Wise County officials call on state to hold hearing on construction waste landfill
Officials representing Wise County are requesting a contested hearing after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved a permit for a construction waste landfill near an important drinking water source earlier this month.
Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark posted their letters on social media that they sent to the TCEQ calling on the agency to hold a hearing because of the location of the proposed construction waste landfill. The site of the proposed “Chisholm Trail Disposal Landfill” is located in a rapidly growing area near busy roads and the West Fork of the Trinity River, an important water source for Fort Worth.
The landfill site is in Aurora’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, at 291 Private Road 4674, near an area called Bobo Crossing.
In his letter, Clark wrote:
“We understand that landfills are a necessary part of modern life, but where they are located matters.
“Throughout this process, our concerns have remained consistent. We believe this proposed location presents risks to the long-term protection of our groundwater and would place a significant burden on County Road 4668 and, ultimately, Wise County taxpayers.”
Clark stated that he wrote the letter on behalf of the Wise County Commissioners Court which opposed the landfill since the permit process began in 2024.
Hopper expressed similar concerns in his letter, saying “the proposed construction waste landfill location is in the Trinity Aquifer which is designated as a ‘priority groundwater management area.’”
Clark and Hopper also described concerns that the area already has heavy traffic because of growth, and the landfill would add to that.
According to the Wise County Messenger, the TCEQ issued a letter June 25 approving the permit, stating that it met “legal requirements.”
However, the TCEQ would decide at a future meeting whether to approve the construction and operation of the landfill.
Chisholm Trail Disposal, which is owned by Georgia-based Green Group Holdings, is seeking approval for the construction waste landfill.
The company told the Star-Telegram previously that growth in Wise and other nearby counties is driving the need for the landfill. Thad Owings, director of operations and landfill development for Green Group Holdings, wrote in an email the landfill is on an existing soil mining operation, and repurposing the site for the landfill would have less of an impact on the public.
Owings added that a traffic study was completed and there won’t be an impact on nearby roadways.
Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles. The company will conduct visual inspections regularly to make sure the waste disposal requirements are met, Owings said.
He added that in order to get the TCEQ permit, the company must show there is a good protection system in place for the groundwater.