Opponents of a proposed rock crusher want residents to remember the Texas Commission on Environment Quality Air Quality Permit number – 176835.
This number may help disrupt the future of Burnet County, according to local officials and residents.
The number is assigned by TCEQ officials as the specific identifier related to a rock crusher quarry proposed for construction north of the Burnet city limit in Hoover Valley at 3221 FM 3509.
TCEQ officials say interested persons must cite the number if and when they e-mail, fax, couri- er, hand-deliver or mail USPS to the commission comments regarding the proposed quarry operation.
All comments are due no later than Sept. 27, according to Camp Longhorn Director Nan Manning, one of many who participated in a town hall meeting Sept. 14 in Burnet.
The meeting sponsored by Save Burnet attracted more than 600 attendees at Hill Country Fellowship Church, according to organizers.
Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) spokesperson, Fermin Ortiz, served as the meeting moderator at the church, which included on its main stage a panel, speakers, a video presentation and questions typewritten before the meeting.
The panel included Martha Tyroch (representative for Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham), Stacy Smith (representative for State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, HD-19), Burnet County resident Randy Printz (who lives close to the proposed quarry), Burnet Mayor Gary Wideman, Manning and Burnet resident Jay Folta, who resides near the site of the proposed quarry.
Unequivocally, Pct. 1 Burnet County Commissioner Jim Luther, Jr. pronounced his opposition to the quarry as he addressed attendees, who listened attentively and quietly.
“I am opposed to the quarry,” Luther said. “It is proposed for a horrible location. Anything I can do to help stop it – I will do it.”
Surely, Wideman told the crowd, quarry operations would increase the volume of heavy truck traffic along Texas 29 in Burnet. Also, toxic dust particles generated by quarry operations would endanger the health of several surrounding homes and neighborhoods, including Camp Longhorn, a popular destination for children, especially during the summer.
“I am really concerned about putting something of that nature (Camp Longhorn) next to something of that nature (the proposed quarry.)” Burnet water is another critical consideration, Wideman said.
About half of the Burnet water supply comes from the Ellenburger Aquifer, about 1,000 acrefeet per year, enough to cover 1,000 football fields with one foot of water, Wideman said.
“According to LCRA (the Lower Colorado River Authority) that company (Asphalt LLC) would use as much water during 217 days as our entire community (Burnet) does during one year,” the mayor added.
According to an “urgent notice” distributed by Save Burnet to attendees before the meeting began, dynamite blasting of rock at the proposed quarry may “damage landmarks such Longhorn Caverns” and “toxic run-off from the facility can drain into our area lakes” and “dust generated by the plant can kill trees, vegetation and negatively affect wildlife.”
During the video presentation, Printz estimated the proposed quarry would consume about 50,000 gallons daily for its operations, enough to support 265 Burnet families for one month.
“It is a concern of all the residents,” Printz said.
Also, about 100 dump trucks would haul approximately 200 tons of dirt, gravel and other debris out of the quarry 15 hours a day, seven days each week over an area of about 1 square mile, he added.
“We are not against growth, we are not against jobs,” Printz said. “We are against the facility because it will devastate our community.”
Also during the meeting, Department of Public Safety Lt. Richard Reid answered several questions prior to the meeting, including: “If the plant does come, will DPS put additional presence on FM 3509 to monitor traffic?”
“We are understaffed,” Reid responded, “I cannot guarantee we will have enough troopers to conduct Level One operations every day, to inspect brakes or tires on every truck.”
Reid added, the public should know large dump tracks (like those that will probably get driven to and from the proposed quarry) often need a distance of at least 600 feet before they may come to a complete stop.
“You are going to have to pay attention to them,” Reid said.
Clearly, the overwhelming majority of attendees at the town meeting arrived to indicate opposition to the quarry, proposed by Asphalt Inc. LCC for construction near Burnet at 3221 FM 3509.
“We do have a lot of support – we need more,” Ortiz said. “This is a just cause. If we do not protect our Hill Country, who will?”
Definitely, no representative from Asphalt or other party appeared at the meeting to support the quarry Asphalt wants to build near Burnet.
“It is an open forum,” Ortiz told the Bulletin. “They (Asphalt representatives) were welcome to come. But they have no interest in us and what our concerns are.”
Local opposition to the quarry erupted earlier this month, soon after the Burnet Bulletin published the quarry request for a permit. Indeed, more than 200 people arrived gathered for a rally Sept. 1 in Burnet at the Reed Memorial Building Burnet at 402 E. Jackson St.
“We started on the 3-yard line,” Ortiz said. “Now, we are at the about the 40-yard line.”
If TCEQ approves a permit for the quarry, LCRA officials must approve a permit for the quarry, too, he added.
After time for initial public comments on the quarry issue closes Sept. 27, at some unknown point, TCEQ officials could schedule a formal public hearing, Ortiz said.
Ideally, both TCEQ and LCRA officials will delay public meetings until after the 89th Legislature concludes next spring, he added.
“Our goal is to slow down the process,” Ortiz said.
Comments on the pending permit application may be mailed to Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, TCEQ, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087; courier or hand-delivered to Office of the Chief Clerk, TCEQ, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Bldg, F, Austin, Texas 78753; faxed to 512-2393311 and; online at www. tceq.texas.gov.
According to the TCEQ public notice, the permit application by Asphalt (Permit number – 176835). is available to view and copy 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ Austin Regional Office, located at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building A, Room 179, Austin, TX 78753-1808.
