"A US district court judge on Monday rejected a suit by conservation groups challenging the Federal Aviation Administration approval in 2022 of expanded rocket launch operations by Elon Musk's SpaceX next to a national wildlife refuge in south Texas. The groups said noise, light pollution, construction and road traffic also degrade the area, home to endangered ocelots and jaguarundis, as well as nesting sites for endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles and for threatened shorebirds."
"These environmental reviews are required because rocket launches and landings can be enormously disruptive to local towns and residents, along with the natural surroundings. Exhaust, smoke plumes and sonic booms created at launch can injure and kill endangered species, and detritus from exploded rocket parts returning to Earth can harm fish and marine animals with hazardous material spills, fuel slicks and falling objects."
"US district judge Carl Nichols in Washington said FAA had satisfied its obligation to take a hard look at the effects of light on nearby wildlife. Donald Trump signed an executive order on 13 August titled Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry that would relax environmental rules for commercial spaceship companies, apparently benefitting Elon Musk. The companies may be able to forgo the environmental reviews that are required under the National Environmental Policy Act (Nepa)."
A US district court judge rejected a suit by conservation groups challenging the FAA's 2022 approval of expanded SpaceX rocket launch operations adjacent to a national wildlife refuge in south Texas. The groups argued that noise, light pollution, construction and road traffic degrade habitat for endangered ocelots, jaguarundis, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles and threatened shorebirds. Judge Carl Nichols found the FAA had satisfied its obligation to take a hard look at light effects on nearby wildlife. An August executive order aims to relax environmental rules for commercial space companies and could allow some firms to forgo NEPA reviews. Rocket launches can generate exhaust, smoke, sonic booms and debris that harm wildlife and communities, and SpaceX seeks increased launches while facing legal challenges alleging insufficient environmental review.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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