Majority of Citizens at STB Public Meetings Oppose Location of Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Over 200 Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas citizens attended the two in-person public scoping meetings held by the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) Offie of Environmental Analysis on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Eagle Pass International Center for Trade in Eagle Pass, Texas, regarding the potential environmental impact of the proposed Green Eagle Railroad, LLC’s rail line and bridge as a majority of the individuals who requested to make public comments vehemently expressed opposition to the location of the project along Seco Creek in the Seco Mines area of north Eagle Pass citing many significant environmental, safety, and traffic issues with the location of the proposed project.
Green Eagle Railroad LLC, a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC, petitioned the U. S. Surface Transportation Board for a permit to construct and operate a 1.3 mile long private rail line and bridge as part of a larger project named Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge Project, which seeks to construct two international bridges at Eagle Pass-one being a railroad line and bridge and a second a commercial freight only bridge.
According to Green Eagle Railroad, the proposed rail line and bridge will resolve rail congestion, reduce cross border wait times, and route rail traffic around the urban center of Eagle Pass. Green Eagle Railroad purpose for constructing the proposed rail line and bridge is to develop an economically viable solution to meet the need for border infrastructure improvements at Eagle Pass that increase safety and facilitate binational trade between the United States and Mexico.
The proposed Green Eagle Railroad line and bridge would start in the United States at the Rio Grande River in northern Eagle Pass adjacent to the highly density subdivision named Bass Subdivisin and run northeast parallel to the flood prone Seco Creek along the Eagle Pass Public Housing Authority’s Enrique Montalvo Riverside Manor public housing project on Daisy Diaz Street, the La Paz Apartments on Daisy Diaz Street, continuing past residential areas of Seco Mines, the Eagle Pass News Gram newspaper property, the Stripes Gasoline and Convenience Store on Del Rio Blvd., the Doobie Hemp Company, and then cross Del Rio Blvd. on an elevated bridge towards Barrera Street and other Seco Mine streets, adjacent to Seco Mines Elementary, and Dr. Gates Street until it reaches the Union Pacific Railroad line. Some of the railroad cars are expected to carry hazardous and toxic chemicals on the Green Eagle Railroad being imported and exported from the United States and Mexico.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. addressed the STB Office of Environmental Analysis stating that he had many environmental concerns with the construction and operation of the Green Eagle Railroad line and bridge because it is going to be adjacent to many newly constructed residential homes on Bass Subdivision, which most property owners are unaware that this railroad bridge project is being proposed to be built next to their neighborhood, and because “it is a very busy and urbanized area” such as the highly transited Del Rio Blvd., Barrera Street, Seco Mines Elementary, and other Seco Mine streets.
Salinas noted that he has not heard from Union Pacific Railroad on whether it is going to cease operating the existing Union Pacific rail line and bridge currently in operation in the City of Eagle Pass if the Green Eagle Railroad line and bridge are approved, constructed and placed into operation. The City of Eagle Pass may possibly have two rail lines and bridges operating if the Green Eagle Railroad project is approved. This would add additional noise pollution and traffic issues for the City.
Salinas added that the City of Eagle Pass’ economy will be adversely impacted having to compete with these two new bridges with the loss of revenues from international bridge no. 2 owned by the City will most certainly sustain as a result of this project. Salinas noted that the City stands to lose significant revenues and the City budget depends on the revenues from commercial traffic crossing through the City’s bridge no. 2 to fund City services such as Police, Fire, and Ambulance protection.
Salinas noted that the economic impact study of the new bridges was done by an expert and that anyone can hire an expert to say whatever one wants them to say. Salinas dismissed the economic impact study as mere projections that are not based on actual numbers.
Salinas stated “I, myself, am against this project because as it stands right now the City does not benefit and I understand there has been an ad campaign” to promote this project….As it stands right now, it will have a negative effect on the environment and the City’s economy.”
Eagle Pass citizen George Baxter also presented public comments stating that he does not oppose the concept of a third bridge, but what he does oppose is its location because of the threat it presents to the City of Eagle Pass’ drinking water. Baxter noted the existing three bridges in Eagle Pass are downstream of the City’s water intake pumps in the Rio Grande River, which is the sole source of potable water to 90% of over 50,000 people in the community, and the proposed third bridges by Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC are upstream from the City’s water intake pumps on the Rio Grande. Baxter added that in the event of a fuel leak or hazardous chemical leak during construction or operation of these two bridges, it would shut down the City’s sole source of water supply and that it is “an unacceptable risk to Maverick County.”
Eagle Pass citizen and rancher Javier Riojas addressed salient comments at the STB public scoping meeting, including that there are federally protected endangered species within Elm Creek and Seco Creek areas such as the Jaguarundi cat and the Ocelot cat highlighted in earlier Dos Republicas Coal Partnership public hearings.
Eagle Passan Jose Salazar, a homeowner in the Bass Subdivision, stated that he opposed the location of the proposed Green Eagle Railroad line and bridge being located adjacent to his subdivision and in heavily trafficked area of the community.
Eagle Pass attorney and rancher Crawford Rhodes stated his family owns a ranch across the Union Pacific railroad line from Dr. Gates Street and are concerned about having access to their ranch. Rhodes added that the proposed location of the Green Eagle Railroad line and bridge is in a high density and heavy traffic area of the community and will only grow more in the future, recommending the project be located elsewhere.
Native American Pacuache Indian Tribe of Texas Chairperson Maria Torres stated that there are Native American archaeological artifacts and burial sites within the Elm Creek and possibly Seco Creek areas that would be desecrated by construction of the project. Torres noted that the project has the potential to contaminate the water in the event of a hazardous or toxic spill and that without water Eagle Pass is dead.
Eagle Passan Martha Baxter stated that there are historic gravesites on Elm Creek and the Rio Grande River that are documented, but have not been recovered. Baxter pointed out that Puerto Verde President Ruben Garibay had offered her husband to build a water line upstream of Elm Creek and Seco Creek to avoid the potential contamination of the water supply in the Rio Grande, but later reneged on his offer after consulting with Puerto Verde’s water cosultant, Roberto Gonzalez. Baxter questioned if Garibay was not a person that honored his promises, how could the community trust Puerto Verde’s promises.
Former Maverick County Judge Enriqueta “Queta” Diaz related how she had been a victim of a chemical leak at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge many years ago inside the City and she worried that the proposed Green Eagle Railroad in Seco Mines could potentially cause injury or damage to residents in the event of a hazardous or toxic spill or accident involving railroad cars or tractor-trailers.
Eagle Passan Jessie F. Fuentes raised a study done in 2009 by the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County, and the Texas Water Development Board concerning the water tributaries discharging into the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass and Maverick County. One of the tributaries studied was Seco Creek, as well as Elm Creek, finding that Seco Creek is prone to flooding during heavy rainfall. Fuentes cited the study recommends that Seco Creek be kept a green belt or nothing be constructed on it due to its flooding problems. Fuentes opposes the proposed rail line and bridge due to the potential contamination or pollution of the City of Eagle Pass sole source of water, the Rio Grande River, in the event of hazardous or toxic chemicals spill or accident.
Additional speakers such as Maverick County Democratic Party Chair Juanita V. Martinez, former Maverick County Attorney Gloria Hernandez, Amerika Garcia Grewal, Diana Hardt, and other speakers questioned the proposed location of the Green Eagle Railroad project as being an environmental threat to the community. Many Seco Mine and Hopedale residents attended the public meeting to learn about the project for the first time and left worried about the future of their rural country living lifestyle and peaceful, quiet environment and future property values.
But not all speakers at the public meeting opposed the location or the project, there were some speakers who did speak in favor of the project. For instance, Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu spoke in favor of the Green Eagle Railroad and Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridges as bringing economic development and progress to the community while taking into consideration the concerns of the citizens.
State Representative Heriberto “Eddie” Morales, Jr. spoke in favor of the Green Eagle Railroad and Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridges at its proposed locations based on an economic impact study done by Dr. Ray Perryman that estimates the community will receive billions of dollars in economic development, hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and increased ad valorem taxes for the City, County, School, and Hospital District tax entities.
Maverick County Commissioner Roberto Ruiz was the first speaker at the public meeting and spoke in favor of the proposed Green Eagle Railroad and Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridges as being a game changer in the community regarding economic development and job generator in the region.
There were other Eagle Pass citizens in attendance at the public meetings that favor the proposed project, but chose to remain silent or not express their sentiment in public. Other Eagle Pass residents favor the proposed project because they or their family members stand to benefit financially from the two new private bridges, but chose to remain silent.
Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC President Ruben Garibay did not provide public comments at the public scoping meeting, but did make himself available at both meetings to answer any questions from the public and learn of the community’s concerns about the environmental impact of the project. Garibay in an interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal acknowledged that perhaps the company had not reached out to the community more than they should have, but the company was open to addressing the concerns raised by the community and they could be reached at their website and would respond to all inquiries. Garibay noted this public scoping meetings are the first step and an Environmental Impact Study may take up to two years depending on the process.
The STB public scoping meetings held on April 16, 2024 definitely showed that both Maverick County Commissioners Court and Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC did not fully consult nor communicate effectively with the Maverick County taxpayers and citizens regarding the location of the two proposed private international bridges and the potential environmental impact these bridges might have on the community. After all, water is life.
