Nicely written, Jay, thanks a lot. We heard last night that 49 comments were received before yesterday’s deadline. Thank you to those who rose to the occasion. There will be another opportunity to submit a comment by a future deadline. Information about it will be posted here.
Bill Steele Irving, Texas speleoste...@aol.com > On Mar 19, 2020, at 11:05 PM, Jay Jorden <jjor...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > FYI > > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: <donotre...@tceq.texas.gov> > Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2020, 10:59 PM > Subject: TCEQ Confirmation: Your public comment on Permit Number WQ0015835001 > was received. > To: <jjor...@gmail.com> > > > REGULATED ENTITY NAME HONEY CREEK RANCH WWTP > > RN NUMBER: RN110389046 > > PERMIT NUMBER: WQ0015835001 > > DOCKET NUMBER: > > COUNTY: COMAL > > PRINCIPAL NAME: SILESIA PROPERTIES LP > > CN NUMBER: CN605525542 > > FROM > > NAME: MR Jay R. Jorden > > E-MAIL: jjor...@gmail.com > > COMPANY: > > ADDRESS: 11201 COUNTY ROAD 132 > CELINA TX 75009-2527 > > PHONE: 2142026611 > > FAX: > > COMMENTS: I am writing in opposition to the permit application. Also, I would > also request the opportunity t submit more comments at a later time. Since > the 1970s, I have been coming to this pristine wildland along Honey Creek > and, even though just a visitor, was repeatedly impressed by it. I also saw > the crystal-clear waters from within the earth - as a cave explorer. So now > dense development is planned at the top of the Honey Creek watershed. The > plans are to inject 360,000+ gallons per day of treated wastewater into the > karst terrain above Honey Creek Cave. Karst is a geological term from Europe > that means most of all of the drainage is through caves. Building thousands > of homes on the surface will create an enormous amount of storm runoff, which > would carry many contaminants including wastewater into Honey Creek and > ultimately the Guadalupe River. This would seriously impact Texas Parks and > Wildlife Department conservation lands and the nearby Guadalupe State Park. > Water studies of Honey Creek indicate that this is probably one of the > cleanest natural streams in the whole state of Texas. Because the state has > invested substantially in the Honey Creek State Natural Area to preserve it > as well as in the Guadalupe State Park downstream, the risk of both waste > water and stormwater pollution from a high density subdivision is > unacceptable. The area, aside from value as a wildland, has historical > significance. The waters of Honey Creek important to the settlement of Comal > County. one ranch along the waterway was recognized as a State Historic Site > by the Texas Historical Commission; and in 2018 was Listed in the National > Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior National > Park Service. The Texas Hill Country rests atop a particularly fragile Karst > ecosystem. Water moves thru a karst system differently. Surface recharge > features (cracks, fissures, pits, sumps) are all designed to move water > quickly into subterranean acquifers. These aquifers provide the drinking > water for millions of people, including San Antonio. Springs flowing from > these same aquifers provide critical habitat to a unique group of plant and > animal species—many of which are found only in the most protected streams and > riparian areas of Central Texas. However, we will lose most of it due to > rampant and unregulated development over the recharge area, and the failure > of an already-broken system intended to regulate the disposal of wastewater. > You have already received comments and testimony that treated effluent > discharged into a tributary of Honey Creek will negatively impact water > quality--primarily through significant increases of nitrogen and phosphate > levels. These nutrients will encourage the growth of algae and will degrade > the recreational and aesthetic value of Honey Creek. Decaying mats of algae > will impact dissolved oxygen levels and will almost certainly have a > devastating effect on aquatic life. Pharmaceuticals and personal care > products contained in the effluent will eventually enter Honey Creek and then > will become a dramatic example of how a once un-impaired aquatic system with > exceptional levels of aquatic life use was degraded due to wastewater and > high-density residential development! And if 500,000 gallons of treated > wastewater discharge isn't bad enough, the non-point source pollution > reaching the creek during storm events and leaching into the aquifer will be > an even greater problem. Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers used on > turfgrass lawns, and oil/fluids leaking from thousands of additional cars > will wreak havoc on our groundwater. Because of the immense footprint of this > development, open ground will be significantly diminished; stormwater runoff > will increase from the many impervious surfaces (roads, driveways, and > rooftops). As a result, downstream flooding of Honey Creek will increase in > both rate and severity, greatly increasing soil erosion along the streambed, > and resulting in significantly diminished water quality. Honey Creek Cave, > Texas' longest cave, and spring system form yet another unique ecosystem > which has been studied and documented for decades. It is inhabited by unique > aquatic species, several of which are state threatened, and at least one > which may possibly receive federal protection, and all of which are > considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Without question, ALL of > these species (which require clean, clear water to survive) will be > negatively impacted, and likely destroyed. We are destroying these special > places and living things at a rapid pace. It must end here. > > Based on TCEQ rule Section 1.10(h), the TCEQ General Counsel has waived the > filing requirements of Section 1.10(c) to allow the filing of comments, > requests, or withdrawals using this online system. The General Counsel also > has waived the requirements of Section 1.10(e) so that the time of filing > your electronic comments or requests is the time this online system receives > your comments or requests. Comments or requests are considered timely if > received by 5:00 p.m. CST on the due date. > > _______________________________________________ > Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com > Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: > http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ > http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
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