Judge won’t block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap
The judge said the groups offered relatively weak evidence of harm and that a block would delay SpaceX’s plans to expand its Starbase site.
- On Monday, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. denied a preliminary injunction sought by environmental groups, allowing the land exchange between SpaceX and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to proceed as planned.
- Conservation groups including the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in June, alleging that SpaceX rocket test launches degrade the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and prevent public access.
- Ruling that plaintiffs failed to establish standing or irreparable harm, Rodriguez dismissed claims that future rocket activity would prevent wildlife observation or damage historical lands.
- The government and SpaceX executed the land swap agreement on September 1, with the title transfer expected Tuesday, September 22, to facilitate expansion of the Massey Test Site near Starbase.
- Laiken Jordahl, a public lands advocate at the Center, stated litigation will continue, asserting the refuge holds "incredible spiritual, historical and conservation value" for South Texas.
73 Articles
73 Articles
SpaceX moves closer to securing 700 acres of Texas wildlife refuge land after judge allows swap
A federal judge refused to block SpaceX's land swap deal in Texas. Environmental groups are vowing to continue their legal challenge against the exchange. The US Fish and Wildlife Service approved moving forward with the deal in June. The judge found insufficient evidence of ecological risks from the land transfer. SpaceX will acquire over 700 acres of federal land in the refuge.
The Toronto Star
Judge won’t block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge on Monday refused to block the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge as part of a land swap in Texas, while environmental groups vowed to…
Associated Press News
Judge won't block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swap
A federal judge has refused to block the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres of wildlife refuge as part of a land swap in Texas.
Federal judge rejects attempt to block SpaceX land swap with wildlife refuge
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A federal judge on Monday denied conservation groups' attempt to pause a land swap between the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and SpaceX. In a 27-page order, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that the Center for Biological Diversity, Save RGV, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas and the [...]
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