The city of Starbase, formed by Texas lawmakers, has permission to close Boca Chica Beach in South Texas for SpaceX launches, which has upset local activists and environmental groups. The provision, which was added late in the process, gives Starbase officials, many of whom are SpaceX employees, authority to control access to State Highway 4 and the nearby beach during launches.
The bill mainly deals with reorganizing the Texas Space Commission and related aerospace programs, and it allows the Space Commission to coordinate with cities to limit public access for safety reasons. As a result, Starbase now has the power to close beaches, which raises questions about public access and possible conflicts of interest.
Those in favor, such as Rep. Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood) and Rep. Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo), said the bill guarantees safety and makes Texas a leader in space exploration. However, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio) and others argued that the move gives too much power to a “company town” and reduces the role of local government.
The Esto’k Gna Tribal Nation and other activists and tribal groups opposed the new law. They consider Boca Chica to be sacred land passed down by their ancestors, and they are concerned that more rocket activity, now allowed by the FAA, could harm the environment and prevent people from using the area. Some have pointed out that the FAA has not done enough to include Indigenous communities in its planning.
Protests and phone-banking by the public did not stop the legislation from being passed. Starbase city officials have started their duties, passing city rules and a budget that includes a loan from SpaceX.
The dispute over Boca Chica Beach points to wider disagreements in South Texas about how to balance technology with the need to protect the environment and culture, as companies’ ambitions affect public areas.
