Dump developer responds to TCEQ by bullying County employee

C.Y. Benavides, his siblings and attorneys bring expensive lawsuit against County floodplain administrator.

In October, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a Notice of Deficiency to Rancho Viejo Waste Management, shutting down the permitting process for their Pescadito toxic dump. At that time, the dump developers were given 30 days to address the deficiencies and correct them before the process could move forward.

How did the dump developer respond?

He sued Webb County planning director/floodplain administrator Rhonda Tiffin for simply doing her job as specified by LAW. He didn’t sue Webb County Commissioner’s Court. He didn’t sue the government. He sued Ms. Tiffin PERSONALLY. He is trying to take local government completely out of this important process, and doing it by trying to bully a county employee.

And, as we have found out in the not too distant past, the County will have to defend her against this frivolous lawsuit. As we know, that can be an extremely expensive proposition and put a strain on an already tight county budget. Considering the dump developer’s record in the courtroom, we could be in for a long and expensive ride.

As far as we know, the TCEQ has not allowed the project to move forward.

The TCEQ website is still accepting public comments. Our petition is still open. If you haven’t joined the more than 10,000 concerned citizens who have stood with us in opposition to this toxic dump, please stand with us now.

More than ever, we need you to join us and tell our elected officials and TCEQ that WE DON’T WANT A TOXIC DUMP!