City’s Environmental Study clears path for Public Safety Headquarters construction

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

The Eagle Pass City Council heard a presentation by Joe Corlock of DSA Construction Management regarding the findings of the Environmental Study on the proposed U.S. Army National Guard Armory Property for the proposed Public Safety Headquarters Project at their Tuesday, August 25, 2015 meeting. Corlock reported to City Council that the Environmental Study conducted recently was negative for any issues which may affect the health and safety of the property and those who may work on it.

Corlock stated that he was pleased to give city council an update on the public safety headquarters plans which included the preliminary reports on the environmental study conducted with no negative significant findings on environmental concerns found, thus allowing for the construction project of the Public Safety headquarters to move forward.

“We’ve had two studies on the site, one environmental and one geotechnical. The environmental we’re very pleased the way that it came out. It came out really well.“ said Corlock.

Corlock stated that Eagle Pass Fire Chief Sonny Mello had raised health concerns for his firefighters because they have to live on the property site while on duty, but the environmental study found no concerns with the property.

Corlock stated a previous public report and another more broad study had been taken into consideration in conducting the study of the area.

Councilwoman Gloria E. Hernandez asked if city council could get a copy of the environmental study report for their personal review of its findings.

Corlock replied that the report was available for city council.

Interim City Manager Hector Chavez stated that the environmental study report had just been handed over and that they would be making it available to all of the city council members.

“It’s quite lengthy but what we wanted them to present was the outcome which says we’re okay to continue with the construction.” Said Chavez.

Chavez noted that the studies that had been done in the past were of the area around the Flourspar facility and that under that study the area of concern had been remediated which was in the vicinity of the proposed Public Safety Headquarters ( National Guard Armory) but not directly where that building stands.

“This was just a follow up just to make sure,” said Chavez.

Chavez stated that the environmental study that had recently been done was to assure the city that there are no issues present before beginning the construction of the multi-million dollar project facility ($6.1 Million).

The first report basically covered what we call the whole entire Fort Duncan area.” said Chavez.

Councilwoman Hernandez asked if the property in question was part of that study.

“It was, yes ma’am, yes it was.” Said Chavez.

“We did testing for about two years because they did find something at the CESA Flourspar facility. We had to do a lot of cleaning. They had to remove dirt, the whole process.” Said Chavez.

Chavez assured that the new study had given the green light for the building project as no issues had been found with the studied area where the proposed Public Safety Headquarters will be built.