The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning a potential land exchange between SpaceX and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the agency announced via its website and social media platforms.
The USFWS published a draft environmental assessment Monday, March 2, which looks at impacts of land use, cultural resources, critical habitats and more.
If approved, 712 acres of the refuge’s publicly owned land would be divested in exchange for 692 acres owned by SpaceX.
“The need for the Proposed Action is to reduce land use conflicts that impede the Service’s mission to conserve species’ habitats, improve habitat protection, consolidate ownership, and simplify management of refuge lands,” the draft assessment’s purpose and need section stated.
The measure prompted a lawsuit from the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and other organizations, leading to a court hearing at UTRGV’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday. There was also a protest held the same day on private land near the beach.
Emma Guevara of the environmental justice network called SpaceX “a blight on this community, even though they have promised time and time again to be uplifting us.”
“I, myself, have experienced firsthand how SpaceX is erasing our culture, denying us access to our beach, and using our people as their pawns,” she said in a statement.
The U.S. government would acquire SpaceX property along State Highway 4 in the city of Starbase, adjacent to State Highway 100 in Laguna Vista, according to the 166-page document.
The wildlife refuge was established in 1979 for the conservation and protection of fish and wildlife resources, according to the draft assessment.
While SpaceX has not provided specific development plans, according to the document, “Existing zoning indicates the types of uses that could occur which consist of open space, mixed use, and heavy industrial.”
The refuge covers 103,000 acres and includes parts of the Palmito Ranch Battlefield National Historic Landmark.
Land development and human activity could impact threatened and endangered species, through reduction in foraging or breeding habitat quantity and/or quality, mortality due to vehicles, exposure to hazardous chemicals and more.
The refuge is part of a larger protected area, which includes the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
If the land exchange does occur, then SpaceX will acquire the surface land, which means that underground mineral resources are not included.
According to the draft assessment, there are currently no active mineral claims, leases or mineral sites and there is low potential for leasable oil and gas in the project area.
The federal agency has begun consultation or contacted various federal, state and local agencies, tribes, and non-governmental organizations, according to the draft.
The American Battlefield Trust and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley both asked to be a part of the consultation.
The department is holding a comment period about the drafted document until March 31. Comments can be submitted through email, r2plancomments@fws.gov, and commenters can request to remain private, according to the project page.
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