TCEQ Issues Notice of Deficiency to Rancho Viejo Waste Management; Gives developer 30 days to fix its permit.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued a Notice of Deficiency (NOD) to Rancho Viejo Waste Management regarding numerous items in its permit application for the proposed Pescadito dump.

Most notable among these deficiencies is the absence of all the applicable permits and approvals required by State Law. This information was brought to the TCEQ’s attention by Webb County during the August 11, 2016 public meeting.

The letter, dated October 11, states:

“We have received and reviewed your application revisions dated August 4, 2016 and October 6, 2016. In response to both the meeting on September 26, 2016 and your application revisions, please find below the items that must be addressed in order for the TCEQ to continue processing of the application.

1. Commenter, Webb County, submitted new information during the formal comment period of the August 11, 2016 public meeting. The new information indicates your application does not contain all of the applicable permits and approvals as required under 30 TAC §§330.63(c)(2)(D)(i) and (ii). Please provide documentation in the application that permits or approvals have been obtained in accordance with 30 TAC §§330.63(c)(2)(D)(i) and (ii).”

The dump developer must address each of the five deficiencies for TCEQ to continue the review process on this permit application.  And, according to TCEQ’s letter, “Failure to submit a satisfactory response to each of the noted deficiencies may result in the application being returned.”

CALL is encouraged by TCEQ’s actions and views this as a positive step in our long battle to protect our health, property and precious environment from toxic waste and corporate greed.

This fight is not over, but we are prepared to battle this potentially disastrous project to the bitter end.

Read the entire letter from TCEQ to CY Benavides here.