02 Aug Meeting on Environmental Monitoring for the TXI Gravel Mine

Dear Community Members,

Please go to this meeting if you can, and bring your questions regarding environmental monitoring for the TXI gravel mine.  I think it is important that we be involved in this process to make sure that monitoring is adequate, that results are reported regularly, and that there is some sort of enforcement or consequences set up if unsafe levels are found.  Attendance will let officials know that you are concerned about the health and safety of our neighborhood.

Thanks,
Suzanne McEndree
Mining Task Force Lead
Del Valle Community Coalition

Public Meeting
Thursday, August 9, 2012     6:30 – 8:30 pm
Community Center at the Travis County Eastside Service Center
6011 Blue Bluff Road, Austin, Texas  78724
 
Travis County’s Transportation & Natural Resources Department (TNR) is hosting a meeting open to all members of the public. The meeting’s purpose is to provide interested citizens with the results of environmental monitoring conducted over the past year in the area of a future sand and gravel mining operation.
 
In 2010, Texas Industries, Inc. (TXI) received clearance from the Travis County Commissioners Court and the Austin City Council authorizing the development of a sand and gravel mining operation west of Webberville near the intersection of Milo Road and Dunlap Road. Significant public concerns over the impact of this operation on adjacent neighborhoods and agricultural producers resulted in TNR being directed by the Travis County Commissioners Court to conduct monitoring of groundwater quality, groundwater levels, air quality, and noise to determine if adverse environmental impacts are resulting from the mining operations. The meeting on August 9th will include a presentation on the results of the first phase of the monitoring which established the pre-mining baseline environmental conditions.
 
Texas-licensed hydrogeologists and other environmental experts from URS Corporation and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) were commissioned by Travis County to design and conduct the environmental monitoring and will present the results of the study to the public. Time will be allotted after the presentation to allow the public to ask questions and receive answers regarding the monitoring. Please join us at this meeting to learn more about the water and air quality conditions that exist in your community.
 
The environmental monitoring is a key implementation component of the overall Colorado River Corridor Plan recently completed and approved on May 15, 2012 by the Travis County Commissioners Court. URS and UT will continue for up to an additional four years, during which mining operations are expect to occur. TNR, URS, and UT expect to host annual meetings to update the public on this important initiative as this study continues.

For more information on the Colorado River Corridor Plan, please visit our website, contact Randy Nicholson or call (512) 854-4603.

For more information on the environmental monitoring initiative, you may contact Thomas Weber, TNR Environmental Quality Program Manager or call (512) 854-4629.

Get directions to the Travis County Eastside Service Center.

Please share this information with your neighbors or anyone who may be interested who may not have received this e-mail or who do not have access to e-mail. We look forward to your participation at the meeting.