SpaceX’s $100 billion rocket launch site in coastal Vermilion Parish could bring thousands of jobs to Acadiana. But some are questioning what the massive development could mean for the area’s wildlife. Starbase Louisiana will be built near Pecan Island, a popular destination for fishing, crabbing and duck hunting. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell says the company will develop only a portion of the 125,000 acres of marshland it now owns.
“SpaceX is committed to keeping very large portions of these 125,000 acres untouched, so that high-value wetlands stay habitat and don’t become infrastructure,” Shotwell noted.
The surrounding wetlands are home to alligators, deer, and native water birds. Tens of thousands of ducks and snow geese winter in the marshes near Pecan Island, which is also an important stop for migrating birds. Shotwell says rocket launches and wildlife can coexist, based on what SpaceX has seen at its other facilities.
“The birds might fly away during a launch, but I guarantee they come back,” Shotwell stated.
But Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Rebecca Triche has concerns. She says the FAA is proposing rule changes that would waive 13 federal environmental and public health laws for commercial space permits, including projects like Starbase Louisiana.
“If you waive all of that and you have a lot of non-disclosure agreements, what can the public learn about the ultimate impact of this site?” Triche asked.
Triche says the possibility of eliminating environmental review requirements is particularly troubling.
“You don’t want to be a community member surprised by the amount of noise, and I don’t know the impact on wildlife; that is the kinds of questions that we would like to see answered, and you can answer that through a permit process,” Triche said.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starbase Louisiana will eventually feature more than a dozen launch towers, supporting more than 30 Starship flights per day and making it the largest launch site in the world.
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