The SpaceX facility in Boca Chica is surrounded by federal and state public lands used by hundreds of thousands of individual birds of many different species throughout the year – from the federally Threatened Piping Plover and Red Knot to the Endangered Northern Aplomado Falcon. These lands also support several species of sea turtle and mammals listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Despite the area’s ecological importance, SpaceX has conducted operations with little oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Now, in spite of major expansions in operations and infrastructure in Boca Chica, the FAA has not conducted a full Environmental Impact Study. Instead, it has published a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) – a faster, less comprehensive environmental review.
The FAA is accepting public comments until November 1st on the draft PEA, which fails to provide a full picture of the facility’s impact on surrounding habitats and communities.
Link provides a form which quickly lets you submit an official public comment.
