SpaceX accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years

Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 1022 points –
SpaceX accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years
popsci.com

SpaceX’s Starship launches at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, have allegedly been contaminating local bodies of water with mercury for years. The news arrives in an exclusive CNBCreport on August 12, which cites internal documents and communications between local Texas regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency.

SpaceX’s fourth Starship test launch in June was its most successful so far—but the world’s largest and most powerful rocket ever built continues to wreak havoc on nearby Texas communities, wildlife, and ecosystems. But after repeated admonishments, reviews, and ignored requests, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have had enough.

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My dear friend, the report is factually false. I can't speak for others, but I personally find it to only be responsible to help dispel false news. And for what it's worth, Elon is an asshole in my view, but that is irrelevant in this context, wouldn't you agree?

As for the facts, you may check them yourself. Here is the actual application. Typo is on page 79, the actual figure is in the appendix on page 177.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/permitting/wastewater/title-iv/tpdes/wq0005462000-spaceexplorationtechnologiescorp-starbaselaunchpadsite-cameron-tpdes-adminpackage.pdf

Maybe you're wondering why I am keen on sharing all this. I am a big fan of spaceflight, it's just something I like and find inspiring. False reports that lean heavily on "Elon Musk bad" make the spacefaring future I'm rooting for more difficult to achieve. Surely it's ok to correct misinformation?

My dearest lover, I appreciate you reaching out to me in this way. I missed all the other links you've put up and so this copy/paste directly made for me has made my heart swell. I regret to inform you that you're behind in your news updates and the reporting is only getting worse for you at this time. I apologize for the inconvenience and will never give up being your shelter and rock in the stormy sea of life.