12/09/2024
Special Action Alert: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has scheduled a public meeting concerning the proposed rock-crushing plant on FM 3509.
Time and location:
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Hill Country Fellowship
200 Houston Clinton Drive
Burnet, Texas 78611
We MUST have as many supporters in attendance as possible! Arrive early and WEAR GREEN to show solidarity.
The meeting will be broken down into two parts:
First, a question and answer session. Questions and answers are informational only and will not be considered in the final decision.
Second, is a formal comment period. There will be a table at the front to sign up to speak. Speakers will be given 3 min each. All comments will be considered during the decision process.
Three-minute time slots go by in a flash. Please have comments written and ready to present.
Here are a few, but not all the talking points to consider.
1. "Save Burnet" is the name of the excellent coalition formed to protest this proposal. However, the affected area is much larger than Burnet County and, as shown below, encompasses the entire Lake Buchanan area and much of Llano County. It also affects Northwestern Travis County.
2. This proposal affects the most environmentally sensitive area in the Highland Lakes Region. (see below)
3. The dust produced by this plant would devastate the grape crops of at least five vineyards in Burnet, Llano, and Travis Counties.
4. The plant would directly affect the environmental quality of Inks Lake State Park, one of the most beautiful, and most visited of Texas State Parks.
5. The Longhorn Cavern Park and cave system is within three miles of the proposed site. The explosions required to mine the rocks would devastate this nearly 100-year-old Texas gem built in the 1930s by the CCC.
6. Dust produced by the plant can travel up to 30 miles. Smaller particles can travel up to 50 miles.
7. A rock-crushing plant uses 1.5 million gallons of water per month, equivalent to 265 families.
8. Currently, there is no published plan to deal with the used water?
9. The Highland Lakes and the groundwater beneath them are the main source of drinking water for the Austin and Central Texas Region. We are already in a prolonged, severe drought situation. Every drop counts.
10. Besides drinking water, The Highland Lakes system also provides water for agriculture.
11. Truck traffic from the plant would adversely affect the already congested roads in the area.
