Maverick County Citizens “Staunchly Against” Proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge at April 23, 2024 Public Meeting
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Maverick County citizens who participated in the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) public scoping meeting on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge project in the Seco Mines area of Eagle Pass, Texas told the STB Hearing Examiner, Andrea Poole, that they are “staunchly against” the construction and operation of a private railroad line and bridge for a myriad of reasons in their community, but principally due to the potential catastrophic environmental damage and pollution of the water, air, noise, traffic congestion and lack of adequate transportation roadways, decrease of real property values, and the project is within the FEMA flood zone of Seco Creek and Elm Creek.
The first public speaker presenting comments was Alicia Gonzalez who stated that she is very concerned with the railroad passing through her front and back yards on Barrera Street in Seco Mines, that the project was “too close to comfort,” that the project is in the flood zone of Seco Creek, that it would cause air and noise pollution, that studies have proven a link between increased diabetes rates along railroad lines, most of the residents in on Barrera Street are elderly, and there are over 1,000 railroad derailments annually in the United States, including the East Palestine, Ohio derailment that caused toxic and hazardous chemicals to burn and pollute the air and water of that community. Gonzalez concluded that she hopes the STB will listen to the concerns of the community and “don’t deny the residents their clean water, air, and a healthful environment.”
Next speaker was Lynn Brandon Balderas, a resident of Eagle Pass in the Elm Creek area, who stated he has attempted to contact Ruben Garibay of Puerto Verde and Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu concerning any potential mitigation factors of the railroad project that will impact environmental factors, but has not heard back from them, that he is concerned with the air and noise pollution, and the potential flooding since the project is in a flood zone.
Laura Sanchez Corpus was the next speaker and stated she was at a community watch at a local restaurant with a large group of about 25 citizens who would like to speak at the public meeting concerning the proposed Green Eagle Railroad project, that many of the people do not have a computer or internet access, and Jose Corpus is the one with a computer at their group meeting.
Luis Mendoza, a resident of the Bass Subdivision in Eagle Pass, next addressed the STB and stated the residents of Bass Subdivision are “staunchly against” the proposed Green Eagle Railroad project, trains cause loud noise and vibration that will affect the quality of life of the residents, that the project may cause air, noise, and water pollution as well as affect local wildlife, the project area is in a flood plain, cause traffic congestion, property values will be decreased, the project will affect the revenues of the City of Eagle Pass, and they purchased homes to enjoy a residential area and the project will convert the area into an industrial zone instead, and recommended Puerto Verde look for another location for the project.
Amerika Garcia Grewal, a resident of Eagle Pass and a member of the Eagle Pass Border Coalition, stated she is with Jose and Laura Sanchez Corpus at a restaurant in the Seco Mines neighborhood with a group of residents, that the site of the project is less than one mile upstream from the City of Eagle Pass potable water intake pumps on the Rio Grande River, that the residents were not aware of the project until recently, there are public schools near the project, and there are concerns regarding the air, water, and noise pollution to the community.
Other public speakers included Jose Corpus, a resident of Eagle Pass in Seco Mines, who stated the community residents of Seco Mines oppose the proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge project for environmental reasons including air, noise, and water pollution as well as traffic congestion and decrease of property values. Corpus stated the citizens of Seco Mines have formed a coalition to oppose the proposed project and request their public comments be taken into consideration in denying the project.
Also making public comments were Mireya Oviedo of Seco Mines, Juanita V. Martinez of Eagle Pass, Jessie F. Fuentes of Eagle Pass, Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 3 Olga Ramos who stated she supports her constituents concerns, and other concerned citizens opposing the project.
The public scoping meetings provided Eagle Pass and Maverick County citizens the first opportunity to publicly learn about the proposed railroad project since Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC, the parent company of Green Eagle Railroad, LLC, and Maverick County Commissioners Court led by County Judge Ramsey English Cantu have not informed the county taxpayers about the controversial proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge Project as well as the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge project in public town hall meetings except through a mass media campaign in both Eagle Pass and Mexico concerning the economic development benefits of the project.
Maverick County citizens have overwhelmingly expressed at the three STB public scoping meetings their “staunch” opposition to the proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge project due to the environmental concerns the project will have on the community, particularly the potential impact on the community’s only source of potable water from the Rio Grande River as both the Seco Creek and Elm Creek discharge into the Rio Grande less than one mile upstream from both the cities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.
Eagle Pass and Maverick County citizens may still make public comments to the STB regarding the proposed Green Eagle Railroad Line and Bridge project until April 29, 2024 by email written comments by visiting the website at www.stb.gov under the heading “E Filing” and refer to Docket No. FD36652 or in writing by mail to Andrea Poole, Surface Transportation Board, c/o VHB, Attention: Environmental Filing, Docket No. FD 36652, 1001 G Street NW, Suite 1125, Washington, DC 20001.