The Texas Supreme Court has ruled in favor of SpaceX and the attorney general’s office, stating that environmental groups do not have the right to sue to preserve public access to a beach that has been closed during rocket launches.

Background of the Case

The dispute began in 2021 when the environmental group SaveRGV sued the Texas General Land Office, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, and Cameron County, arguing that Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 — the only access road — had been improperly closed for SpaceX launches.

SaveRGV claimed that the closures violate the Texas Constitution, which was amended in 2009 to guarantee public access to, and use of, state beaches. The lawsuit, later joined by the Sierra Club and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, sought to void a 2013 state law that authorized SpaceX to close Boca Chica Beach as a safety precaution during space flights.

Supreme Court Decision

In the unanimous ruling, written by Justice Rebeca Huddle, the Supreme Court said the 2009 constitutional amendment expressly stated that there is no private right to sue to enforce beach access.

Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.