City of Boyd pushes back against proposed landfill near water source
The city of Boyd and its mayor has sent a letter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requesting a contested hearing on a proposed construction waste landfill near a major water source.
The landfill, proposed by Chilsom Trail Disposal, is planned for 291 Private Road 4674, near the Trinity River and Bobo’s Crossing in Aurora.
The TCEQ approved a permit for a construction waste landfill in June saying that it met legal requirements, according to Boyd Mayor Rodney Holmes.
State Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark also sent letters requesting a contested hearing.
“Wise County filed the first contested case hearing for this proposed landfill, and we will continue to request a contested case hearing and public hearing. It is a poor, poor location choice for this project,” Clark said in an email to the Star-Telegram in February.
He said he understands 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 said that Wise County’s decision was supported by Doug Shaw, general manager for the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation, and Wise County Engineer Chad Davis regarding the traffic impacts and infrastructure concerns.
The city of Boyd said that the proposed landfill would be a traffic hazard and contaminate its groundwater and surface water supply.
Holmes said the location of the proposed landfill is a former sand plant in Aurora, and testing showed that the sand plant had already dug deeper than the Paluxy Aquifer.
Shaw defined the Paluxy Aquifer as the top layer of the Trinity Aquifer.
Holmes added the location is in a flood plain near the Trinity River that runs into Eagle Mountain Lake.
Eagle Mountain Lake is a major water source for Tarrant County and the West Fork Public Utility Agency, supplying water to Fort Worth and other entities in Wise County, according to the city of Boyd.
Holmes is worried about old shingles and tiles in construction material that could have asbestos leaking into the water supply.
Holmes said the city of Boyd has been working hard with the West Fork public utility agency to bring surface water to Wise County, and that they have a “verbal deal” with Tarrant Regional Water District to supply them water from Eagle Mountain Lake.
Holmes said the location of the plant is another big issue seeing as the property borders two county roads. One of which is the busiest road in Wise County, Bobo’s Crossing.
He said that Chisolm Trail claims they did a traffic study that showed traffic won’t be increased by the landfill, but he disagrees saying that “those trucks are going to tear up that county.”
“We must stand together and stop this landfill from being approved. Do you want old asbestos shingles and tiles leaching into your water supply? Neither do we,” The city wrote on Facebook.
The letter sent establishes the city of Boyd as the affected persons because the proposed landfill has “the potential to directly and adversely affect the city, its residents, public infrastructure, environmental resources, economic interests, and future growth and development.”
It lists the disputed issues of fact and law as; protection of water sources, adequacy of hydrological analysis, traffic impacts, odor, litter, dust, vector impacts, response time to public questions, compliance with regulations, and need for additional permits.
Chilsom Trail Disposal, which is owned by Georgia-based Green Group Holdings, did not respond for comment.
