U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Coal Mining Public Hearing set August 10th
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth, Texas District, will host an open house and public hearing to provide commnents from the public regarding the Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement prepared to evaluate proposed changes to USACE regulatory framework under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act concerning coal mining operations in Texas, including the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine, at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive, Eagle Pass, Texas on Monday, August 10, 2015, commencing with the Open House from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.m. followed by the Public Hearing at 6:30 P.M. Both the Open House and Public Hearing are opened to the public and admission is totally free.
The USACE Regional Environmental Impact Statement (REIS) analyzes the potential impacts to waters of the United States, such as Elm Creek and the Rio Grande River, and other relevant environmental and human resources within six (6) study areas in Texas which could be affected by future surface coal and lignite mine expansions, including the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership Eagle Pass Mine. A copy of the USACE Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement is available at the City of Eagle Pass Public Library and main libraries of the 32 County area of the study, including Maverick County.
A copy of the USACE Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement is also available at: http://www,swf.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permitting/REISforLigniteMininginTexas.aspx .
A review of the USACE Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement states that Dos Republicas Coal Partnerhip advised the USACE that they may expand the Eagle Pass Mine, an open surface coal mine, to include up to an additional 25,000 acres and the potential period for coal mining may for up to 22 years.
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas, County of Maverick, Maverick County Hospital District, Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association, and local farmers, ranchers, property owners, and citizens oppose the opening of the controversial Eagle Pass Mine by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership in a densely populated area near FM 1588 (Thompson Road) only three (3) miles from the City of Eagle Pass city limits and on the banks of Elm Creek, which directly discharges its waters into the Rio Grande River.
Currently, there are several legal proceedings ongoing regarding the controversial Eagle Pass Mine by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership. The Railroad Commission of Texas granted a permit to construct and operate an open surface coal mine to Dos Republicas Coal Partnership on January 29, 2013 on a split 2-1 vote. This Railroad Commission permit is on appeal before the Texas Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality originally granted Dos Republicas a permit to discharge its coal mining waste water into Elm Creek and Rio Grande River, but Dos Republicas is now requesting that this water discharge permit be expanded from 2700 acres to over 6300 acres and is awaiting a contested administrative hearing in November of 2015. Dos Republicas sued Maverick County and County Judge David R. Saucedo in both the 293rd and 365th Judcial District Courts in Maverick County for denying them a Construction Permit over the Federal Emergency Management Admistration Flood Zone (Elm Creek). Judge Cynthia Muniz of the 293rd Judicial District Court denied Dos Republicas the relief they requested and this case is now on appeal before the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, Texas. Judge Amado J. Abascal, III, abated Dos Republicas case in his Court until the Fourth Court of Appeals decides Dos Republicas appeal.
An overwhelming majority of Maverick County citizens oppose the Eagle Pass Mine proposed by Dos Republicas while a small minority support it.
The USACE Open House and Public Hearing on August 10th in Eagle Pass is an excellent opportunity for Maverick County and surrounding citizens to learn about the impact of future coal mining in Eagle Pass and Maverick County, as well as comment on the Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement.
