Senator Carlos Uresti requests TCEQ hold public meeting on Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Application to Amend TPDES Permit
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Texas State Senator Carlos I. Uresti (D-19) wrote a letter, dated February 11, 2014, to the Chief Clerk of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requesting that TCEQ hold a public meeting in Maverick County regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application to amend its Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit no. WQ0003511000 to increase the discharge of coal mining waste water and storm waters into Elm Creek, a direct water tributary of the Rio Grande River, and the Rio Grande River.
Senator Uresti begins by stating that “I am requesting that the TCEQ hold a public meeting in Maverick County on the referenced application as a result of a significant degree of local public interest in the permit amendment and the expansion and future operations of this coal mine.”
Senator Uresti states “I have received several requests from local elected officials and from residents who are concerned about the potential negative environmental impacts that this expanded operation could bring to the community. The community has great concerns about air contamination emanating from operations at this mine and the fact that the operation’s wastewater will be discharged into a tributary of the Rio Grande just above the drinking water intake facility for the City of Eagle Pass. These potentially negative impacts could result in detrimental health consequences for members of the community. I would appreciate it if TCEQ could hear these concerns firsthand so that the agency may be able to formulate informative and proper responses.”
Uresti concludes “I look forward to your scheduling of this meeting. If needed, my office can assist the TCEQ in working with the proper local elected officials to schedule the meeting at a time and location convenient for our constituents. Thank you for your consideration of this request.”
Dos Republicas Coal Partnership is seeking to increase its previously granted TCEQ TPDES Permit WQ0003511000 from approximately 2,700 acres to its current Railroad Commission of Texas Permit 42-B to construct and operate an open surface coal mine on approximately 6,700 acres as well as amend other water outfalls, detention ponds, and water discharge points into the Elm Creek and Rio Grande River. The Eagle Pass Mine plans to discharge its coal mining waste water and storm waters into Elm Creek and eventually into the Rio Grande River only one or two miles upstream from both the City of Eagle Pass’ Roberto Gonzalez Municipal Water Treatment Plant and the City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico municipal water treatment plant on the banks of the Rio Grande.
The City of Eagle Pass, County of Maverick, Maverick County Hospital District, Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association, and George Baxter are currently appealing the controversial Texas Railroad Commission’s split 2-1 vote to grant Dos Republicas Coal Partnership a permit to design, construct, and operate an open pit coal mine on the banks of Elm Creek approximately only three miles (as the Crow flies) from the City of Eagle Pass city limits near FM 1588 (Thompson Road) in the highly densely populated areas of northern Maverick County, including FM 1588, Deer Run Subdivision, Elm Creek Subdivision, South Elm Creek Subdivision, Siesta Acres Subdivision, Seco Mines Subdivision, Hopedale, Kypuros Road, Ritchie Farms, Coahuila Vista Subdivision, Hopedale Estates, Eagle Point Ranch, and many others. The Eagle Pass Independent School District has two elementary schools within one or two miles from the Eagle Pass Mine, including Pete P. Gallego Elementary and Seco Mines Elementary while Teaching and Mentoring Communities has a children’s Headstart School adjacent to Seco Mines Elementary.
TCEQ published an Amended Notice of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application in a local newspaper requesting local citizens, governmental entities, businesses, and organizations wishing to make written comments regarding Dos Republicas’ Amended Application do so to TCEQ, including a request for public meeting, public hearing, and contested case hearing.
Senator Uresti’s office has been inundated with many Eagle Pass and Maverick County citizens and local elected officials requesting his intervention to seek a public meeting of Dos Republicas’ Amended Application with TCEQ be held in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Recent events in both Charleston, West Virginia and North Carolina regarding the contamination of the Elks River and Dan River by coal spills has raised the concerns of Maverick Countians and South Texans who depend exclusively on the Rio Grande River as their sole source of potable water for their daily sustenance and life. An estimated three million or more persons living on the Texas-Mexico border downstream from Eagle Pass and its sister Mexican city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila depend completely on the Rio Grande River for their potable water supply. Downstream Rio Grande River water users, like Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras citizens, fear that the discharge of coal mining waste water into Elm Creek and the Rio Grande will pollute their sole source of potable water for many generations, stifling U.S.-Mexico international trade and commerce and economic developmetnt as well as affect the public health of over three million residents. The potential for an environmental injustice is evident along the Texas-Mexico border.
Dos Republicas Coal Partnership denies these allegations and concerns and insists that it will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning coal mining operations.
Senator Uresti is simply representing and providing leadership to his Texas-Mexico border constituents whom have contacted his office to request a public meeting, public hearing, and contested case hearing.
