TCEQ rock crushing meeting set for Oct. 26; comment deadline extended to Oct. 31
By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor
The Highlander
Public comment deadline for a proposed Air Quality Standard permit for a proposed rock crushing plant south of Marble Falls has been extended by three weeks until Oct. 31, state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, said Friday.
Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, informational meeting about the Asphalt Inc. permit application at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista, Marble Falls, Buckingham said.
“To my constituents in Senate District 24 I hear you,” Buckingham said. “Many of you in the Marble Falls and surrounding areas have voiced your concerns and frustrations about a proposed rock crushing permit request and an inability, in some cases, to get your questions answered. That's why I reached out to the regulatory agency involved on your behalf demanding more transparency.
“As a result, I am pleased that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has agreed to extend the Oct. 9 public comment deadline for a proposed Air Quality Standard Permit in Burnet County for an additional three weeks, until Oct. 31.”
Asphalt Inc. applied for an air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to operate a new rock and concrete crushing plant and quarrying operation with an entrance 90 feet west of US 281 and approximately 2.6 miles south of the intersection of Texas 71 near Flat Rock Road, which is Burnet County Road 403.
Concerned parties have until Oct. 9 to submit comments, questions and concerns to TCEQ in hopes of convincing the agency to hold a contested case hearing on the permit request. Written public comments about the application may be submitted to: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-1-5, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087, or electronically at tceq.texas.gov/about/comments.html.
The rock crusher air quality permit ID number is 148112, while the registry number is RN109902312. As of Thursday, Oct. 5, there had been 67 requests for a public meeting and 590 written comments protesting the proposed plant.
The application is available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ Austin Regional Office, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Bldg. A, Rm 179, Austin, during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Persons with disabilities who need special accommodations at the informational meeting should call the Office of the Chief Clerk at 512-239-3300 or 1-800-RELAY-TX (TDD) at least one week prior to the meeting.
Buckingham said TCEQ set the informational meeting after her meeting Thursday with officials regarding the permit.
“This significant opportunity for concerned constituents in Senate District 24 to make their voices heard resulted from a meeting I had with top officials of TCEQ Thursday October 5, informing them of several concerns voiced to my office about Asphalt Inc., LLC, Rock Crushing Plant TCEQ Air Quality Standard Permit # 148112,” Buckingham said. “According to state law no elected official has the authority to stop the granting of this permit if all requirements are met. However, I made it clear to TCEQ that my office is closely monitoring the regulatory process to make sure that every permit requirement is being met, and that I will continue advocating on the concerns of our constituents to make sure they are heard on all appropriate issues such as health, safety and transportation.”
