SpaceX may control more public closures in Texas

SpaceX may soon have more control over public road and beach closures in South Texas. Two state senate bills introduced this month would allow officials in the proposed Starbase city to decide when Boca Chica Beach closes for rocket launches during the week. A third bill would make it a crime for individuals not to follow evacuation orders from SpaceX. These changes come ahead of an election on May 3, where voters will decide if Starbase officially becomes a Texas city. This proposal, introduced by Elon Musk in 2021, is expected to pass, as many residents near the rocket site are SpaceX employees. One of the bills, SB 2188, introduced by Republican state senator Adam Hinojosa, would give Starbase officials authority over beach closures. A similar bill, HB 4660, has been proposed in the state house. Currently, Cameron County manages these closures, but they would only oversee weekends and Friday afternoons. Hinojosa's second bill, SB 2230, would make it a Class B misdemeanor for beachgoers to ignore SpaceX's evacuation orders. He argues this would enforce safety at the commercial spaceport. Critics express concern that the second bill could wrongfully penalize unsuspecting beach visitors. Environmental groups worry about the impact of SpaceX on local ecosystems. Last year, several organizations sued the FAA for not conducting a full environmental review before permitting SpaceX activities. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has fined SpaceX for allegedly polluting wetlands near the Rio Grande. Craig Nazor, from the Sierra Club, testified that SB 2188 may give too much power to SpaceX over beach access. He warned that the second bill could criminalize people who are unaware of launch activities.