Rockets in the Marsh: The Coastal Questions Around Starbase Louisiana

Can a rocket launch site and a coastal marsh share the same land? SpaceX says yes. Wildlife groups say they can't judge until they see the plans. Here is what's known so far.

The land

Starbase Louisiana covers roughly 125,000 acres near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, with about 40,000 acres for launch facilities, the Louisiana Illuminator reported. Other sources have put the total at about 130,000 or 136,000 acres, so treat acreage as approximate until a site plan is public.

The property was owned by ExxonMobil, which began drilling there in the 1940s. Most wells were depleted by the 1980s. The state acquired the land through a sealed settlement of coastal-damage litigation and then sold it to SpaceX, The Current reported on Sept. 4. The site is near Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and the Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary.

The marsh here has already changed. More than 117,000 acres of marsh in the Mermentau River Basin have turned to open water since the 1930s, largely because oil and gas canals cut through protective ridges and let salt water in, according to The Current.

What SpaceX says

"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 said at the announcement, Louisiana Radio Network reported. Asked about wildlife, she added: "The birds might fly away during a launch, but I guarantee they come back."

What's been promised for the coast

Less than some early coverage suggested. "SpaceX has not committed a predetermined amount of money to CPRA or agreed to restore a specific number of acres," Michael Hare, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, told The Current.

Possible sources of coastal money include wetland mitigation that permits would require, voluntary restoration by SpaceX, and proceeds from the $100 million SpaceX paid the state for the land, according to The Current. The specific amounts, the construction footprint and the ExxonMobil settlement terms were not public as of Sept. 4.

Why a federal rule change matters

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed letting the Secretary of Transportation waive requirements under 13 federal environmental laws for commercial space launches, citing national security and regulatory burden, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation explained. The laws include the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act.

"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?" asked Rebecca Triche, executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. The area sits on the Mississippi Flyway, a major bird migration route, and supports wintering ducks and snow geese and endangered whooping cranes.

What residents are saying

Some Pecan Island residents learned about the project through rumors before the announcement. Officials negotiated under nondisclosure agreements with the codename "Project Osprey," WWNO's Gulf States Newsroom reported. One resident called the process "unconscionable." Another raised concerns about migratory birds.

What to watch

• Whether the FAA finalizes its waiver proposal, and whether it applies here.
• Any wetland permit applications, which would show the actual footprint.
• A written restoration commitment from SpaceX or CPRA.

Related: how the tax deal works, including a new state law limiting some noise and vibration lawsuits.

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