuestra Delta Magica, issued the following statement:
“My hope is that the FAA does right by the people, humanity and our planet by opposing this dramatic increase in launches by SpaceX. I attended both public meetings, I witnessed complacency from the FAA contrasted by the power in the people’s voices, a majority of voices in opposition, Native Hawainns not being included in this environmental assessment process, and simply being seen as an afterthought by both SpaceX and the FAA as their rockets would land within Hawaiian kingdom lands and waters. There no community consensus for this extractive project, and now we are deeply impacted by its life altering repercussions. We, in the Rio Grande Delta, are in deep solidarity with Native Hawaiians, who, just like us, are fighting to protect our oceans and its endangered and precious ecosystems.”
In response, Lupita Sanchez with Border Workers, issued the following statement:
“Every time SpaceX launches a rocket, acres of wildlife habitat gets destroyed and burned at Laguna Atascosa putting local species in danger, gallons of water get contaminated with toxic waste and dumped into wetlands connected to The Rio Grande, residents lose access to what once was an open beach and Federal agencies like FAA, TCEQ keep ignoring local residents comments and statements failing to do their job on protecting natural resources, our environment and the quality of life of the residents of the area. We will keep raising our voices to what is a violation to human survival.”
In response, Michelle Serrano with Voces Unidas, issued the following statement:
“When SpaceX first came here they promised the community limited satellite launches and a small environmental footprint. We now know that this was a lie. SpaceX and Elon Musk’s predation of our region has undermined our right to the beach and the right to our shared gulf coast culture. I have witnessed first hand the destruction and death that Starship causes to our local region, with static fire tests that destroy acre upon acre of land, rockets that shake our homes before they explode and rain down particulate matter onto our homes and bodies, and waters that poison the ultra-sensitive Laguna Madre, one of seven hypersaline lagoons the world has to offer. We have little faith that SpaceX will be a good steward to Boca Chica Beach or the people of this region, and feel the civic process we have been following with regulatory agencies to be a sham.”
In response, ENTRE Film Center & Regional Archive issued the following statement:
“As an organization dedicated to preserving the rich cultural history of South Texas, we condemn the on-going destruction of Boca Chica Beach at the hands of SpaceX and corrupt community representatives and elected officials. The Texas coast is a region rich with native flora and fauna that remains under-examined and vulnerable to corporate greed and toxic chemicals. We are disheartened to witness the blatant disregard for our community’s concerns and well-being, and appalled at the lack of investment in our community’s future. The failure of the FAA to provide sufficient measures to receive and integrate community concerns and feedback is a glaring example of how private corporations and federal entities continue to place profit over people. We deserve better and demand proper representation and investment in this region beginning with the creation of a genuine, inclusive and community-centered system to inform how entities exist and are held accountable based on the needs, feedback and quality care of our people and environment.“
In response, Texas Rising Brownsville, issued the following statement:
“As an organization that focuses on giving young people a voice on the future of Texas and their communities, we do not wish to see a future where ecological destruction is seen as the norm and treated as a priority over the wellbeing of our residents and the environment they live in. SpaceX should not be the primary decision maker on what Boca Chica should be used for nor should it be a key influencer when it comes to a federal agency such as the FAA who should focus on the concerns of the community not the whims of a corporation whose sole purpose is profit. Our families and generations to come deserve to have Boca Chica Beach preserved and protected because it is a part of our history and a vital part of our coastal ecosystem.”