Judge allows SpaceX land swap in Texas wildlife refuge

A federal judge has declined to halt the Trump administration’s plan to transfer more than 700 acres of wildlife refuge land to SpaceX in Texas as part of a land swap deal. Environmental groups said they will pursue further legal action against the arrangement, which would expand the rocket company’s operational footprint on the Gulf coast.

• ▪US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr rejected a request for a preliminary injunction to stop the parcel exchange
• ▪Judge found plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the land transfer would increase ecological risks to the Gulf coast region
• ▪SpaceX operations have already significantly transformed the surrounding wildlife refuge area
• ▪Environmental groups committed to continuing their legal challenge to the deal
• ▪The land swap is part of the Trump administration’s plans to expand SpaceX facilities in Texas
• ▪The dispute centers on approximately 700 acres of refuge property in the state
• ▪The ruling allows the transfer to proceed while legal challenges continue in other proceedings

Source: according to media reports