Published: October 18, 2007 10:35 am      

Aquifer meeting tonight

EAA to solicit input on spills, storage rules

San Marcos — New rules governing hazardous materials spills and storage above and near the Edwards Aquifer will be the focus of a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the San Marcos Activity Center.

The meeting is one of five being held by the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) to solicit input from residents in Hays and other counties within its jurisdiction.

According to the EAA, the rules will apply throughout the authority's boundaries and a five-mile "water quality buffer zone" in Hays, Comal, Edwards, Kendall, Kinney and Real counties.

The issues include:

• Procedures to register facilities storing regulated substances (with amendments adding the aquifer's "contributing zone" to areas that would be covered)

• Amending a rule related to determining the location of the "recharge zone" to allow the EAA to also determine the location of the "contributing zone"

• Addressing response to certain types of discharges or spills including industrial solid waste, oil and other substances; requiring the EAA be notified of such incidents

• Addressing hazardous substance and petroleum product storage on the recharge and contributing zones and setting up notification procedures.

The public can make oral comments at the meeting and will also accept written comments if they are received by the EAA by 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29.

Written comments can be mailed to the EAA at 1615 N. St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX, 78215. They can also be hand delivered or presented in person at the meeting.

For more, visit edwardsaquifer.org