Jay, wonderful writing! As to other comments, if there is a way to sign a statement from many cavers please let me know how. (I have trouble with computers). Carol R.
On Thu, 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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