Federal government fines Elon Musk's SpaceX $148,000 over environmental issues

As billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX awaits federal approval to conduct another test launch, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined the firm more than $148,000 over environmental issues at its South Texas site. In documents posted online, EPA officials said SpaceX agreed to pay the penalty over a spill of 36,000 gallons of liquid oxygen into wetlands adjacent its launch area in Boca Chica on the Gulf Coast. The fine also covers seven releases of industrial-process wastewater into the same wetlands, according to the EPA.