Comal County Residents, Environmentalists Want New Quarry Hearing

San Antonio Express-News
November 15, 2022

Comal County community members are contesting an air quality permit for a proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde, arguing that the quarry is harmful for human health and welfare. Environmental organizations in Hill Country requested a rehearing with the full Third Court of Appeals earlier this month after Vulcan Materials — an Alabama-based construction company — secured its air quality permit for its new quarry from the state. A district court decision stripped the permit from Vulcan in 2021, but a three-judge panel of the Third Court of Appeals reversed that result Sept. 29, allowing Vulcan its permit….

Vulcan Quarry Opponents File for Rehearing on TCEQ Air-Quality Permit

myCanyonLake.com
November 9, 2022

An ongoing legal battle to prevent the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates from turning a former Comal County ranch at FM 3009 and State Highway 46 into a 1,500-acre limestone quarry returns to Texas Third Court of Appeals. A coalition of quarry opponents is asking for a rehearing “en banc” or by the full court after a three-judge panel on Sept. 29 reversed a lower-court ruling stripping Vulcan Materials of the air-quality permit it needs to proceed with the controversial project….

Vulcan Quarry Opponents in Comal County Request Rehearing on Air Permit Issue

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
November 9, 2022

Opponents of a proposed 1,500-acre quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde on Monday filed motions requesting a rehearing by the full Texas Third Court of Appeals. The filing follows a September decision by a smaller, three-judge panel of the court, reversing a district court’s ruling to strip the air permit from Alabama-based Vulcan Materials for its proposed quarry, which restored the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality-issued permit to Alabama-based Vulcan Materials….

Court Allows Rock Quarry over Edwards Aquifer to Proceed, Giving Opponents Whiplash

San Antonio Report
October 10, 2022

In what Comal County environmentalists called a “slap in the face,” a three-judge panel of the Third Court of Appeals has once again cleared the way for a proposed 1500-acre rock quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde. Early last week, the panel reversed a district court ruling to strip the approved Texas Commission on Environmental Quality air permit from Vulcan Materials for its proposed quarry in Comal County, just north of San Antonio, effectively restoring the TCEQ permit and allowing the Alabama-based construction materials company to resume development plans….

Court Ruling Restores Air Permit for Vulcan’s Proposed Quarry in Central Comal County

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 10, 2022

In a decision last week, a three-judge panel of the Third Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that stripped the air permit from Vulcan Materials for its proposed 1,500-acre quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde, according to opponents fighting against the quarry. The decision reverses a March 2021 ruling by State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble and restores the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality air quality permit to the Alabama-based company for the portable rock crusher in its planned quarry near State Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009 in central Comal County….

Contentious Comal County Quarry Gets Its Air Quality Permit Back

San Antonio Express-News
October 4, 2022

A proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde has secured its air quality permit from the state, leading to outrage and frustration from environmentalists and nearby residents. A three-judge panel of the Third Court of Appeals reversed a 2021 district court decision that stripped Vulcan Materials — an Alabama-based construction company — of its air quality permit. Among other reasons for the earlier decision, the judges found too little evidence to back the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s assertion that the quarry wouldn’t harm human health and welfare….

Court Ruling Revives Plans for Proposed Quarry Between Bulverde and New Braunfels

Texas Public Radio
October 4, 2022

A court ruling on Monday effectively restores a state air quality permit to the proposed Vulcan Materials quarry off FM 3009, according to opponents who have been fighting against the quarry since 2017. The Third Court of Appeals reversed a March 2021 ruling by State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble that vacated the approval of an air quality permit for a rock crusher at the planned site by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Gamble sided with members of Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop Vulcan 3009 Quarry, who raised environmental concerns over the proposed 1,500 acre quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde, which would sit near residential areas with 15,000 people….

Court of Appeals Rules in Vulcan’s Favor, Restores Air-Quality Permit for Quarry at FM 3009 and Highway 46

myCanyonLake.com
October 4, 2022

In what some Comal County residents are calling a “slap in the face,” Texas’ Third District Court of Appeals in Austin on Thursday reversed a lower court’s decision to strip Alabama-based Vulcan Materials of the permit it needs to turn the former Eric White Ranch at FM 3009 and State Highway 46 into a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry. In November 2019, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) granted Vulcan an air-quality permit for a rock crusher. Its decision followed several years of legal wrangling with an alliance of Comal County citizens, community groups, and Comal ISD. Under Texas law, TCEQ can only permit a facility if it finds no indication it will harm the public’s health and physical property….

House District 73 Race an Opportunity for Voters

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 19, 2022
Photos and full text available here

In the newly redrawn House District 73, the hotly contested primary on the Republican side offers voters three choices. The winner will face Democrat Justin Calhoun in the November general election to determine a replacement for Representative Kyle Biedermann. We are grateful to all four candidates for taking the time to meet with our organization and discuss issues of environmental importance in Comal and Hays counties: clean air, water quality and quantity, reforming TCEQ, and common sense supervision of quarries and other aggregate production operations (APOs)….

Let’s Look at the Texas Senate Candidates

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 19, 2022
Photos and full text available here

Three candidates are running to represent Senate District 25. Incumbent Donna Campbell is being challenged by Channon Cain in the Republican primary. Democrat Robert Walsh is unopposed. Unfortunately, Senator Campbell’s apparent interest in protecting Hill Country residents and our natural resources from freewheeling quarries and the aggregate industry seems to be a flash in the pan. While she introduced a few decent quarry-related bills in 2019 (none passed), her track record of supporting legislation unfriendly to Texas citizens is disappointing….

TCEQ Stands with an Out-of-State Aggregate Behemoth Instead of Protecting Comal County’s Citizens

myCanyonLake.com
February 5, 2022

In 1996, we found our little slice of paradise here in Comal County. We purchased five acres of land surrounded by all that I had come to associate with the Hill Country. We would be nestled amongst oak, cedar, and elm trees with an abundance of wildlife, birds, bats, and insects. Our neighbors to the southeast were our best friends, to the north-northeast sat a 600-acre family homestead, and to the west-northwest sat the beautiful White Ranch….

Texas Hill Country: Rolling Hills or Empty Moonscape?

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
January 22, 2022 (full version available here)

I am Milann Guckian, president of Preserve our Hill Country Environment. This is not the job I asked for or wanted in retirement but one I felt I must undertake. I’ve always known I wanted to come back to Central Texas to live out my days. Born in Lockhart, my family’s roots are embedded here. We had a vacation home on Canyon Lake where I spent many a day relishing the beauty of the hills, the rivers and lakes, the wildlife, and the peacefulness that came with these natural wonders….

Vulcan Materials’ Hill Country quarry gets key permit despite locals’ concerns

MySA.com
July 23, 2024

A Texas Hill Country quarry recently hit a major milestone years in the making. Despite hundreds of residents trying to halt the controversial project, it now appears to be moving forward outside New Braunfels in Comal County. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved Vulcan Materials Company’s water pollution and abatement plan (WPAP) on July 8, according to a news release. The Alabama-based company needed the approval since the proposed quarry will sit in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, the source of water for over 2 million Texans….

TCEQ greenlights water permit for rock quarry near New Braunfels

Community Impact New Braunfels
July 23, 2024

One more piece of a permitting puzzle was approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in July, moving forward plans for the Vulcan Materials Company-Comal Quarry to begin operations. A Water Pollution Abatement Plan was submitted for the quarry on March 7 and posted on the TCEQ’s website March 22. It was approved July 8 after review of comments from a 30-day public comment period that ended April 22, TCEQ Media Relations Specialist Victoria Cann said. The legal battle over whether a rock quarry can move forward excavating materials near the Meyer Ranch and Vintage Oaks subdivisions in New Braunfels has continued for several years leading up to this latest permit approval….

Vulcan Quarry opponents look to overturn newly-approved plan

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 22, 2024

A Hill Country organization is filing a motion to overturn the approval of a water pollution abatement plan that represents the final permit Vulcan Materials needs to begin mining. The Vulcan Comal Quarry is planned on a 1,500-acre site between Bulverde and New Braunfels. It would be situated entirely over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in Comal County, drawing concerns from residents about potential effects on water quality and quantity. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved the Vulcan Materials Company’s Water Pollution Abatement Plan on July 8. Attorneys with Preserve Our Hill Country Environment are filing the motion to overturn. Members have been advocating against the quarry alongside other organizations and residents for years….

State OKs water quality permit for controversial quarry in Comal County

San Antonio Express-News
July 15, 2024

The Vulcan Materials Quarry in Comal County is a step closer to becoming a reality, after state regulators signed off on its water quality protection plan over the objections of environmental groups, state legislators and a local water company. Opponents are running out of options to stop the project, which they’ve been fighting since 2017, citing concerns about its potential impact on air quality and water in an environmentally sensitive area. Vulcan Materials Company plans to operate a 1,500-acre quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde. It would sit on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, the area where water enters the groundwater system that provides water for more than 2 million people….

TCEQ greenlights Comal Vulcan quarry project, opponents to appeal

myCanyonLake.com
July 15, 2023

Central Comal County residents are about to meet the “new neighbor” grassroots activists have warned them about for years. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on July 8 greenlit Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Company’s plans to turn the former Eric White ranch into a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry between Bulverde and New Braunfels near State Highway 46 and FM 3009….

Do you want a massive rock quarry in New Braunfels?

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 13, 2024

The plan is to have a rock quarry on the corner of Highway 46 and FM 3009. That’s right across the highway from the million dollar homes at the Waldsanger development, about a quarter mile or so from the Meyer Ranch development, and about two miles from Vintage Oaks. It seems to me like you have a quarry going in located very, very near thousands and thousands of homes valued at $600,000 and up. I did a little research and discovered the following: there will be constant noise pollution 24 hours a day from trucks and massive excavation. Blasts from the excavation will be heard upwards of 2-5 miles away. There will be an increase in air pollution. Dust and particulate matter are common byproducts of quarrying activities. These particles can be carried by wind to nearby residential areas, leading to respiratory issues and reduced air quality. There will be an increase in water pollution and water shortages. Quarrying can disturb the natural water flow patterns and potentially contaminate local water sources through runoff from exposed rock faces or improper waste disposal practices. This contamination can harm our drinking water quality in the surrounding area as well as New Braunfels. Aren’t we already in a water shortage? Private wells could go dry. Also, the quarry would be on top of the Edwards Aquifer recharging zone, affecting a very sensitive area….

Vulcan Quarry may not get public meeting

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 8, 2024

A large limestone aggregate quarry within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone near Natural Bridge Caverns and the Bracken Bat Cave might soon be approved without a public meeting. While driving in central Comal County, you have probably noticed the road signs indicating that the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone is an environmentally sensitive area. This is where the Edwards Limestone is exposed at the surface, allowing large volumes of water to flow into the aquifer….

TCEQ needs to answer many quarry questions

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
April 13, 2024

I am respectfully requesting TCEQ conduct a public meeting to address the myriad of questions and concerns posed by citizens regarding the hazards of allowing Vulcan Material Company to operate an open-pit quarry on top of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone at FM 3009 and Hwy 46 in Comal County. I strongly object to TCEQ permitting and allowing Vulcan Material Company to operate a quarry directly on top of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone at FM 3009 and Hwy 46 in Comal County. This decision is highly reckless and endangers the source of drinking and potable water for millions of Texas residents….

Vulcan’s pollution plan threatens our water

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
April 11, 2024

A decision that will impact water quality in Comal County looms. Vulcan Materials has filed a water pollution abatement plan (WPAP) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for their planned Vulcan Comal Quarry. You have until April 21 to file comments with TCEQ about the plan and perhaps impact the outcome by requesting a hearing. As planned, the quarry will be a hazard to the aquifer. Quarries are known to contribute nitrate to groundwater because of their use of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) as an explosive. ANFO is readily dissolved in water, is used in large quantities, and up to 30% is not consumed in explosions. The WPAP indicates aggregate washing (which will dissolve explosive residuals) will remove fine material. Following time in settling ponds, the fine material will be stored in previously-mined areas where it will compact and dewater. That, and reuse of the water from the ponds, will deliver dissolved nitrate to natural and explosive-induced fractures….

Opponents gear up for new fight against proposed Comal County quarry, this time over water

San Antonio Express-News
December 26, 2023

Opponents of a proposed quarry in Comal County are forming a new plan to fight the project after losing their latest effort to block the facility’s air quality permit. Since 2017, the Preserve Our Hill Country Environment Foundation and other advocates have been battling Vulcan Materials Company’s plan to operate a new quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde. After the Texas Supreme Court turned down their attempt to overturn the quarry’s air quality permit this fall, they’re now turning their attention to what they say will be its detrimental effects on water, including the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, Dry Comal Creek and the Comal River….

“We are now in a fight for water”: new front opens in legal battle to keep Vulcan quarry out of Comal County

myCanyonLake.com
November 25, 2023

I am Milann Guckian, president of Preserve Our Hill Country Environment (PHCE) Foundation. It was in January 2022 that I last wrote about our ongoing battle with Vulcan Construction Materials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TECQ) regarding the proposed aggregate quarry in south-central Comal County. A lot has come to pass since then. I left off with news that TCEQ and Vulcan had appealed our unprecedented win in Judge Maya Guerra Gamble’s Travis County District Court to the Third Court of Appeals. Unfortunately, a three-judge panel of the appeals court reversed the district court ruling to strip the air permit from Vulcan Materials….

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Water fight: local group concerned about quarry’s potential impact

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
November 23, 2023

It was January 2022 that I last wrote about our ongoing battle with Vulcan Construction Materials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TECQ) regarding the proposed aggregate quarry in south central Comal County. A lot has come to pass since then. I left off with news that TCEQ and Vulcan had appealed our unprecedented win in Judge Maya Guerra Gamble’s Travis County District Court to the Third Court of Appeals. Unfortunately, a three-judge panel of the Appeals Court reversed the district court ruling to strip the air permit from Vulcan Materials….

Vulcan Quarry opponents may ask Texas Supreme Court for rehearing

myCanyonLake.com
October 18, 2023

Opponents of the proposed Vulcan Quarry have until Nov. 13 to file a motion for a rehearing after the Texas Supreme Court declined to hear their petition asking it to vacate a lower court ruling that greenlights the controversial project. The Supreme Court’s Sept. 29 decision dealt a major blow to Preserve Our Hill Country Environment (PHCE), a group of volunteer citizens who have spent the last seven years fighting to keep the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from granting Vulcan Materials the air quality permit it needs to turn a former ranch in central Comal County into a 1,500-acre open pit limestone quarry….

Texas court smacks down latest attempt to stop Comal quarry project

San Antonio Express-News
October 12, 2023

The Texas Supreme Court has denied a petition from opponents of a proposed quarry project in Comal County, the latest blow to environmentalists who have been fighting the rock-crushing operation for six years. The decision moves the planned 1,500-acre Vulcan Quarry project one step closer to becoming a reality….

Texas Supreme Court declines to review petition of proposed Vulcan quarry in Comal County

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 9, 2023

The proposed Vulcan Quarry west of New Braunfels appears to be one step closer to becoming a reality, as the Texas Supreme Court has declined to review a petition from environmental groups regarding the facility’s air quality permit. The court denied the groups’ petition for review on Sept. 29. The court’s decision is the latest in a yearslong legal back-and-forth over air quality permits….

Fate of New Braunfels-area limestone quarry heading to Texas Supreme Court

Community Impact New Braunfels
September 26, 2023

A legal back-and-forth over whether a rock quarry can move forward excavating materials near the Meyer Ranch and Vintage Oaks subdivisions in New Braunfels is heading to the Texas Supreme Court. Since 2017, Vulcan Materials Company Comal Quarry has been in a legal dispute with community activist groups Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry, Friends of Dry Comal Creek, Preserve Our Hill Country Environment, or PHCE, and other community members that brought a legal case against the establishment of rock crushing at the site, located near the intersection of Hwy. 46 and FM 3009 just west of New Braunfels….

Preserve Our Hill Country Environment takes quarry fight to Texas Supreme Court

myCanyonLake.com
August 7, 2023

Residents fighting to keep Vulcan Materials from turning a former ranch in central Comal County into a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry are asking the Texas Supreme Court to vacate a May lower-court ruling that greenlights a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air quality permit for a rock crusher. “This is not the end of the road for the air-quality permit,” said Milann Guckian, who shares a property line with the proposed quarry and spearheads Preserve Our Hill Country Environment (PHCE), a group of volunteer citizens that has fought Vulcan’s request for an air permit since August 2017….

Ruling by Third Court of Appeals permanently reinstates air quality permit for Vulcan quarry

myCanyonLake.com
July 13, 2023

Vulcan Quarry opponents lost an important legal battle this week. Texas Third District Court of Appeals denied a request for an “en banc” review of their case before a full court, allowing a 2022 decision by a three-panel judge to stand and reinstate an air-quality permit for the proposed limestone quarry at FM 3009 and SH-46. Friends of Dry Comal Creek, Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry, the Reeh Group and Comal ISD last year appealed the panel’s ruling, arguing it was authored by J. Woodfin Jones, an unelected, retired judge who was “sitting by assignment” when he ruled in favor of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Vulcan Materials….

A Comal County ranch owner ponders selling his land, setting off another clash between property rights and environmental concerns

The Texas Tribune
July 13, 2023

Facing a two-lane highway about 13 miles west of New Braunfels, a 546-acre ranch hugging the west fork of Dry Comal Creek has caused a stir in the community. Behind a small gate, hills dotted with live oaks and a few freely roaming horses can be seen. But neighbors and environmentalists worry it won’t remain this way. Doug Harrison, a retired entrepreneur, and his wife have lived and raised their family on the ranch for the past two decades. But late last year, Harrison filed an application with the state to build a wastewater treatment plant on the property large enough to serve a 1,400-lot subdivision. The permit would allow 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day to be discharged into the west fork of Dry Comal Creek, which connects to the Comal and Guadalupe rivers — the most popular tubing destinations in the state….

Up Comal Creek without a paddle: County residents lock horns with businessman over sewage plant

San Antonio Business Journal
June 27, 2023

Douglas Harrison, a New Braunfels businessman who is the former owner of the Scooter Store, filed paperwork for a wastewater treatment facility with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as he entitles a piece of property. Since Harrison isn’t developing the land himself, he told the Business Journal that having all water, power and sewer entitlements “will command a substantially higher price when we go to sell….”

Comal County residents challenge proposed wastewater plant, 1,400-home development

San Antonio Express-News
June 9, 2023

Residents and environmental groups are urging state regulators to put a stop to plans for a Comal County facility that could eventually pump 600,000 gallons a day of treated wastewater into a creek that feeds the Comal River. Turning out to a three-hour public hearing hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Thursday night…

TCEQ holds public hearing for proposed wastewater permit in Comal County

Community Impact New Braunfels
June 9, 2023

Comal County residents came together to speak out against a proposed permit application to discharge a maximum of 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater daily into the Dry Comal Creek, part of the Comal River and Guadalupe River watershed. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a public hearing June 8 at Smithson Valley High School regarding the proposed permit filed by a local landowner and JA Wastewater LLC. The wastewater treatment facility would serve the Harrison Tract subdivision, a new 1,403-lot subdivision in Comal County….

Bulverde residents protest TCEQ permit to dump wastewater into Dry Comal Creek

KSAT 12 TV San Antonio
June 8, 2023

📹 On Thursday night, the state is getting feedback on a plan to dump hundreds of thousands of treated sewage water into a Comal County creek in east Bulverde. There’s concern that if the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality green lights it, sewage water could enter the Edwards Aquifer and the water we drink. Erin Bell Altman runs an equestrian center along Dry Comal Creek on the east side of Highway 281. “I was terrified that we would have an impact on the horses,” Bell Altman said. When she heard a local landowner had filed an application to the TCEQ to dump 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater daily through the creek, alarm bells went off for her business and her horses….

TCEQ schedules public meeting Thursday for Harrison Tract wastewater treatment facility

myCanyonLake.com
June 6, 2023

A Comal County landowner who opposes a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air-quality permit granting Vulcan Materials the right to turn a neighboring property into a 1,500-acre limestone quarry squares off against his former allies at a 7 p.m. Thursday public meeting about his proposed Harrison Tract Waste Water Treatment Facility. The TCEQ meeting over Doug Harrison’s controversial bid for a TCEQ wastewater permit for his property is at Smithson Valley High School cafeteria, 14001 Texas Highway 46, Spring Branch. Harrison said there is a 50-50 chance he will attend the meeting….

Critics set to push back against Comal County project that calls for 1,400 homes, wastewater plant

San Antonio Express-News
June 6, 2023

Environmental groups are asking Texas regulators to say no to a proposed Comal County development that calls for 1,400 homes and a plant that could release 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater a day into a creek that feeds the Comal River. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday night regarding the permit application from Comal County landowner Douglas T. Harrison. The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch….

Isaac files bills to place restrictions on aggregate companies, but Vulcan quarry opponent says they leave too much ‘wiggle room’ for big polluters

myCanyonLake.com
March 8, 2023

“Texas continues to experience growth by leaps and bounds, and that requires homes, roads, offices, schools and businesses to build and expand,” Isaac said in a statement. “We know it requires aggregate and concrete, and we expect that. I believe these businesses can co-exist with their neighbors and we can all be good stewards of the Hill Country while advancing the needs due to continued growth.” But David Drewa, spokesperson for a coalition of citizens’ groups fighting the proposed Vulcan Quarry, dismissed Isaac’s bills as only “very tiny steps in the right direction.” He said Isaac’s predecessor, former Rep. Kyle Biedermann and Rep. Terry Wilson, who represents District 20, in 2019 spearheaded much more comprehensive legislation for quarries and other aggregate production operations (APOs)….

Isaac proposes bills that seek to reduce environmental impact of aggregate mining

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 8, 2023

House Bill 3658 would require fenceline air quality monitoring at concrete plants and aggregate production sites. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues permits for rock and concrete crushing facilities. House Bill 3624 would prompt the TCEQ to prioritize permit applicants who received similar permits in the past and reclaimed the land less than six months after the site closed. David Drewa, a volunteer with Preserve our Hill Country Environment, said the proposals are a “tiny step in the right direction. These particular bills are rather vague and appear to leave lots of wiggle room to big industry polluters, so we’re hoping to see something more comprehensive,” Drewa said. The group is fighting against the proposed Vulcan Quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde….

Permit asks to dump 600,000 gallons of sewage a day into creek feeding Comal River, Edwards Aquifer

San Antonio Express-News
March 2, 2023

Local environmental groups have raised concerns after a landowner filed a permit application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to dump 600,000 gallons of treated sewage a day into a creek that feeds into the Comal River. The application – which was filed in September – is asking to build a wastewater treatment facility near New Braunfels off State Highway 46. According to the permit, the facility would discharge treated sewage into the West Fork Dry Comal Creek, which moves through to the Dry Comal Creek and eventually lands in the Comal River, which is connected to the Edwards Aquifer….

Isaac asks TCEQ for public meeting on proposed wastewater treatment plant in Comal County

myCanyonLake.com
February 28, 2023

Texas House District 73 Rep. Carrie Isaac on Monday asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a public meeting on a proposed wastewater treatment plant that would release up to 600,000 gallons of treated sewage per day into the West Fork of Dry Comal Creek, which flows for 30 miles until it enters the Comal River in New Braunfels. Her request followed an outcry by STOP 3009 Vulcan Quarry, Preserve Our Hill Country Environment Foundation, and the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, which represents 54 member groups….

New Braunfels Quarry Opponents Continue Fighting Company in Courts and Community

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
November 26, 2021

Longtime resident Helgard Hollis has lived in her home for decades and does not plan to go anywhere soon. Hollis, who immigrated from Germany, said she is concerned about a possible construction of a quarry near her home. She said the quarry would impact both nearby and surrounding areas, from air to water pollution. “I think everybody in New Braunfels should be concerned,” Hollis said. “I live a long way away but it affects us….”

The Cost of Hill Country Quarries: As Quarries Expand in the Hill Country, Landscapes and Homeowners Pay the Price

San Antonio Express-News
October 6, 2021

The Hill Country is considered a jewel of Texas—a landscape of rolling hills, creeks, rivers, natural springs and striking rock formations that spans 17 counties. Today, the region is under pressure as never before—from stone quarries. Quarry operators cut down trees and blast holes in the earth to dig up and crush rock for the construction of new roads and homes. The $10 billion industry thrives in the Hill Country because of its rich store of limestone and other resources. The region is home to 142 quarries. Bexar County has the most: 27. And they are taking a toll on the environment. Hill Country quarries have dumped sediment into waterways and sent plumes of potentially hazardous dust into neighborhoods, a San Antonio Express-News investigation found. The violations have spoiled pristine waterways and threatened the Edwards Aquifer, the region’s prime source of drinking water….

From Garden Ridge to New Braunfels, ‘Quarry Row’ Has Residents Demanding Stricter Regulation

San Antonio Express-News
October 6, 2021

Mark Friesenhahn, a former ExxonMobil adviser, inherited a slice of the Hill Country surrounded by “Quarry Row.” The proliferation of quarries has altered more than the landscape. It’s changed Friesenhahn’s worldview.

Quarry Should Be Opposed

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
September 25, 2021

Attention! Achtung! This concerns all residents of New Braunfels. The [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] and Vulcan Materials filed their appellant briefs before the Third Court of Appeals, attempting to reverse the decision of District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble. We need to stop Vulcan Materials from building their Quarry on FM 3009. One hundred and fifty diesel trucks on Texas Highway 46 and FM 3009, will negatively affect traffic. The carcinogenic dust will be every where. The Quarry is close to the Edwards Aquifer. Vulcan would not only use millions of gallons of water in their daily rock operation, they could also pollute our water source….

TCEQ Seeks Extension to Appeal Air Permit Case

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 21, 2021

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is asking for an extension to appeal a decision blocking a quarry’s air permit. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not file the appeal by the June 14 deadline, but the Third Court of Appeals granted its motion requesting a 39-day extension. Vulcan Materials, the company trying to build the quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde at State Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009, and TCEQ filed a notice of appeal on April 30 over a district court decision which struck down their air quality permit….

Quarry Lawsuit Set to Return to the Courtroom

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
May 31, 2021

A company trying to put a 1,500-acre limestone quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde, and the state agency that granted them an air quality permit, plan to appeal a recent court decision that would block their progress. Vulcan Materials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality filed a notice of appeal on April 30 over a district court decision which struck down their air quality permit….

TCEQ and Vulcan Construction Materials File Appeal in Bid to Overturn Ruling Against Air-Quality Permit for Comal County Quarry

Community Impact Newspaper
May 26, 2021

The ongoing legal battle surrounding a proposed 1,500-acre quarry owned by Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC has been taken to the 3rd Court of Appeals. Vulcan and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality filed an appeal on April 30 after a judge in the 459th District Court in Travis County called for the TCEQ’s approval of an air permit previously granted to Vulcan to be reversed. On December 8, Judge Maya Gamble heard a lawsuit filed by concerned citizens groups Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry that aimed to reverse the November 2019 approval….

Vulcan Appealing Ruling that Blocked Quarry in Comal County

San Antonio Express-News
May 24, 2021

Alabama-based Vulcan Construction Materials LLC is appealing a Texas judge’s decision in March that blocked its proposed quarry north of San Antonio. The site in Comal County is near a number of new country subdivisions sprinkled among the rolling hills of live oak and ash juniper trees. It is less than 10 miles from the Bracken Bat Cave, home to the world’s largest colony of Mexican freetail bats, and about 3 miles from Natural Bridge Caverns. Neighbors say the quarry would harm the environment and their quality of life. They have waged a legal battle for more than four years to stop it….

TCEQ, Vulcan Appeal Judge’s Decision To Vacate Air-Quality Permit for Quarry

myCanyonLake.com
May 20, 2021

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Alabama-based Vulcan Materials are appealing a district court judge’s ruling that remands and vacates the air-quality permit Vulcan needs to turn a former ranch in central Comal County into a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry and rock-crushing plant….

Environmental Groups Celebrate Judge’s Final Order Vacating Quarry Air-Quality Permit

myCanyonLake.com
April 5, 2021

Community activist groups last week thanked Travis County Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble for remanding and vacating an air-quality permit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) granted to Vulcan Materials in 2019….

Approval of Air-Quality Permit for Vulcan Quarry in Comal County Reversed in District Court

Community Impact Newspaper
April 1, 2021

Progress on a proposed quarry owned by Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC has stalled after a judge in the 459th District Court in Travis County ruled in favor of concerned Comal County citizen groups. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 14, 2020, by Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, aimed to reverse the TCEQ’s November 2019 approval of air-quality permits submitted by Vulcan for its proposed rock-crushing facility. Plaintiffs and area residents raised concerns the new facility could increase area air pollution, pose a threat to the Edwards Aquifer or lead to decreased property values in nearby neighborhoods….

Texas Environmental Agency Waits After Vulcan Quarry Opponents Win Court Battle

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 18, 2021

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says it can’t say anything about a recent district court ruling that handed opponents to Vulcan Quarry a rare victory against the agency tasked with protecting the state’s land and water. The nonprofit Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and the Friends of Dry Comal Creek sued the agency in December after it granted Vulcan Materials an air quality permit to operate the proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry at State Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009 between New Braunfels and Bulverde….

Judge Stops Planned 1,500-Acre Quarry Near Bracken Bat Cave

San Antonio Express-News
March 16, 2021

A group of Comal County residents has won a big battle in a four-year legal fight to stop a proposed quarry north of San Antonio that they say will harm the environment and their quality of life. State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County earlier this month threw out a prior decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, saying the regulatory agency acted arbitrarily or capriciously in granting an air quality permit to Alabama-based Vulcan Construction Materials LLC….

Court Decision Puts Damper on Hill Country Quarry

San Antonio Business Journal
March 16, 2021

Some Comal County citizens won a ruling that a proposed limestone quarry be given a second look by the state’s environmental regulator. A Travis County judge revoked a permit this month that would have put Vulcan Materials Co. closer to placing a limestone quarry north of San Antonio. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on March 5, telling the agency it made several mistakes in granting an air quality permit to Vulcan. The company is seeking to dig up limestone on a 1,500-acre site in the Hill Country between New Braunfels and Bulverde. It is also proposing to crush the limestone on-site, which can be used as a construction material….

Opinion: Rep. Biedermann Praises Judge for Reversing and Vacating Vulcan’s Air-Quality Permit

myCanyonLake.com
March 11, 2021

Judge Maya Gamble, of the 459th District Court, ruled on Friday, March 5, to reverse and vacate the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) granting of an air quality permit for Vulcan Materials is substantial and critical to the citizens of Comal County and other areas around the State of Texas….

Approval of Air-Quality Permit for Comal County’s Vulcan Quarry Reversed in District Court

Community Impact Newspaper
March 9, 2021

A judge in the 459th District Court in Travis County has ruled in favor of concerned citizen groups more than one year after filing a lawsuit opposing a proposed quarry owned by Vulcan Construction Materials LLC. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 14, 2020, by Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, aimed to reverse the TCEQ’s November 2019 approval of air-quality permits submitted by Vulcan for its proposed rock-crushing facility….

Judge Strikes Down Air Quality Permit for Proposed 1,500-Acre Limestone Quarry in Comal County

myCanyonLake.com
March 6, 2021

Opponents of a proposed 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde scored a “monumental” victory on Friday when an Austin judge struck down an air-quality permit Alabama-based Vulcan Construction Materials needed to proceed with the controversial project….

Quarry Opponents Optimistic About Latest Attempt to Derail Air Permit

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 9, 2020
(Subscription required)

A hearing on Tuesday revisited giving Vulcan Materials an air-quality permit to build a quarry over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone — and groups fighting the quarry believe the judge will rule in their favor. A decision has not been made, but Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry are optimistic Vulcan will not be granted an air-quality permit. “We were happy with the way things went today and we were encouraged by the questions that the judge asked,” Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry director of communications David Drewa said….

Hearing for Proposed Vulcan Quarry in Comal County Set for December 8

Community Impact Newspaper
December 7, 2020

A lawsuit filed by local citizens’ groups opposing a proposed quarry owned by Vulcan Construction Materials LLC will be heard by a judge Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. in the 459th District Court in Travis County. The lawsuit, filed February 14 by Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, aims to reverse the TCEQ’s approval of air quality permits submitted by Vulcan for their proposed rock crushing facility….

Court to Hear Arguments Over Air Quality Permit for Vulcan Quarry

myCanyonLake.com
December 7, 2020

A citizens group fighting to keep Vulcan Materials from turning the old Eric White Ranch into a 1,500-acre limestone rock quarry and crushing plant in Central Comal County gets its day in court on Tuesday. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble with the 459th District Court will preside over a 9 a.m. Zoom hearing on Friends of Dry Comal Creek v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The hearing can be viewed live on the court’s YouTube channel….

Vulcan Quarry Opponent Endorses Nies for Precinct 3 Commissioner

myCanyonLake.com
October 24, 2020

Ms. Nies brings a positive, “can-do” attitude to this race and has specific, actionable ideas on the table. Two examples of smart, creative solutions include her concept of a conservation commission of scientific professionals to advise Commissioners’ Court, and a 391 regional planning commission to empower the county in matters currently dominated by state agencies….

Supporting Nies in Precinct 3

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 23, 2020
(Subscription required, full text available here)

In the contest for Comal County Commissioner, Precinct 3, Colette Nies is challenging incumbent Kevin Webb. Over the past few months, Colette Nies has listened and learned more about the proposed 1,500-acre Vulcan quarry, opposition efforts to date and the decided lack of county involvement in the matter. Relevant issues such as land justice and preservation of natural resources have been her focus for many years and she recognizes the importance of protecting Comal County’s environment — especially the Edwards Aquifer, Comal Springs, and our area water quality and supply — from the over 25 local quarries, concrete plants, and other aggregate facilities…

Time for a Change in Precinct 1

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 16, 2020
(Subscription required, full text available here)

Precinct 1 Commissioner Donna Eccleston has a history of unresponsiveness when it comes to representing her constituents and Comal County citizens. During her years on Commissioners’ Court, countless emails and calls to her have gone unanswered. While she wrote a letter to TCEQ in 2017 requesting a public meeting and attended one meeting, talk is cheap (and so are letters). When it comes to meaningful actions related to the proposed Vulcan quarry, and other environmental health issues important to Comal County, Ms. Eccleston has done nothing….

We Must Protect Our Aquifers and Springs

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 2, 2020
(Subscription required, full editorial and photos available here)

This past weekend, my 9-year-old son and I enjoyed hiking Landa Park’s Panther Canyon Nature Trail, checking out Comal Springs, and floating the Comal River — being careful to keep our distance from others on the trail and river. While pausing to reflect at the springs (the largest in Texas and the southwestern United States), my son asked where the water was coming from….

Public Voices Concerns on Final Day of Rock Crusher Town Halls

DailyTrib.com
October 1, 2020

Blasting, clouds of fine particulates, and over-taxed roads were all issues raised by the public Thursday, Oct. 1, during the final of three virtual town hall meetings hosted by state Rep. Terry Wilson on the subject of Aggregate Production Operations (APOs), a category that includes rock crushers, surface miners, concrete plants, and more. Wilson, the chair of the House Interim Study Committee on APOs, had in previous days invited industry professionals and community action groups to speak. Today, the public shared their stories and concerns….

How Texas Lawmakers and Industry Have Weakened Citizens’ Rights to Fight Pollution

The Texas Observer
July 2, 2020

…Environmental advocates point to a conflict between residents and a mining company in Comal County, northeast of San Antonio, as an example of how the changes have weakened public participation in industrial projects. In 2017, Alabama-based Vulcan Materials proposed building a 1,500-acre rock quarry between Bulverde and New Braunfels to extract and crush limestone. Residents quickly expressed concern over anticipated dust and heavy truck traffic and the possibility of groundwater contamination in the region, where rainfall refills the Edwards Aquifer….

TCEQ Launches Investigation into Breach in New Braunfels Quarry’s Tailing Pond

myCanyonLake.com
June 3, 2020

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) San Antonio Region is investigating an apparent breach in a tailing pond dam at the Anderson Columbia Tejas Quarry (ACCI) in New Braunfels….

They’re Blowing up the Texas Hill Country

BioLogos
March 2, 2020

Recently I flew from snowy Michigan to sunny Texas for a quick trip with my mom and sister. Our destination was my mom’s hometown of New Braunfels, a once-small town 35 miles northeast of San Antonio. I have a hundred childhood memories of trips to see my grandparents at their farm just outside of town. It was a beautiful piece of land, dotted with cows, twisty live oaks, and the occasional prickly pear cactus….

Hill Country Residents Challenge the State to Stop Quarry

San Antonio Business Journal
February 19, 2020

Comal County residents are suing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop the construction of a quarry they say will pollute the air with a lung-damaging contaminate. Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek filed a lawsuit in Travis County court on Monday to overturn TCEQ’s permit for a Vulcan Materials Co. rock-crushing facility. The facility will be a piece of a proposed limestone quarry, which Vulcan plans to place on a 1,500 acre site in the Hill Country between New Braunfels and Bulverde….

Quarry Opponents Sue TCEQ Over Air Permit

myCanyonLake.com
February 19, 2020

Quarry opponents are suing Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for its November 2019 decision to grant Vulcan Materials the air-quality permit it needs to develop a 1,500-acre limestone rock quarry and rock-crushing operation in central Comal County. Image courtesy of Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry….

Quarry Opponents Take Aim at TCEQ

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 18, 2020
(Subscription required, full print version available here)

Two local groups are suing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality over its approval of a quarry’s permit following last year’s contentious hearing. Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek are fighting Vulcan Materials’ air-quality permit and filed an appeal in the Travis County District Court on Friday. The groups say the TCEQ allowed the June 2019 hearing with legal errors, exclusion of data and other missteps. The Commission refers to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for any contested evidentiary hearing concerning the plant’s potential effects on health, property and environment….

Neighborhood Groups Sue State of Texas Over Proposed San Antonio-Area Quarry

San Antonio Current
February 18, 2020

Citizen groups have sued to halt a proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry in Comal County, saying the state of Texas should never have issued an air quality permit to the project. The plaintiffs — Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek — brought their suit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Friday in Travis County. They’re asking the state to re-evaluate the permit, saying the agency ignored important environmental data and made legal errors when it approved the quarry in November….

Lawsuit Filed Against TCEQ for Vulcan Quarry Permit

Community Impact Newspaper
February 18, 2020

Groups opposing a proposed quarry owned by Vulcan Materials filed a lawsuit Feb. 14 against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to David Drewa, Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry’s communication director. The TCEQ did not have a comment about the pending lawsuit, and Vulcan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Errors in the legal process and unaccounted emission sources are among several grievances listed in the lawsuit….

Anti-Quarry Groups Sue over Air Permit

San Antonio Express-News
February 17, 2020

Two citizen groups opposed to a proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry in Comal County have sued the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality over the issuance of an air discharge permit. Vulcan Materials seeks to mine stone at the site of an old ranch at the corner of Texas 46 and FM 3009, northwest of New Braunfels. Local groups say the project, expected to last 80 years or more, will bring a host of problems, including contamination of the air and water, heavy truck traffic and ruined land values….

Vulcan’s Comal Quarry Is One Permit away from Operation

Community Impact Newspaper
February 6, 2020

A coalition opposing Vulcan Materials’ Comal Quarry at the intersection of Hwy. 46 and FM 3009 intends to challenge an air-quality permit approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in November….

March Auction for Campaign Against Vulcan Quarry

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 1, 2020
(Subscription required, full print version available here)

A local nonprofit fighting a quarry’s construction over the Edwards Aquifer will have its second auction event on March 21. The volunteer-run Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry organization began two years ago, and this year it has a growing list of auction items whose proceeds will go toward attorney fees and scientific research to fight Vulcan Materials Company’s quarry permit. The Bluebonnet Extravaganza Dinner and Auction will be in the Grande Ballroom in Milltown Historic District and is set for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m….

Citizen Group Still Fighting Vulcan Air Quality Permit

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 29, 2019
(Subscription required, full print version available here)

The air quality permit for the Comal County Vulcan Quarry may have been officially granted, but local anti-quarry environmental groups aren’t backing down in their fight against the permit and quarry. Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek have filed a motion for rehearing their case in opposition to the permit requested by Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC. The permit was granted in November, making way for the construction of a 1,500-acre limestone-mining quarry and rock crushing plant at State Highway 46 and FM 3009….

Fight Against Vulcan Goes On

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 26, 2019
(Subscription required, full editorial available here)

As 2019 draws to a close, Preserve Our Hill Country Environment and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry are so grateful to all our supporters and volunteers in the ongoing battle against the huge, 1500-acre quarry planned by Vulcan Construction Materials between New Braunfels and Bulverde. Over the past two years, with your help, our team has achieved many key accomplishments. Vulcan has not started construction or operation of the proposed quarry….

New Braunfels Citizen Groups File Motion Against Vulcan Quarry Air Quality Permit

Community Impact Newspaper
December 23, 2019

A new rock-crushing facility planned to be located on a 1,500-acre limestone quarry between Bulverde and New Braunfels was granted an air quality permit in November. In June 2017, Vulcan Construction Materials LLC submitted an air quality permit request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The request was granted Nov. 21, 2019 after a hearing in which commissioners heard arguments from landowners and residents that opposed the quarry. In response to the decision passed by the TCEQ, local groups Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek filed a motion Dec. 16 for a rehearing of their case. The case was filed by Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell, P.C., a law firm representing more than 100 individuals and associations opposing the quarry….

Quarry Opponents Seek Rehearing

San Antonio Express-News
December 20, 2019

Groups opposed to the construction of a 1,500-acre limestone quarry in Comal County for Vulcan Materials have asked for a rehearing by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Two state administrative judges ruled Vulcan had met its burden of proof to be issued an air discharge permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The commissioners granted the air permit in November….

Quarry Opponents Request Rehearing

myCanyonLake.com
December 20, 2019

Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry are challenging the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) November 20 decision to issue an air-quality permit for the proposed Vulcan Quarry. On Thursday, the community activist groups announced they have filed a motion for rehearing their case with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). Joining in the appeal are citizen groups of 100 individuals and associations opposing the quarry….

TCEQ Adds Air Quality Monitors, Hoping to Quell Quarry Concerns

San Antonio Business Journal
December 16, 2019

In an effort to appease residents in the San Antonio area unhappy with the proliferation of limestone quarries, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality installed two new air quality monitors. An internet search shows the monitors in Bexar and Comal counties went into operation Friday and join about 20 other air quality monitors according to Google Maps….

Controversial Limestone Quarry Passes Permitting Hurdle

San Antonio Business Journal
November 25, 2019

A Comal County limestone quarry is one step closer to breaking ground after passing a major permitting hurdle Thursday. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved an air quality permit for a Vulcan Materials Co. rock-crushing facility that will sit on a 1,500-acre quarry between Bulverde and New Braunfels. The quarry will be used for mining limestone, a major component in construction materials….

TCEQ Approves Air Permit for Vulcan Quarry: Opponents Ready to File Motion for Reconsideration

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
November 21, 2019
(Subscription required, full print version available: part 1, part 2)

Despite a large showing of protestors and a request for postponement from state Rep. Kyle Biedermann, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s commissioners approved the air quality permit for the proposed Vulcan quarry in Comal County Wednesday morning. The approval to grant the permit makes way for the construction of a 1,500-acre limestone-mining quarry and rock crushing plant, and follows the move for approval made by SOAH judges in September….

Vulcan Quarry Air Permit on TCEQ Commissioners’ Agenda

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
November 20, 2019
(Subscription required, full print version available here)

The proposed Comal County Vulcan quarry’s pending air permit will be the first item on the TCEQ Commissioners’ meeting this morning in Austin, and anti-quarry advocates are hoping to make a strong showing against final approval. The attorney representing Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek will speak during a short allotted time before commissioners consider the proposed decision recommended in September by the State Office of Administrative Hearings administrative judges to approve the permit….

TCEQ to Decide Fate of Vulcan Quarry

myCanyonLake.com
November 15, 2019

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has placed the controversial Vulcan Quarry on its Wednesday meeting agenda. TCEQ commissioners will consider a September 3 decision by the State Office of Administrative Hearing (SOAH) administrative law judges that Vulcan Materials has met its burden of proof and should be awarded the draft air quality permit it needs to proceed with its project in Comal County….

A World Rocked: Communities Clamor for Regulation as Texas Mining Industry Explodes

Austin American-Statesman
September 20, 2019

…When some Comal County residents learned two years ago that Vulcan Materials planned to mine for the next 80 years on a 1,500-acre tract stretching nearly 3 miles southwest of Texas 46 and FM 3009, between New Braunfels and Bulverde, they got busy trying to block its air quality permit for rock crushing equipment. They formed a group called Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and filed paperwork with the TCEQ to oppose the permit after Vulcan received tentative approval….

Quarries Pose a Risk to Local Caves, Water

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
September 19, 2019
(Subscription required, full editorial and photos available here)

Comal County continues to provide new and exciting underground surprises. The proposal to convert 1500 acres of Hill Country land to an open-pit mine and limestone quarry, and the deluge of recent applications to discharge wastewater into pristine streams and creeks, has ignited interest in Comal County’s natural resources and unique environmental features. In June, local landowners discovered a brand-new chamber in Double Decker Cave on their property. Located in between the proposed Vulcan quarry site and Natural Bridge Caverns, Double Decker now measures over 1100 feet in length, with a depth of over 100 feet….

Two Proposed Projects Cause Concern for Residents of Comal County

San Antonio Business Journal
September 6, 2019

A controversial limestone quarry set to be built in Comal County moved closer to construction this week at the same time that county residents took on a proposed concrete batch plant in administrative court. On Tuesday, a pair of administrative law judges from the State Office of Administrative Hearings recommended that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant an air quality permit to Vulcan Materials Co. for the construction of a limestone crusher and quarry in Bulverde….

Comal County Residents Fight Proposed Rock-Crushing Quarry

Spectrum News San Antonio
September 4, 2019

After a contested case hearing this past summer, Austin judges issued a recommendation to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to approve an air quality permit for a proposed rock-crushing Quarry that would be located in the Hill Country. The recommendation is a step in the right direction for Vulcan Materials, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregate like crushed stone and gravel. Judges determined the company “met its burden of proof” and recommended TCEQ approve the draft permit. For residents in the area, it’s a crushing blow. “The fight is clearly not over, this is not a done deal yet,” David Drewa director of communications for Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry said. “We now go on to the next steps in the process and we’ll continue to fight to protect the natural resources of the Hill Country and to protect the health of our families.​…”

Controversial 1,500-Acre Open-Pit Quarry One Step Closer to Reality

KSAT 12 TV San Antonio
September 4, 2019

The proposed 1,500-acre, open-pit limestone quarry pit project between Bulverde and New Braunfels is one step closer to becoming reality. State Office of Administrative Hearings judges Rebecca Smith and Victor Simonds announced their decision Tuesday to approve an air permit application for the Comal Vulcan Materials Quarry, according to the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. The permit, which Vulcan applied for in June 2017, has been highly contested by area residents. Residents in the area are concerned about air pollution, increased truck traffic, decreased property values, endangered water resources, and additional environmental impacts….

Controversial Comal Quarry Clears Regulatory Hurdle

San Antonio Express-News
September 3, 2019

A 1,500-acre open pit limestone quarry that Vulcan Materials wants to operate in rural Comal County got the green light Tuesday from two judges in the State Office of Administrative Hearings. In ruling that the company had met its burden of proof to be issued an air discharge permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the judges delivered a crushing blow to local groups that oppose the quarry. “While this is certainly not the outcome we had hoped for in the contested case hearing, and we strongly disagree with their conclusion, the SOAH decision isn’t entirely unexpected, and this fight is far from over,” said David Drewa, a leader of the Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry group….

Judges Clear Way for Vulcan Quarry Air Permit

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
September 3, 2019
(Subscription required, full print version available here)

The proposed Comal County Vulcan Materials quarry looks like it will receive its air permit, moving the 1,500-acre limestone-mining quarry and rock crushing plant another step closer to reality. State Office of Administrative Hearings administrative office law judges Rebecca Smith and Victor Simonds concluded the weeks-long contested case hearing on the air permit application for the proposed Comal Vulcan Materials Quarry Tuesday, announcing the decision that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality should approve and issue the air permit to build the quarry at Highway 46 and FM 3009….

Proposed Quarry in Comal County Clears a Hurdle

KTSA 550 AM/107.1 FM Radio San Antonio
September 3, 2019

The proposed Vulcan Materials Quarry in Comal County is one step closer to becoming a reality. State Office of Administrative hearings judges are recommending approval of an air permit application, despite opposition from a couple of groups, Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek. The final decision on the air permit lies with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “This is one step in a long process,” said David Drewa, a spokesman for the opposing groups. “There are still opportunities to appeal this decision on the air quality permit….”

Judge Rules Vulcan Quarry Should be Given Permit

WOAI News 4 TV San Antonio
September 3, 2019

A dispute pitting landowners against a proposed rock quarry was decided by a judge Tuesday. The judge here ruling against the citizens group in Comal County trying to stop the Vulcan Quarry. The group has been arguing for years that the quarry would be bad for their air quality. The judge today ruling the Texas Commission on Environment quality should give Vulcan permits. So now the citizens group is shifting its focus to the TCEQ, telling us the fight is far from over….

Residents Fight to Protect Texas Hill Country from Hazardous Quarry

Public Citizen
August 21, 2019

Hundreds of citizens and groups in Comal County continue fighting against Vulcan Construction Materials’ proposed 1500-acre limestone quarry, located over the Edwards Aquifer between New Braunfels and Bulverde, just north-east of San Antonio….

Vulcan, Anti-Quarry Groups Await Judge’s Decision

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
August 8, 2019

Within the next month, residents of Comal County will have an answer about a submitted air quality permit that would allow the building of a Vulcan Quarry. With both Vulcan Quarry and anti-quarry groups having submitted closing arguments in their State Office of Administrative Hearings case, SOAH Administrative Law Judge Rebecca Smith has a little less than a month to render a decision on the permit submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality….

Neighbors Fight Proposed Quarry North of San Antonio

WOAI News 4 TV San Antonio
June 20, 2019

Homeowners are taking on a multi-billion dollar company that plans to build a large quarry just north of San Antonio. The Trouble Shooters find out why they say the government isn’t doing enough to help. “This was my dream home,” neighbor Milann Guckian says. She saved money for 20 years, and no sooner did the home get built and she retired there that a letter came in the mail saying three miles of ranchland across the street had been sold to Vulcan Materials Company….

Comal County Residents Fight Proposed Rock-Crushing Quarry

Spectrum News San Antonio
June 20, 2019

The nation’s largest producer of construction aggregate like crushed stone and gravel, Vulcan Materials, is planning to build its next rock-crushing quarry in Comal County. Milann Guckian lives nestled in the Hill Country and was planning on taking it easy after retirement, living across from a working ranch. “I was going to be surrounded by cows and my best friend Lizzie. I was a happy camper when we retired,” said Guckian. But Guckian said that’s no longer the case….

Dust Left Unsettled in Controversial Quarry’s Case Hearing

Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter
June 18, 2019

The contested case hearing against Vulcan Materials Company concluded last Tuesday, June 11. The hearing allowed for residents of Comal County, along with organizations like Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry and Friends of Dry Comal Creek, to show their opposition of the proposed site for a new rock quarry, and make their cases for why the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) should not approve Vulcan’s permit. In addition to the risk of severe health effects from the dust from quarry operations, the site would threaten endangered species and the Edward’s Aquifer….

Vulcan Hearing Wraps Early

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 12, 2019
(Subscription required)

The public portion of the contested case hearing on the proposed Comal Vulcan Materials quarry concluded Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule. Closing arguments will be written, and opponents will have a chance to submit a written response to the other side’s arguments within the next few weeks, which will formally conclude the hearing. State Office of Administrative Hearings administrative office law judge Rebecca Smith will have until Sept. 3 to render a decision on what actions the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality should take on the air permit application to build a 1,500-acre limestone-mining quarry and rock crushing plant at Highway 46 and FM 3009….

Contested Case Hearing Underway for Controversial New Quarry Site

Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter
June 11, 2019

Residents of Comal County and other surrounding areas are fighting for their health and the environment as the contested case hearing for 3009 Vulcan Quarry is underway. The hearing is to determine whether the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) should grant, deny, or alter Vulcan Materials Company’s air quality permit application. Vulcan, the Alabama-based aggregate mining and production company, is hoping to inflate their portfolio of quarries in Texas by 1,500 acres of pristine Hill Country in order to mine, quarry, and crush limestone. The proposed site is situated between Bulverde and New Braunfels on FM 3009….

Long Anticipated Vulcan Hearing Begins in Austin

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 11, 2019
(Subscription required)

The contested case hearing on the proposed Comal Vulcan quarry kicked off Monday morning in Austin with opening statements and arguments. In what many anti-quarry protesters deemed a small victory, administrative law judge Rebecca Smith from the State Office of Administrative Hearings allowed last minute evidence by anti-quarry Harrison Ranch Group to be submitted for review in the hearing….

Quarry Battle Moves to Austin June 10

myCanyonLake.com
June 9, 2019

The battle to prevent Vulcan Materials Company from turning the old Eric White ranch near FM 3009 and SH-46 into a 1,500-acre limestone rock quarry and crushing plant continues at 9 a.m. tomorrow, June 10, at the William P. Clements Office Building, fourth floor, 300 West 15th St., Austin. State Office of Administrative Hearings Administrative Law Judge Rebecca Smith will hear expert testimony and legal arguments for and against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air-quality permit needed to greenlight Vulcan’s project….

Vulcan Quarry Hearing to Start Monday

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 9, 2019
(Subscription required)

The contested case hearing to determine what action the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality should take on the air quality permit application to build a quarry between Bulverde and New Braunfels kicks off Monday morning. The hearing is the next step in the legal battle over the construction of a proposed 1,500-acre limestone-mining quarry and rock crushing plant that would be located at Highway 46 and FM 3009. The hearing is set for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A ruling decision will not have to be made by a judge from the State Office of Administrative Hearings until Sept. 3….

No Delay in Hearing on Quarry Plan

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
May 16, 2019
(Subscription required)

After an administrative judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings denied a motion Tuesday to compel Vulcan Materials Company to disclose additional information to opponents, a contested case hearing will proceed in June as regularly scheduled. The hearing is the next step in legal battle over the construction of a proposed 1,500-acre quarry that would be built between New Braunfels and Bulverde. Earlier this month, a motion was filed by attorneys for the Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry in ongoing legal proceedings to compel Alabama-based Vulcan to disclose additional core sample data….

Quarry Opponents File for Continuance

myCanyonLake.com
May 7, 2019

Community activists fighting development of a proposed rock quarry at Highway 46 and FM 3009 say Vulcan Materials is ignoring their request to hand over critical information they need to prepare for a June 10-12 trial that will determine the fate of the controversial project. On May 3, Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry filed a motion to compel the aggregate producer to provide core sample data about the silica concentration of the limestone it plans to mine on the 1,500-acre property in the heart of a residential area between Bulverde and New Braunfels….

Residents Spoke at Final Hearing Before Fate of Project is Decided

Community Impact Newspaper
April 30, 2019

The six-month-long contested case proceeding regarding an air quality permit for Vulcan Construction Materials began March 6 at the Comal County Courthouse. Approximately 200 area residents gathered in the courtroom to protest the permit for a quarry and rock-crusher to be built along State Highway 46 and FM 3009. After two public comment periods in 2017 and 2018, the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) turned the case over to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) which will conduct the proceedings….

Biedermann’s Quarry Bill Heads to Committee

myCanyonLake.com
April 16, 2019

A quarry bill introduced by Canyon Lake’s State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-73) goes before the Texas House’s Environmental Regulation Committee on Wednesday, and community and environmental activists who oppose the development of a rock quarry in central Comal County plan on testifying in favor of the measure. H.B. 3798 would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to perform an aggregate production-operation (APO) air-quality study that would force the agency to validate its air models based on real-time data and to confirm whether aggregate-production operations like the proposed Vulcan Quarry would negatively impact public health….

Biedermann’s Quarry Bill Undergoes Hearings

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
April 14, 2019
(Subscription required)

District 73 State Rep. Kyle Biedermann’s bill that would tighten regulatory authority over the state’s rock-crushing aggregate facilities held a public hearing before a House committee on Monday. “Yesterday, I laid out one of my quarry bills, HB 2871, in the Energy Resources Committee,” said Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg. “It would (shift) oversight of the permitting process of rock quarries from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Texas Railroad Commission. This bill is common-sense legislation and will provide long-term protections for private property owners living near rock quarries, as well more effective oversight of the industry by the Railroad Commission….”

A Better View of Vulcan’s Quarry Locations

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 24, 2019
(Subscription required)

I read with interest the March 6 article, ‘Vulcan Commits to Comal,’ about Vulcan’s commitment to the needs of Comal County. It did leave me wondering, though, why Vulcan felt the need of an artist’s rendering of the aesthetically pleasing nature of the proposed operation when they could simply have illustrated it with their existing quarries….

Biedermann Introduces Two Quarry Bills

myCanyonLake.com
March 19, 2019

Two bills introduced to the Texas legislature earlier this month by Canyon Lake’s House Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-73) could strengthen the state’s regulatory authority over mining operations like Vulcan Materials’ proposed rock quarry at Highway 46 and FM 3009. One of the bills might even halt development of the controversial 1500-acre open-pit limestone quarry in a high-density residential area of central Comal County, between Bulverde, Spring Branch, Garden Ridge, and New Braunfels….

Residents, Vulcan Materials Bicker Over Proposed Comal County Quarry

News Radio 1200 WOAI
March 12, 2019

Vulcan Materials Corporation has received a draft air permit for its proposed rock crushing plant in Comal County, but opponents of the facility say the fight has just begun, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports. The permit indicates that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is convinced that the plant will meet all specified air quality standards. The next step is a public hearing before a hearing examiner, which is expected to take place this summer….

Local Group Trying to Stop Vulcan Projects

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 12, 2019
(Subscription required, full article available here)

The Texas Hill Country boasts a wealth of environmental, cultural, and economic resources within its 18,000 square miles. Defined by unique geologic features, vistas and bluffs, canyons and caves, valleys and streams, plants and animals, it presents an ideal setting for habitation and recreation by those who enjoy nature. Unfortunately, our beautiful Hill Country and natural resources are endangered by the aggressive expansion of mining corporations purchasing agricultural land to take advantage of the extremely profitable demand for cement, gravel, asphalt, and other aggregate products. The aggregate industry and their shell companies now own over 25,000 acres in Comal County (seven percent of the entire county land area)….

SOAH Judge Rules in Favor of Quarry Opponents

myCanyonLake.com
March 8, 2019

An extremely vocal coalition of area ranchers, business people, ex-military personnel and retired professionals convinced Administrative Law Judge Rebecca Smith to grant them “affected-party” status at a March 6 hearing to determine who has the right to challenge a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air permit that would allow Vulcan Construction Materials to turn the old Eric White Ranch near FM 3009 and SH-46 into a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry….

Hundreds Arrive for Vulcan Quarry Permit Hearing in Comal County

WOAI News 4 TV San Antonio
March 6, 2019

Residents fighting back against a rock crushing plant that they say will have an immediate impact on their lives. Right now, the air is clean, the roads are smooth and there’s not much noise, but the people here fear that could all change with the opening of a 1,500-acre quarry….

Packed House for Vulcan Quarry Permit Hearing

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 6, 2019
(Subscription required, more information available here)

The Comal County Courthouse had a full house Wednesday morning for the SOAH preliminary hearing for the proposed Vulcan quarry permit. People who were not named an affected party were hoping for their last chance to be named such at the preliminary hearing for the upcoming contested case hearing. When all was said and done, about 80 households, or about 200 people, were added to the affected persons list….

Is Comal County at a “Point of Deciding?”

myCanyonLake.com
March 5, 2019

The fight over Vulcan Quarry isn’t just about aggregate. Elected officials say it’s also about property rights and local control. Activists say it’s about quality of life and determining whether Comal County wants to be a tourist destination or a quarry county….

Quarry Hearing Scheduled for Wednesday

myCanyonLake.com
March 5, 2019

Property owners and other stakeholders trying to keep Vulcan Construction Materials from developing a 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry at FM 3009 and SH 46 are expected to pack Comal County Commissioners Courtroom 9 a.m. Wednesday for a preliminary administrative hearing to determine who has the legal right to challenge the air quality permit Vulcan needs to proceed…..

Senate Bill 694 Doesn’t Go Far Enough

San Antonio Express-News
February 25, 2019

State Sen. Donna Campbell is touting her latest piece of legislation, supposedly aimed at tightening restrictions on aggregate production operations (e.g., quarries, cement batch plants, etc.) Careful reading suggests Senate Bill 694 is nothing more than an attempt to not alienate the industry….

Quarry Foes Prepare for March Hearing

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 2, 2019
(Subscription required, more information available here)

Opponents to a permit for a proposed limestone quarry in Comal County will have a chance to plead their case in March. A date has been set for a preliminary hearing to a contested case hearing on Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC’s controversial air quality permit for a proposed limestone quarry. Set for Wednesday, March 6 at 9 a.m. in the main courtroom at the Comal County Courthouse, the preliminary hearing by the State Office of Administrative Hearings will be a chance for people or groups to request to be named an affected party….

Vulcan Permit Remains on Hold: TCEQ Decides to Grant Contested Hearing Requests

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 14, 2018
(Subscription required)

A decision on the air quality permit for Vulcan Construction Materials LLC’s proposed limestone quarry has been further postponed, pending decisions made by an administrative judge on almost 20 issues. During a meeting Wednesday morning, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality decided to grant requests for a contested hearing on an application by Vulcan for an air quality permit to authorize operating a rock crusher in Bulverde….

TCEQ Calls for Review of Quarry Air Permit

myCanyonLake.com
December 14, 2018

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had good news and bad news Dec. 12 for property owners and other stakeholders trying to stop construction of Vulcan Construction Materials’ proposed 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry at FM 3009 and SH-46. At their monthly meeting in Austin, commissioners denied “affected party” status to the majority of individuals and groups seeking a contested-case hearing (CCH) before an administrative judge — including Comal ISD; Comal County Commissioners Donna Eccleston, Pct. 1 and Scott Haag, Pct. 2; and the cities of Bulverde and New Braunfels….

TCEQ Grants Hearing on Vulcan Quarry Project

San Antonio Express-News
December 12, 2018

As expected, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday granted numerous requests for a contested hearing on an application by Vulcan Construction Materials for an air permit to operate a limestone quarry in Comal County. If approved, the project would be developed on a 1,500-acre site at the intersection of Texas 46 and FM 3009. It could be operational for 80 years….

TCEQ Commissioners to Consider Controversial Comal County Quarry Application

San Antonio Express-News
December 11, 2018

A controversial plan by Vulcan Materials to mine limestone on a 1,500-acre site near the busy intersection of Texas 46 and FM 3009 in Comal County will go before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday. Although the commissioners could rule on Vulcan’s pending air permit application, they are more likely to designate it for a contested hearing and send the matter to an administrative law judge, as requested by numerous parties….

Quarry Permit Decision Looms: Opposition Group Still Hopes to Stop Vulcan from Coming to County

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 11, 2018
(Subscription required)

A decision on the controversial Vulcan quarry air-quality permit could be made this week. Members of the Friends of Dry Comal Creek still are hoping to put a stop to the proposed Vulcan Materials limestone quarry that would be located in Comal County near Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market 3009 and are showing their unification against it by going to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality headquarters on Wednesday to oppose the approval of the air-quality permit…

Kling Would Be Better for Senate District 25

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 28, 2018
(Subscription required, full text available here)

I am encouraged by Senator Donna Campbell’s recent interest in protecting Hill Country residents and natural resources from the freewheeling aggregate industry. But I must give greater weight to the actions she has taken while representing District 25….

Biedermann Has Fought for Cause

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 28, 2018
(Subscription required, full text available here)

Since Vulcan Materials filed the application for its proposed Comal County quarry, Representative Kyle Biedermann has worked to stay informed, meet with concerned citizens and learn more about the aggregate-related problems that face many Texas counties….

Time for a Change in Precinct 2

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 28, 2018
(Subscription required, full text available here)

Comal County commissioners continue to fail to support Comal County citizens when it comes to problems created by quarries and other aggregate plants….

True Leadership in Short Supply

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 21, 2018
(Subscription required)

The proposed construction of the Vulcan quarry in Comal County has pitted the interests of a multi-million dollar corporation against those of county residents concerned with environmental impacts that threaten the health of their families, the value of their properties and very qualities that make the Hill Country such an incredible place to live….

Quarry Requires Stricter Oversight

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 3, 2018
(Subscription required)

There is no place quite like our Texas Hill Country. From the wildlife to the rivers to the rolling acres of giant oak trees, the Texas Hill Country has it all. Few of us can claim to be the first to discover its charm, but we moved here as fast as we could….

TCEQ to Talk Concrete Batch Plant

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
September 30, 2018
(Subscription required)

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is conducting a public meeting on Monday to discuss the air quality permit application filed by Tex-Mix Partners to establish a concrete batch plant in Spring Branch. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Bulverde Party House in Bulverde, Texas. The meeting will consist of two parts, according to a TCEQ press release–an informal discussion period, and a formal comment period….

TCEQ Rules in Favor of Quarry Permit

myCanyonLake.com

September 28, 2018

Residents who oppose Vulcan Materials’ proposed 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry at FM 3009 and SH-46 have until Oct. 15 to submit their requests to be named affected parties eligible to protest the project at contested-case hearings (CCH) before Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)….

Residents Discuss Upcoming Quarry Hearing Process

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
August 26, 2018
(Subscription required)

Concerned residents gathered at the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center Thursday night to learn about an upcoming process to voice their concerns about a planned Vulcan Materials Company Comal aggregate mining quarry. Members of the Friends of the Dry Comal Creek outlined the steps in a civil proceeding called a contested case hearing, in which individuals can claim to be an “affected party,” or someone with a personal right affected by the application….

Vulcan Quarry Battle Heats Up

myCanyonLake.com

August 24, 2018

It’s been a long, hot summer for community and environmental activists fighting to keep Vulcan Materials Company from opening a 1,500-acre rock-crushing plant at the corner of SH 46 and FM 3009. They’re waiting for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue a response to comments (RTC) made at a February 27 public hearing about Vulcan Quarry Permit #147392L001 and, for the agency to decide whether or not to approve it….

Quarry Opponents Prepare for Expected Hearing Process

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
August 22, 2018
(Subscription required)

Members of the Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry organization anticipate drawing a crowd to their Thursday night meeting to discuss the planned Vulcan Materials Company planned Comal Quarry. The meeting is informational, Vulcan opponent Sabrina Houser-Amaya said. Members of Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry, also known as the Friends of the Dry Comal Creek, plan to discuss the legal proceeding, or contested case hearing, people can use to express their concerns with the proposed mining operation….

Quarry Opponents Set Date to Plan for Contested Case Hearing

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
August 17, 2018
(Subscription required)

Opponents of the Vulcan Materials Company proposed quarry in Comal County plan to host a public forum Aug. 23 in preparation for the beginning of an expected contested case hearing process. The meeting comes toward the end of a period in which quarry opponents await the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s responses to their comments following a Feb. 27 meeting….

Welcome to the New “Picturesque” Gateway to the Texas Hill Country

Texas Non Profits
August 13, 2018

Imagine this: you are on an outing to enjoy a weekend on Canyon Lake or canoe the Guadalupe River. Your journey takes you on Texas Highway 46 or FM 3009. In route to your scenic destination, you encounter numerous heavy trucks emitting pollutants and bellows of fugitive dust. Then you pass a huge, unsightly hole in the ground with massive equipment making unbearable noise and spewing carcinogenic dust into the air. The peace, serenity, tranquility and beauty you came to enjoy will be gone….

State Needs to Give Power to Local Officials

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 25, 2018
(Subscription required)

It only makes sense, at least speaking in generic terms, that local entities and officials should have a say in issues having a local impact. Yes, that’s a very broad statement that needs plenty of definition, so we’ll try to give it some….

The Texas Aggregate Industry Is Crushing Hill Country Dreams

TexasVox: The Voice of Public Citizen in Texas
July 23, 2018

The Texas Hill Country is 18,000 square miles of natural wonders, economic resources, and a cherished way of life. In this unique place, the boom of construction and growth is sweeping in. In fact, Comal County is now the second fastest growing county in the United States. Unfortunately, the Hill Country’s natural resources and beauty are endangered by the aggressive aggregate industry seeking air quality permits for quarries and cement plants throughout the region….

Comal ISD Joins in on Vulcan Quarry Opposition with a Unanimous Resolution

Community Impact Newspaper
July 10, 2018

In a 7-0 vote at Comal ISD’s June 26 meeting, the school board passed a resolution opposing the construction of Vulcan Quarry, a rock-crushing plant that is being planned near a rapidly growing residential area at Highway 46 and FM 3009 in New Braunfels….

Vulcan Quarry Needs More Research

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 8, 2018
(Subscription required)

I was at once highly interested and highly disappointed when I read the letters from Toni Lott and Michael Zimmerman in Sunday’s paper regarding Vulcan’s quarry plans. Everyone who lives in the Herald-Zeitung’s circulation area should be as interested as I in the plans for an industrial operation that will disrupt the life and environment in the scenic ranch land west of New Braunfels….

Quarry Opponents Await Next Step from TCEQ

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 8, 2018
(Subscription required)

Comal County residents who attended a February 27 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality meeting are still awaiting responses to submitted comments concerning the proposed Vulcan Materials Company Comal Quarry. The facility, planned for the corner of Farm-to-Market 3009 and Highway 46, has received public pushback since last summer, when Vulcan’s plans for the site were announced….

Vulcan Has a Bad “Driving Record”

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
July 1, 2018
(Subscription required)

I am responding to Mr. Bryant’s letter to the editor dated June 10, 2018, about Vulcan’s compliance history within the TCEQ. First of all, understand that Vulcan self-audits. They are allowed to do so under the Texas Environmental, Health and Safety Audit Privilege Act (Audit Act)….

Comal ISD to Seek More Information on Planned Vulcan Quarry on FM 3009

KTSA 550 AM/107.1 FM Radio San Antonio
June 28, 2018
(See related post)

The Comal ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a resolution to file for a contested case hearing regarding a proposed Vulcan Quarry off of FM 3009….

Vulcan Spreading Misinformation

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 24, 2018
(Subscription required)

Vulcan is spreading misinformation about its compliance record to the public, not the other way around. Vulcan’s word “cited” refers to violations that were caught during a TCEQ complaint investigation. In Texas, these companies are allowed to police themselves and rarely inspected….

Vulcan Is Not a Good Neighbor

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 24, 2018
(Subscription required)

The recent article citing Brett Bryant, general manager and vice president of Vulcan Materials, is both laughable and sad. Mr. Bryant states “facts” in his article of the “wonderful” things Vulcan has accomplished….

Vulcan Spokesman Opposes Bulverde City Council Resolution

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 20, 2018
(Subscription required, see related post)

Mayor Bill Krawietz said the Bulverde City Council’s recent resolution opposing a planned Vulcan Materials Company Comal quarry reflected the desires of surrounding residents. The resolution, passed during last week’s city council meeting, requests “a contested case hearing on air permit number 147392L001,” one in which the City of Bulverde would be considered “an ‘affected party….’”

Bulverde City Council Opposes Proposed Vulcan Quarry

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 17, 2018
(Subscription required, see related post)

The Bulverde City Council unanimously this past week passed a resolution expressing opposition to the proposed Vulcan Materials Company Comal Quarry on Farm-to-Market 3009 and Highway 46. In addition to stating the city council’s opposition, it also directed the Bulverde city manager to “request a contested case hearing on air permit number 147392L001 (and) request that the City of Bulverde be considered an ‘affected person….’”

Biedermann Talks to TCEQ

myCanyonLake.com
June 13, 2018

Texas State Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Dist. 73, announced in a statement this week that he met with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) officials in Austin on Monday to discuss the proposed Vulcan quarry, which has sparked outrage with his constituents in Comal County. Discussions focused on modifying and improving TCEQ’s air- and wastewater-permitting process, planning and execution of “remedies” during drought conditions, and TCEQ’s enforcement policy on water supply systems, he said….

There Is a Tool for Quarry Fight

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
June 10, 2018
(Subscription required, full text available here)

On March 22, Commissioners Court failed to take meaningful action to support constituents concerned about the proposed Vulcan quarry. Instead, commissioners settled for passing the buck. Commissioners complained about their lack of authority, insisted their hands were tied, and seemingly ignored 30 minutes of pleas from citizens to draft an effective resolution requesting a contested case hearing as an affected party….

Quarry Opponents to Host Fundraiser

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
May 6, 2018
(Subscription required)

The Friends of the Dry Comal Creek will host a fundraising night at Willie’s Grill and Icehouse in Town Center Creekside Wednesday night to raise funds toward fighting Vulcan Materials Company’s planned aggregate limestone Comal Quarry. Diners between 4 and 10 p.m. on May 9 can choose to send 15 percent of their total ticket, excluding tax and gratuity, to the non-profit group….

Quarry Opponents Hold Fundraising Garage Sale

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
April 20, 2018
(Subscription required)

The Friends of the Dry Comal Creek is holding a garage sale Saturday to raise funds for the citizen-led group’s continued efforts to oppose a Vulcan Materials Company aggregate mining quarry planned in Comal County. Sabrina Houser-Amaya, with the Friends of the Dry Comal Creek, said money collected during the sale will help the group fund their opposition of the planned Comal quarry, to be located on the corner of Farm-to-Market 3009 and State Highway 46….

Hill Country Groups Wanting More Local Land-Use Control

Community Impact Newspaper
April 18, 2018

As the second fastest-growing county in the country according to U.S. Census Bureau data, Comal County, like others in the Hill Country, is coming face to face with industries that want to set up shop on land that is becoming more and more precious….

Quarry Opposition Calls on Local, State Support

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 25, 2018
(Subscription required)

Since news of a planned Vulcan Materials Company aggregate mining quarry in Comal County reached public attention, citizen-led group Friends of the Dry Comal Creek has requested support from multiple public office holders in their opposition of the quarry. Most recently, Comal County Commissioners Court approved a resolution requesting the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) thoroughly review an air quality permit for a proposed Vulcan Materials Company aggregate mining quarry located in the county….

Residents Say More Effort Needed in Quarry Fight

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 24, 2018
(Subscription required)

A resolution passed by Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday urged the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to fully review an air quality permit submitted by Vulcan Materials Company for a portable crushing facility at a proposed Comal County quarry. But that action did not go far enough for members of the Friends of the Dry Comal Creek, a citizen-led group opposing the construction of the quarry, to be located on Farm-to-Market 3009 and Highway 46….

Commissioners Pass Quarry Resolution

myCanyonLake.com
March 23, 2018

Comal County commissioners said they don’t support Vulcan quarry—and Jen Crownover, Commissioner Precinct #4, even described the situation as “heartbreaking”—but passed anyway on March 22 a resolution that opponents said does not send any kind of a meaningful message to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)….

Residents Disappointed with County’s Quarry Resolution

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 23, 2018
(Subscription required)

Dozens of residents opposed to Vulcan Materials’ proposed rock crushing plant at the intersection of State Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009 came away disappointed after Comal County Commissioners passed a resolution that fell short of their expectations. Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved the non-binding measure that requests the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality makes sure the facility will ensure the health and safety of citizens and preserve water quality in the area….

Comal County Resolution on Quarry Decried as Too Little, Too Late

San Antonio Express-News
March 22, 2018

NEW BRAUNFELS—Comal County commissioners’ adoption Thursday of a resolution expressing concerns about a rock quarry proposed by Vulcan Materials west of town was decried as too little, too late by opponents of the project….

County Needs to Request Contested Case Hearing

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 22, 2018
(Subscription required, full text available here)

I’m encouraged to hear the recent news that Comal County Commissioner Scott Haag plans to put forth a resolution opposing the proposed Comal County Vulcan quarry at the March 22 meeting of Commissioners Court. A properly written resolution should request a contested case hearing on TCEQ air quality permit application number 147392L001, and remind TCEQ that they are required to “give maximum consideration to local government’s recommendations” as specified in Section 382.112 of the Texas Health and Safety Code….

Commissioners Weigh in on Quarry

myCanyonLake.com
March 20, 2018

Comal County commissioners will finally weigh in on the controversial Vulcan Quarry project at their weekly meeting, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 22 at Comal County Courthouse, 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels….

Vulcan Faces Fight over Projects in Comal and Kendall Counties

San Antonio Express-News
March 4, 2018

NEW BRAUNFELS—Constructing roads, homes and bridges requires rock and concrete, so it’s understandable that Vulcan Materials wants to set up shop in the fast-growing Hill Country, where rolling ranchlands are quickly being developed into new subdivisions. But Vulcan, the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, is facing stiff resistance to plans to establish a limestone quarry on Texas 46 here in Comal County and a concrete batch plant on the same road to the west in Kendall County….

Nearby Residents Turnout To Oppose Proposed Comal County Rock Quarry

Texas Public Radio
March 2, 2018

A proposed limestone rock quarry in Comal County worries some residents who live near the site. They discussed their fear the quarry could compromise air and water quality and heavy trucks could damage roads during a public comment meeting Tuesday night at the New Braunfels convention center, which attracted over 400 people….

500 Community Members Attend Vulcan Meeting

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
March 1, 2018
(Subscription required)

About 75 people spoke at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) public meeting on Tuesday night to voice concerns about a planned aggregate mining quarry outside Bulverde. The ballroom at the civic/convention center was packed full of more than 500 community members who came to speak to representatives from both TCEQ and Vulcan Materials Company, the company planning to build the quarry….

Biedermann Will Help with Quarry Fight

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 28, 2018
(Subscription required)

Representative Kyle Biedermann is a breath of fresh air in the fight against the proposed Vulcan Materials quarry stretching south of Highway 46 and FM 3009 in Comal County. He and his staff have been very accessible to concerned constituents, and have taken a lot of time to meet with them on numerous occasions….

Comal County Residents Fighting Proposed Limestone Quarry

Spectrum News San Antonio
February 27, 2018

COMAL COUNTY—Opposition to a proposed limestone quarry in Comal County is rallying in hopes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality won’t issue the Alabama-based company a permit. Milann Guckian bought land in Comal County twenty years ago and was waiting for the perfect time to build her dream house. It’s now a dream come true but she fears it won’t last long if Vulcan Materials Company has their way….

Residents Cite Health Reasons, Increased Traffic in Opposition to Proposed Quarry in Comal County

KSAT 12 TV San Antonio
February 27, 2018

NEW BRAUNFELS—One of the latest rock quarry proposals is awaiting final approval by the state’s environmental agency, and opponents say they will be at a public hearing in New Braunfels on Tuesday night to make sure their voices are heard. Some said they were living near the proposed site long before Vulcan Materials wanted a rock quarry….

Groups Plan to Speak Out Against Proposed Quarry

KTSA 550 AM/107.1 FM Radio San Antonio
February 27, 2018

Some Comal County homeowners oppose plans for a Vulcan Materials quarry and they plan to let the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality know it. Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry is just one of the groups that will attend a TCEQ meeting tonight in New Braunfels….

Pushback from Public Prompted Upcoming Quarry Input Meeting

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
February 25, 2018
(Subscription required)

Public health and safety concerns are expected comment subjects at the upcoming Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) public input meeting regarding a planned Comal County Vulcan Materials quarry on Tuesday night. The meeting will provide residents the opportunity to voice feedback to attending TCEQ and Vulcan Materials representatives about the aggregate mining quarry, planned for the corner of Farm-to-Market 3009 and Highway 46….

Neighbors Fight Proposed Rock Quarry

WOAI News 4 TV San Antonio
January 30, 2018

SAN ANTONIO—A battle is brewing over proposed plans to put a limestone quarry along Highway 46 in Comal County….The project targets 1500 acres of land along Highway 46 and FM 3009 an area that calls for additional requirements to protect the Edwards Aquifer….

Comal County Neighbors Fight Proposed Rock Quarry

Fox 29 TV San Antonio
January 30, 2018

SAN ANTONIO—A battle is brewing over proposed plans to put a limestone quarry along Highway 46 in Comal County. Vulcan Materials Company has filed permit requests, meanwhile neighbors have organized a grassroots effort that’s giving the company some resistance….

Vulcan Quarry Meeting Planned

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
January 28, 2018
(Subscription required)

After significant public outcry against a Vulcan Materials Company quarry planned in Comal County, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued notice for a public meeting to gather feedback from area residents. Scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 27 in the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, the meeting came about because of significant comments and requests for hearing—at least 130 of each received by the TCEQ….

TCEQ Sets Public Meeting on Vulcan’s Comal Quarry

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
January 26, 2018
(Subscription required)

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has announced a public meeting for residents to voice their opinions on a planned Vulcan Materials Company Comal County quarry. The meeting, planned for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, will give individuals worried about potential adverse effects of the quarry’s operations the opportunity to voice their concerns….

Vulcan Quarry Looks to be Inevitable

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
January 3, 2018
(Subscription required)

We’ll go out on limb and say that even individuals who start and operate a quarry would not want one in their own backyard. You’ve likely seen the signs and read the material produced by the opposition. While the quarry people promise safety, and to mitigate negative impact they kick up more dust and make more noise than, say, a park. ….

Vulcan Quarry Authority Rests with State Officials

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 20, 2017
(Subscription required)

Any effects of the planned Vulcan Materials Company Comal quarry would be of immediate concern to area residents. But City of New Braunfels and Comal County officials said that state-level officials are the ones who have regulatory authority….

Impacts of Quarry Examined

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 9, 2017
(Subscription required)

The Friends of the Dry Comal Creek held a public information meeting about possible effects of a planned Vulcan Materials quarry on Thursday night at Bulverde Activity Center. This presentation was intended as preparation for a yet unscheduled Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) public input meeting to be held next year. This upcoming meeting will gather comment on passage of the air quality permit Vulcan requires to proceed in development of the Comal quarry….

Friends of Dry Comal Creek to Hold Public Meeting December 7

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 7, 2017
(Subscription required)

The Friends of the Dry Comal Creek will hold a public meeting on Dec. 7 to provide an overview of potential environmental hazards from a planned Vulcan Comal quarry. This session is held in preparation for a not-yet-scheduled public input meeting hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to gain resident feedback on the Vulcan quarry. Though currently unscheduled, the TCEQ-hosted meeting will take place prior to potential approval of an air quality permit requested by Vulcan Materials Company. The TCEQ announced it would hold a public meeting after significant outcry from residents when news of the Vulcan Comal quarry gained attention in July….

Comal Quarry Would Be Vulcan’s Seventh in Area

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
December 2, 2017
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The Comal County aggregate mining quarry planned at Highway 46 and FM 3009 would be Vulcan Materials Company’s seventh in the Hill Country. Still in the early stages of development, Vulcan has applied for an air quality permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) before construction can begin….

Quarry Opponents Prepare for Battle

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
October 8, 2017
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BULVERDE—Milann Guckian compares herself to Erin Brockovich, or as a David fighting an uphill battle against a Goliath. “I’m not happy,” said Guckian, one of several residents opposed to Vulcan Construction Materials’ proposed rock-crushing plant at the corner of Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009. “I’m going to fight this thing—and I’m going to be a pain in their butt….”

Quarry Plan Surprises, Riles Comal County Residents

San Antonio Express-News
October 6, 2017

BULVERDE—Area residents are raising numerous health and safety concerns about a rock quarry proposed for a tract of ranchland surrounded by residential subdivisions off Texas 46 in the Hill Country. “We are not against development. We want it done in a safe process,” Sabrina Houser-Amaya said at a community meeting here Thursday night that drew nearly 200 people, including several Comal County officials….

Quarry Opponents Seek County Support

New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
August 18, 2017
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Opponents of a proposed limestone quarry west of New Braunfels urged Comal County officials to support their cause during Thursday morning’s Commissioners Court meeting. Sabrina Houser and Ed Harris addressed commissioners during public commentary, urging them to join a growing number of area residents against Vulcan Construction Materials’ establishing a quarry near the corner of State Highway 46 and Farm-to-Market Road 3009….