cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20798122

Save RGV, a local environmental nonprofit group, had filed a lawsuit in federal court against SpaceX for its alleged release of untreated industrial waste water.

Under the Clean Water Act, the suit seeks to halt the “recurring” and “unpermitted discharges of untreated industrial wastewater from the deluge system at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site into waters of the United States.”

SpaceX maintains that it never operated the deluge system without the state or federal go-ahead. The EPA did notify SpaceX on March 13, however, that it violated the Clean Water Act when deploying the deluge system.

SpaceX was ordered to comply with federal regulations but did not face an EPA fine at the time.