A US federal judge has declined to stop a land exchange that would give SpaceX more than 700 acres of a wildlife refuge in Texas, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with the deal while environmental and tribal groups continue their legal challenge.
US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. rejected a request on Monday for a preliminary injunction against the exchange.
The groups challenging the deal had argued that transferring the land could increase environmental risks in the Gulf Coast region, where SpaceX’s expanding rocket operations have already attracted concerns.
The land involved forms part of the 103,000-acre Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which spans four counties along the Texas border and contains wildlife habitats and historical sites.
The portion being transferred to SpaceX is located closer to the company’s launch facility near the US-Mexico border.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service approved the proposed exchange in June. Under the agreement, SpaceX would transfer 683 acres of privately owned land to the federal government in return for more than 700 acres of refuge land.
The agency’s final environmental assessment concluded that the exchange would have no significant environmental impact and would produce a “net conservation benefit”.
Why Groups Opposed The Exchange
Environmental organisations and tribal groups have challenged the agreement, with the Center for Biological Diversity among those that filed the lawsuit.
The groups sought to prevent the transfer while their broader case against the land swap proceeds through the courts.
Laiken Jordahl, a spokesperson for the Center for Biological Diversity, described the deal as a transfer of public land to SpaceX that could open the refuge to further construction.
Although the judge rejected the request for an injunction, Jordahl said the organisation would continue with its legal action.
“This court order is not the final word. These lands hold incredible spiritual, historical and conservation value for the people and wildlife of South Texas. We won’t stop fighting to keep this irreplaceable public wildlife refuge safe from SpaceX bulldozers,” Jordahl said in a statement quoted by AP.
The lawsuit also highlights wider concerns surrounding SpaceX’s expansion in the area, including disputes over its growing footprint, beach access and the effects of rocket launches and explosions.
Judge Rejects Environmental Harm Argument
Rodriguez said the groups had not presented sufficient evidence to establish that the land was likely to suffer environmental, cultural, historical or aesthetic damage while the lawsuit was ongoing.
The judge described the evidence of potential environmental harm as “relatively weak”.
He acknowledged that preserving wildlife and historical sites was in the public interest but said the plaintiffs had not demonstrated the kind of imminent damage required for a preliminary injunction.
“While they rightfully argue that the preservation of wildlife and historical lands furthers the public interest, they present no evidence demonstrating that the Property will suffer aesthetic, environmental, cultural, or historical degradation during the pendency of this lawsuit,” Rodriguez wrote in his ruling.
The judge also considered the potential consequences for SpaceX if the land exchange were blocked.
According to Rodriguez, an injunction could force the company to alter its development plans and create additional challenges as it works towards its milestones and contractual obligations.
The ruling does not, however, bring the wider legal dispute to an end. Environmental groups have indicated that they will continue pursuing their case as the land transfer proceeds.
Government Defends Land Swap
The Fish and Wildlife Service has maintained that the exchange would not have a significant impact on the refuge.
According to its final environmental assessment, obtaining SpaceX’s land would provide long-term conservation benefits and strengthen connections between protected habitats in South Texas.
The assessment covers an exchange involving about 715 acres of Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge land for approximately 683 acres owned by SpaceX.
The federal government said the arrangement would consolidate refuge holdings and make it easier to manage protected wildlife habitats.
SpaceX has rapidly expanded its operations in Texas since beginning development there more than a decade ago. Its workforce also voted last year to incorporate the area around its facility as a local government known as Starbase.
