South Texas groups sue to block state land swap with SpaceX

A group of South Texas advocacy groups has sued the state to block a proposed land swap with SpaceX that was approved last month.

The land swap would see SpaceX take over 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park near the Brownsville Spaceport in exchange for 477 acres adjacent to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

The lawsuit, filed last week, alleges the state. failed to research alternatives During negotiations with SpaceX, the company entered into a land swap and failed to meet its obligations to limit damage to public lands.

SpaceX also claims it does not own the 477 acres of land it offered in exchange.texas standard reported earlier this year SpaceX owner Elon Musk is reportedly negotiating to acquire the land.

“This is just the latest example of how state officials fail in their obligations to Texans every time SpaceX is involved,” plaintiffs’ attorney Marisa Perales said in a statement. “The duty of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is to protect park lands and wildlife resources, including Boca Chica Beach and state parks.”

“Protecting public park lands and public interests means saying ‘no’ to SpaceX’s demands that its spaceflight activities harm public lands and wildlife habitat,” she said. added.

Residents feared the agreement, approved last month by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, would cede land considered sacred by the Cariso Comekurd people and privatize popular public recreation land. I have been against it.

The tribe is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with environmental groups Save RGV and the South Texas Environmental Network.

The commission downplayed concerns in its approval, noting that the land being transferred to SpaceX is not adjacent to any popular recreation areas in the park and that the new 477-acre site would benefit wildlife conservation. did.

“This is an exciting opportunity to acquire land that we and the conservation community have been interested in for many years,” TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz said last month.