Does Texas State Agency (TCEQ) Really Work To Protect The Public?

MCC Editorial --The TCEQ lately seems to be working very hard to satisfy a billion dollar corporation seeking to expand its landfill to nearly 20 stories, in this Houston suburb, with help from local city government officials (in Missouri City, TX), county commissioners (Fort Bend County), the Fort Bend Economic Development Council and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, yes the agency that is supposed to be protecting the public here in our fair state, or is it? Does it sound right that some of these groups are now concerned that at least 3 large market television stations are entering the mix? Recent communications from both the TCEQ and Blue Ridge Landfill make it look as if the concerns of 3 large television weather programs and the public should have no interest in this effort to limit the expansion of this behemoth proposal that until they got involved was on the fast track for state approval. Now another hearing has been scheduled by the TCEQ in Austin, away from the Houston area within reasonable distance for the many neighborhoods and opposition supporters to attend. The invitation doesn't mention, or invite the local network stations who own land nearby with dopplar radar that may be blocked because of this expansion.

See this recent MCC report:

Under Much Pressure, TCEQ Grants Another Hearing on Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion!

A recent communication from the TCEQ stated that another public hearing has been granted and scheduled on permit number msw-1505A (Blue Ridge Landfill Proposed Expansion) for July 25th 2007 in Austin. This, after much pressure from a coalition of local homeowners from numerous East Fort Bend County, Harris County and West Brazoria County neighborhoods, several Houston T.V. stations and Brazoria municipal and county officials was applied starting in 2006 when the Blue Ridge Landfill near Fresno & Missouri City, TX applied for a permit to go well beyond the current allowable 55 foot limit to nearly 170+ feet.

This controversy has been followed extensively in the local and regional media with the most recent reports of causing potential harm to several counties weather watch system (doplar radar) if the project is allowed to continue. Fort Bend County commissioners and Missouri City officials/city council agreed, through contract with Allied Waste, the second largest waste management company in the U.S., to not oppose the expansion due to substantial tipping fees to both entities. Some have criticized this agreement and the elected officials allowing it. Additionally a significant Barium release, a highly toxic water soluble chemical, was reported released at the site in 2005, which complicated the matter for many local residents still on well water in the immediate area.

Get other local media on this story at:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/3080/allied-blocking-of-weather-radar-by-17-story-landfill-not-a-matter-of-public-welfare

Follow this regional story with national implications (because this area has frequent hurricanes) and the national weather service relies on these crucial radar stations when storms approach this coastline:

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2007/07/lampson-pushes-for-contested-hearing-on.html

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/2007/07/under-much-pressure-tceq-grants.html

Background:

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/search?q=Blue+Ridge+Landfill

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/2790/tv-stations-trash-heap-from-landfill-expansion-would-block-doppler-radar-put-public-at-risk

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/2703/blue-ridge-landfill-gets-green-light-opponents-plan-next-move

http://cabrle.spaces.live.com/