Maverick County to hire company to remove scrap tire storage violation at County Fairgrounds
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc. Copyright 2015
Maverick County Commissioners Court approved to hire a company immediately to remove the over 10,000 scrap tires being illegally stored at the Caballo Dorado Maverick County Fairgrounds Center at their Monday, July 13, 2015, meeting after receiving a Notice of Violation Letter from Arnaldo Lanese, Section Manager of the Laredo Branch Office of the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Lanese wrote a letter to County Judge David R. Saucedo and County Commissioner of Precinct 2 Rosy Cantu, dated July 1, 2015, advising them that Maverick County was in violation of TCEQ environmental rules and regulations regarding storage of scrap tires and disposal of household waste at the Caballo Dorado County Fairgrounds Center and requesting the County to resolve the problem by no later than September 28, 2015 or face further action and penalties from TCEQ.
Lanese advised County Judge Saucedo that the unlawful storage of scrap tires and disposal of household waste at the Caballo Dorado County Fairgrounds Center presented a nuisance and an endangerment to human health, welfare, and the environment.
During the July 13th meeting, Commissioner Roberto Ruiz stated: “We’ve been trying to get rid of the problem for a while. We have had our ups and downs, people that have come over and promised that they would do it for free. We have waited and it hasn’t materialized.”
Maverick County Auditor Sandra Watkins addressed the court on certain elements that needed to be considered in determining the process to be followed. “I can see you are tired of this,” said Watkins.
“It’s come to a point that TCEQ wants to see some action,” replied Commissioner Ruiz.
“That is right,” added Judge Saucedo. “We have to start on this like, today,” said Saucedo.
Since the estimated cost to remove the scrap tires and household waste is less than $50,000, Commissioners Court determined that it could over-ride the state law procurement process.
Maverick County has had a used scrap tire storage problem for many years prior to the July 1st Notice of Violation Letter from TCEQ.
TCEQ received a complaint on April 27, 2015 regarding the use of the Caballo Dorado Maverick County Fairgrounds as a scrap tire storage facility. TCEQ Investigator Jose Salinas, Jr. did an investigation of the Caballo Dorado Maverick County Fairgrounds Facility on May 7, 2015.
Salinas found over 10,000 used scrap tires being stored at the Caballo Dorado Maverick County Fairgrounds as well as household waste disposed there.
Maverick County consolidated its scrap used tire storage problem in 2012 to the Caballo Dorado County Fairgrounds Center, bringing used scrap tires from other County facilities or properties such as the VFW Park, Road and Bridge Department, and other illegal dumpsites created by residents.
In October of 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a conference in Eagle Pass, Texas to address the issue of used scrap tire storage problems on the U.S.-Mexico border. Maverick County was represented at this EPA conference, as well as the City of Eagle Pass.
Maverick County’s previous efforts to remedy the used scrap tire storage problem has been unsuccessful over the past years.
The Maverick County Solid Waste Authority (MCSWA) even contributed $50,000 this year from its budget to Commissioners Court so that they could remedy the used scrap tire storage problem, but the problem was not remedied before the TCEQ Notice of Violation Letter issued July 1st.
Commissioners Court have no choice but to resolve this used scrap tire storage problem at the Caballo Dorado County Fairgrounds Center because TCEQ has given them a deadline to clean it up by September 28th or face a fine and further penalties.
