Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX over 700 acres of wildlife refuge in Texas. The land swap would allow SpaceX to acquire land closer to its launchpad near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Concerns Over Ecological Risks

The lawsuit claims that the land swap would worsen ecological risks to the Gulf Coast region, which is already affected by SpaceX’s rocket operations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the land swap, stating that it would cause no significant impact to the area.

The Center for Biological Diversity, which filed the lawsuit, argues that the Service should exercise its enforcement authority to protect the refuge from SpaceX’s activities. The group claims that the land swap would represent a loss of over 700 acres of wildlife habitat.

The lawsuit was filed as SpaceX prepares to go public, which could make its CEO, Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire. The company has expanded rapidly in Texas since breaking ground over a decade ago.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.