Printer Friendly Version Approval of Pending Wetland
Permit Application for Landfill
In February of 1999, the City of Laredo Sanitary Landfill submitted an application to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for permission to utilize approximately 2.80 acres of designated wetlands to expand the landfill and construct cells for the placement of municipal solid waste. The landfill site is a 200 acre tract which has had approximately 182 acres disturbed by land clearing and/or landfilling activities since 1986. The purpose of the proposed work is to extend the life of the landfill and improve the quality of storm water runoff discharged from the landfill through the construction of detention basins and water quality improvements of the streams on the landfill.
A variety of mitigation plans, as well as a plan for an In-Lieu of payment have been submitted to the Nature Conservancy, and assurances have been received from the USACE that the issuance of a permit was imminent a number of times over the past several years. After almost seven years since the first submittal of the permit application, the permit still has not been issued by the USACE. The need to design, permit and construct landfill cells in the designated area has become a critical issue in the continuing operation of the landfill and sustained service to the citizens of Laredo.
Oscar Medina
Solid Waste Director
6912 SH 359
Laredo, Texas 78041
Phone: (956) 795-2510
Fax: (956) 796-1105
In 1998, Ms. Barbara Castille, originally of Rust Environment and Infrastructure and later of Earthtech and S&B Infrastructure, was contracted to formulate and submit the Permit application. Her original point of contact was Mr. Jim Harrington, Project Manager of USACE, but upon his resignation in June of 2000, the application was assigned to Mr. Dick Lowe, Project Manager of USACE. The following is a rough timeline of the history of the City’s permit application.
|
Jul-98 |
Rust Environment & Infrastructure retained to initiate wetlands work. Questions about enforcement action due to previous clearing of 2 acres of wetland. |
|
Aug-98 |
Confirmation from USACE via Barbara Castille of wetlands delineation and statement that activities have already impacted waters of US, but they will defer action until final disposition of project. |
|
Oct-98 |
Barbara Castille starts on permit application and investigation of possible mitigation sites. |
|
Dec-98 |
Draft permit application received by City of Laredo. |
|
Feb-99 |
Application submitted to USACE. |
|
Mar-99 |
Barbara Castille updates on permit - dealing with Mr. Jim Harrington USACE, Public comment period. |
|
Apr-99 |
USACE requests preliminary mitigation for sand and gravel quarry at LCC. |
|
Apr-99 |
Mitigation for LCC quarry submitted. |
|
Jun-99 |
Public Notice issued by USACE - comment period ends June 26, 99. |
|
Aug-99 |
USACE request information on newly proposed landfill site (Ponderosa). |
|
Oct-99 |
Proposals from engineering firms to prepare mitigation plans. |
|
Feb-00 |
HTNB proposal for Wetlands Assessment, Permitting and Mitigation. |
|
Mar-00 |
HTNB proposal signed. |
|
Jun-00 |
Barbara Castille discusses mitigation (Indian Sunset Park) with USACE. Castille says project on track. |
|
Jun-00 |
Jim Harrington resigns USACE, Castille now dealing with Permits Section Chief, Presley Hatcher. Indian Sunset site may be in conflict with Federal funding as was the LCC site. |
|
Aug-00 |
Contract signed with HNTB to assess Indian Sunset Park for mitigation. |
|
Mar-01 |
E-mail from Barbra Castille now talking about other possible mitigation projects including Chacon Creek. |
|
May-01 |
E-mail from Barbara Castille discussing the In-Lieu Fee and the Nature Conservancy. |
|
Jun-01 |
E-mail from Castille about probable meeting with Dick Lowe. |
|
Jul-01 |
Castille has more discussions with Dick Lowe concerning the In-Lieu Fee; He says he is seriously considering it. |
|
Jul-01 |
Dick Lowe is re-reviewing the history of the permit and project. |
|
Aug-01 |
Castille having trouble contacting Dick Lowe. Suggests that she might have to go over his head. |
|
Aug-01 |
Dick Lowe contacted and apologizes for delay but has a huge workload. He promises determination within two weeks. |
|
Sep-01 |
Castille still contacting Dick Lowe and he says he has not had time to review project and asks to be called in two weeks. Castille asks Presley Hatcher to reassign project to other person but was told that was impossible. |
|
Sep-01 |
Proposal from HNTB to coordinate the In-Lieu Fee. |
|
Oct-01 |
Dick Lowe briefly reviews files and says he will support the In-Lieu Fee. |
|
May-02 |
Nature Conservancy says they do not have projects in Laredo but are willing to accept the fee and hold for future use in Laredo. |
|
Aug-02 |
Castille still working with the Nature Conservancy to supply information requested by USACE. |
|
Sep-02 |
Revised In-Lieu information sent to Nature Conservancy. Supplemental information sent to Dick Lowe. |
|
Oct-02 |
Castille informs that the In-Lieu fee may be $400,000, much more than the original $250,000. Expect resolution in 4 to 6 weeks. |
|
Nov-02 |
Dick Lowe says that he has not had a chance to review information. Nov 27 Dick Lowe still has not had time. |
|
Dec-02 |
Dick Lowe says he will look at it, but plans to be off three weeks for winter holiday. |
|
Apr-03 |
Laredo land values sent to Barbara Castille. |
|
Jul-03 |
Comments from Castille about a gas powered pump and a mitigation plan? Supplemental information requested by USACE sent to Dick Lowe. |
|
Aug-03 |
Castille met with Dick Lowe. He said he had no questions on In-Lieu Project and would be ready to make an official response in two to three weeks. |
|
Oct-03 |
Castille talked to Dick Lowe. He said he had briefly looked at the plan and had no questions but would not be able to make an official response until the end of November. Stated that it was on his top 10 projects list. |
|
May-04 |
Mention of retention ponds as part of a mitigation project. |
|
Aug-04 |
Permit application still under review. |
|
Sep-04 |
Received revised mitigation plan. Castille spoke to Dick Lowe who says the plan is still on his radar screen and hopes to review it in a couple of weeks. |
|
Dec-04 |
Laredo City Manager requests meeting with Dick Lowe. He says a meeting is not needed. Castille talked again to Dick Lowe. He wanted some mitigation information contained in several documents combined into one. Says he will prepare his permit decision and anticipated being able to finish in January. |
|
Apr-05 |
Castille in contact with the Nature Conservancy which may have a project in Laredo. |
|
Jul-05 |
Dick Lowe does not think a meeting would be productive and says he needs more time to review the project. He says he should be finished in three weeks, depending on workload factors. |
|
Oct-05 |
Castille contacts Dick Lowe; he apologizes for the delay says he will work on it this week. |
The solution is to grant the wetland permit, as requested, to construct a new cell for landfill use.
- U. S. Army Corps of Engineers