TCEQ violation considered ‘resolved’

By Donnie A. Lucas

An investigative report involving an alleged wastewater violation by a local refining facility has been released by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, with a separate investigation on air quality and pollution still pending.

 The final investigation report concerning wastewater disposal at Texas Renewable Group, LLC, was sent to the named complaint, Darla Cotter, by the TCEQ on Aug. 19.

Cotter also requested the air quality and pollution investigation, but progress of that case involving the smell coming from the facility in June is not known.

“I am not sure they have had any further investigation of the air quality concern since their first visit in June,” Cotter said. “The investigator interviewed people who had been affected by the smell, but he said the smell has to be observed firsthand by the investigator.”

She said that the plant had stopped processing the blood meal product used in certain animal feeds and fertilizers when the investigator was on site.

The complaint also reached out to the Department of State Health Services to request an investigation, but no further information has been available on that request.

The wastewater report indicated that approximately 2,000 gallons of waste was discharged due to a broken line to a holding tank at the facility.

The report recommends that the company “take all reason steps to prevent the unauthorized wastewater discharge which can adversely affect human heath and the environment.”

The report’s resolution noted that the company remediated the spill and planned to replace the PVC lines with steel lines to prevent any future discharge. The violation is considered resolved.

A number of residents adjacent and to the north and west of the plant presented complaints about the smell at the facility in June to the Shackelford County Commissioners since the property is adjacent to but outside of the Albany city limits.

Neighboring property owners recently reported that the plant has apparently stopped processing the liquid blood products since June. Also, no activity by workers has been noted at the location since early July.

Reportedly some equipment has been removed, but the status of the rendering plant is unknown.

The supervisor of the local plant at the time of the investigation said Tuesday that he no longer works for the company.

Efforts to contact David Dixon, president of Texas Renewable Group, LLC according to the report, have gone unanswered as of press time.