Maverick County Commissioner’s Court seek information on party status and contested hearing of Dos Republicas Coal Mine

Maverick County Commissioner’s Court under newly sworn-in County Judge David Saucedo held its first regular meeting of 2011 on Monday, January 10th at 5 P.M. at the Maverick County Courthouse located at 500 Quarry Street, with an agenda of 54 items.

Newly-elected County Commissioner Precinct 3 Jose Luis Rosales requested items Number 47 and 48 on the agenda for discussion and possible action regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership pending application for renewal of Permit No. WQ0003511000 before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and permit number 42A before the Railroad Commission of Texas (RCT) based on many Precinct 3 constituents who expressed to him their grave concerns and opposition to the Dos Republicas Coal Mine on Thompson Road in a heavily populated area, including nearby Pete P. Gallego Elementary and Seco Mines Elementary.

During discussion, County Commissioner Rosales made a motion for Maverick County to obtain

party status and request a contested hearing of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership applications before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission of Texas, seconded by County Commissioner Precinct 2 Rudy Heredia.

During the discussion, however, County Judge David Saucedo, who was previously Precinct 3 Commissioner, amended Rosales’ motion to have Maverick County attorney Ricardo Ramos write a letter to both the TCEQ and the Railroad Commission of Texas on what are the procedures for Maverick County to obtain party status and a contested hearing of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s two pending permit applications, which Commissioner Rosales accepted the amendment to his motion.

Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the motion and requested Maverick County Attorney Ricardo Ramos to write the letter to both the TCEQ and Railroad Commission and report back to Commissioner’s Court. According to TCEQ, anyone needing information about this permit application or the permitting process may call Toll Free the TCEQ Office of Public Assistance at 1-800-6874040.

The Texas Commission Environmental Quality initially published a public notice concerning Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application to renew Permit WQ0003511000 on October 21, 2011, in local newspapers, including the Eagle Pass Business Journal, to discharge industrial wastewater such as mine seepage and stormwaters into Elm Creek and the Rio Grande River. This discharge of mine seepage and stormwaters may affect the public water supply of the City of Eagle Pass.

State Senator Carlos Uresti and State Representative Tracy O. King wrote a letter to TCEQ on behalf of Maverick County to request a public meeting concerning Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s pending permit application before TCEQ. A public meeting is not a contested hearing.

TCEQ will hold a public meeting regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application to renew permit WQ0003511000 on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 7 P.M. at the Seco Mines Community Center located at 2989 Sanchez Avenue in Eagle Pass.

The public meeting is open to the public. For information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Office of Public Assistance at 1-800-687-4040.

Currently, other than the County of Maverick no public governmental entity has requested information, sought party status, or contested Dos Republicas Coal Partnership two pending applications.

The City of Eagle Pass, whose public water supply may be affected, has been mute on Dos Republicas Coal Partnership pending applications.

The City of Eagle Pass Water Works System provides public water to 95% of the residents of Maverick County under the just completed $103 million regional water expansion project.