Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has asked the state Parks and Wildlife Department to pause a pending sale of 1,300 acres of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX.
Key points
- Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa formally requested a pause on the sale of 1,300 acres of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX.
- The Texas Parks and Wildlife commission removed the sale from its early‑November agenda, leaving the decision unresolved.
- Environmentalists and local residents continue to express concerns about SpaceX’s expanding footprint near Boca Chica Beach.
At a news conference in Austin, Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa said she has asked the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to hold off on a decision to sell roughly 1,300 acres of state park land that borders SpaceX’s Starbase launch complex.
The acreage in question is part of Boca Chica State Park, located about 20 miles east of Brownsville and adjacent to the facility where SpaceX builds and launches its Starship rockets. The department’s commission had slated a discussion of the sale for an early‑November meeting, but the item was removed from the agenda, according to the Texas Tribune.
Background on the proposed Boca Chica land sale
Hinojosa told CNN that she had spoken with the department’s executive director to confirm the removal and to request that no action be taken while the transition is under review, stressing that any partnership with Elon Musk’s companies must be on Texas’ terms.
Governor Greg Abbott, who has received significant campaign contributions from Musk, earlier indicated the proposed sale would not be put to a vote “anytime soon.” Local residents and environmental groups have long warned that SpaceX’s expansion could further restrict access to Boca Chica Beach and alter the surrounding ecosystem.
Hinojosa's request and political context
SpaceX recently completed a land swap with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acquiring 715 acres near Starbase in exchange for 683 acres located about 10 miles away. A federal lawsuit filed by environmentalists over the swap remains pending, and the FAA is reviewing a plan that could allow up to 460 Starship launches per year, with public meetings scheduled later this month.
Reader questions
What land is being considered for sale to SpaceX?
Approximately 1,300 acres of Boca Chica State Park, which borders SpaceX’s Starbase launch complex.
Who asked for the pause on the land sale?
Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, after speaking with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s executive director.
What is the current status of the proposed sale?
The sale has been taken off the commission’s agenda, and no further action has been scheduled while the issue remains under review.
Source: expressnews.com
