SpaceX repeatedly polluted waters in Texas this year, regulators found

Yes they say a lot of things, for example they say they have a permit to do this for example but the permit is for a different purpose (storm water, not industrial process discharge). But among the claims they make the one you cite is not one. They say "finally, some water does leave the area of the pad, mostly from water released prior to ignition and after engine shutdown or launch."

Look this is very simple: this is one of the most basic environmental laws (don't dump stuff into the river), which requires you demonstrate that you are not in fact dumping stuff into the river. You do that through the permitting process. If SpaceX is doing all the correct things there should be no problem getting a permit like everyone else does.

Again this is not some government over-reach, this is probably the first 1-2 environmental regulations you would come up with and which no one would disagree with. There isn't an exception for being a very cool dude.

The cops came by to arrest the criminal but luckily the criminal quickly thought of a brilliant scheme.

“I didn’t commit the crime and, in fact, I hold myself to a higher standard than the law requires.”

Crestfallen the police walk away. “It’s air tight, bullet proof really. He said he didn’t do it so case closed.”