Senator Carlos I. Uresti Opposes Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Revised Water Discharge Permit at TCEQ Meeting

State Senator Carlos I. Uresti presented written comments and objections to Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application for renewal and expansion of a permit to discharge coal mining waste and storm waters into Elm Creek and the Rio Grande River from the controversial Eagle Pass Mine at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) public meeting held on January 22, 2015, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Senator Uresti presented his written comments and objections through his Eagle Pass office director, Hellen Martinez,

“Hello, I’m Hellen Martinez, director for Senator Carlos I. Uresti’s office here in Eagle Pass. The Senator could not be here tonight due to pressing business in the state capitol, but he asked me to read and submit into the record these comments:

‘I have stood with our community against the opening of this coal mine and continue to do so. I sent letters asking the Texas Railroad Commission to deny an operating permit for this mine, both on initial hearing and on appeal. I also last February requested that the TCEQ hold this public meeting in Eagle Pass to give local residents a fair opportunity to register their concerns and opinions on the company’s application for an amended wastewater discharge permit and expansion of proposed operations. I have worked to ensure that these state agencies hear and register our concerns. I appreciate the TCEQ taking the opportunity to register the community’s concerns firsthand so that the agency can formulate informative and proper responses. I have had significant input from local elected officials, including Maverick County Judge David Saucedo and Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey Cantu, and from residents, whose interests have been carried by Mr. George Baxter and the Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association. They express great concerns about the potential negative environmental and health impacts that this expanded operation could bring to the city and the region. Although this permit application does not address the community’s fears about potential air contamination from operations at the proposed mine, this application does deal with the operation’s wastewater — which would be discharged into a tributary of the Rio Grande just above the drinking water intake facility for the city of Eagle Pass. I echo the community’s worries that these actions could result in detrimental health consequences for members of the community. I do not believe it would be in the best interests of the state or the local community to issue this permit, and I strongly yet respectfully urge that it be denied. I continue to stand with the county judge, the mayor and the community on this issue.

Regardless of the outcome on this permit application, I remain committed to the community’s best interests.

Thank you.'”