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County to join action opposing discharge into Blanco

Hays County
Friday, October 26, 2018

Hays County is preparing to enter talks with the city of Blanco about an application that city has submitted to allow the discharge of 1.6 million gallons of effluent daily into the Blanco River. 

At its meeting Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved an engagement letter with Hyde Regulatory Consulting LLC for consultations “in connection with matters before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality” (TCEQ). The proposal to increase discharge into the Blanco River to 1.6 million gallons per day stems from the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility in Blanco.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell justified hiring Hyde Regulatory for the consultations, noting that Richard Hyde, founder of the firm, is a former executive director of TCEQ.

“So he’s very familiar with the process,” Shell said.

Shell also noted that the county’s general counsel, Mark Kennedy, “probably spends 60 hours a week working for the county” already and that Hyde’s expertise will help the county ensure that “we do the best that we can for our citizens.”

The city of Blanco’s application for the increased discharge is currently in the “response to comments” period following a public meeting that TCEQ and Blanco held about two months ago, Shell explained. Multiple parties have already at least expressed interest in contested case hearings. 

“My goal is for us to not get into a situation like that,” Shell said, noting that he would rather see compromise than a contested case. “... There are examples out there that show there is a way for alternatives, or at least more of a phased approach.”

Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant noted that the Blanco River runs through three of Hays County’s four precincts, and what happens to the river matters to Hays County residents. He also pointed to issues involving Onion Creek that have been resolved through talks and compromise as examples for how talks regarding the Blanco might go.

“There’s been more accomplished through agreement than through litigation,” he said.

The commissioners’ agenda states that representatives from the county “have offered to assist the city of Blanco in finding a better solution than their currently proposed treatment facility.”

The Hyde Regulatory Consulting contract will cost $3,500 per month plus expenses and is set to expire on or before Sept. 30, 2019. 

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666