EPA fines SpaceX $148,378 for unauthorized deluge discharge

https://www.epa.gov/tx/proposed-administrative-penalty-order-against-space-explorations-technologies-corp-spacex-clean

5 Comments

  1. WeeklyBanEvasion on

    This includes multiple occurrences, dates as far back as 2022, and it sounds like it’s primarily from not recapturing deluge water during launch. I wonder if NASA’s launches recapture that water, I’ve never seen any details about that infrastructure.

    Either way it seems to be fairly benign as far as pollutants go. Probably some rust and propellant material that would otherwise be thrown anyways. At about $50,000 a year I doubt constructing the infrastructure would be worth it

  2. [TCEQ also fined them $3,750 for the same violations](https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/1f4v6m3/spacex_fined_3750_for_unauthorized_discharge_into/).

    Despite the claims in [SpaceX’s press release](https://www.spacex.com/updates/#starships-fly), [the agreement](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-09/spacex_cafo_cwa-06-2024-1768_txu09110_090624__0.pdf) also clarifies that their deluge water is classified as industrial wastewater and required a permit that SpaceX was warned about in June 2022, but did not apply for until July 1, 2024.

    >Respondent did not have a TPDES Permit (permit) issued under Section 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1342. At all relevant times, Respondent was not authorized to discharge pollutants from the facility to waters of the United States.

    >Because Respondent owned or operated a facility that acted as a point source of discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States, Respondent and the facility were subject to the CWA and the TPDES.

  3. I like how this whole thing is Red Tape. They aren’t telling them they need to change LITERALLY ANYTHING about their system, they just have the wrong piece of paper.

    Utter bullshit as per.