Concerns brewing over proposed Wise County landfill near water supply serving Fort Worth
Wise County officials are concerned that a proposed construction waste landfill planned for a a rapidly growing near Boyd and Aurora could affect the West Fork of the Trinity River, a major water source for Fort Worth and other cities.
When Wise County Judge J.D. Clark learned about the proposal, he began to ask questions.
At first, he thought the landfill would be in a remote area, he said. But the permit application submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by Chisholm Trail Disposal shows the landfill would be near heavily-traveled County Road 4668, also known as Bobo Crossing.
“That county road, is a very, very busy residential county road,” Clark said. “We worry very much about the impact of waste trucks being on this road.”
Clark said he is also concerned because the site is near the West Fork of the Trinity River, which feeds in to Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth. Both lakes supply water to the city of Fort Worth.
“We just really feel that it is not a viable location. We and the property owners just have a lot of questions,” he said.
State Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, sent a letter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state agency that approves applications to operate landfills, requesting that it hold a public meeting on the proposal.
A date hasn’t been set for the hearing, but officials said it would likely take place in October.
Chisholm Trail Disposal, owned by Green Group Holdings, said growth and the construction that comes with it are fueling the need for the disposal waste site.
Forecasts indicate there won’t be enough space to support the western region of Dallas-Fort Worth by 2037. The company cited information from the North Central Texas Council of Governments that described population increases of 32% by 2040 and a 30% increase in waste generation.
Thad Owings, director of landfill operations and development for Green Group Holdings, said in an emailed statement that the proposed landfill is on the site of a soil mining operation.
“We want to assure residents and government officials that we are committed to addressing these concerns with transparency and responsibility,” he said.
He said the trucks hauling the waste will have less tonnage than the current mining operations.
What type of waste would be allowed in the landfill
The landfill would accept construction and demolition waste, including concrete, cardboard, brick, rock, wood, plastics, roofing shingles, furniture and brush, according to information from Chisholm Trail Disposal.
Household trash, tires, appliances and used oil would not be allowed.
Other officials echoed Clark’s concerns about the proposed landfill.
Boyd Mayor Rodney Holmes said he first heard about the Chisholm Trail Disposal request from a landowner who is worried about his wells getting contaminated from the waste.
The site is on the Paluxy Aquifer, which runs west of Fort Worth from the Red River to the Texas Hill Country.
“Our main concern is that it’s right on the West Fork of the Trinity, which is the water supply for Tarrant County and Fort Worth,” Holmes said.
Like many areas of Texas, Wise County is struggling to provide enough water to meet the demands for growth. Holmes and other mayors in southern Wise County want to form a water district to meet future needs.
Meanwhile, Owings said the Green group is committed to meeting all of the necessary safety requirements.
“”There are very strict regulatory requirements from the TCEQ that we must adhere to, and these regulations mandate that we must implement strong protections to ensure compliance.”