Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Edwards Aquifer Authority Gets Tough
On Monday October 1, representatives from the Edwards Aquifer Authority made a presentation regarding proposed new rules on Hazardous materials containment and control. Hazardous materials storage and disposal becomes a major issue in an urban community. The proposed EAA rules will affect a large portion of southern Kendall County. Several hundred businesses will be required to register and comply with these new rules. Any business that stores and disposes of hazardous materials will be affected, and the cost impact on these businesses can be substantial. More information can be obtained from their web site at http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/. Do you think the EAA is going to far with this, or not far enough?
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Anyone who has lived in a highly urbanized community is fully aware of the dangers posed by hazardous waste storage and disposal. Unfortunately, we live in a County that doesn't even have a recycling program! I applaud the EAA for its efforts. The County and City leaders should take a hint from the EAA, and implement similar rules and regulations to protect residents, rather that going full steam ahead into uncontrolled growth.
It is imperative all who receive this message log onto the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) website and see the proposed rules at:
http://edwardsaquifer.org/pages/rulesprop.htm
On the same page you'll find a link to the "Regulatory Impact Assessment". This link is a must see, it's a real eye opener. This section will show you the maps and give you an idea of the magnitude of impact throughout the territory of the EAA. You can also get there through this link:
http://edwardsaquifer.org/pdfs/Rules/Proposed%20Rules/EAA%20Regulatory%20Assessment%20version%203%20from%20Blanton.pdf
Public hearings will begin on 08 October 2007. Written comments will be taken until 29 October 2007. For the entire schedule go here:
http://edwardsaquifer.org/pdfs/Public%20Hearings/notice%20of%20public%20hearing%20on%20proposed%20rules%20CH%20713%20hazardous%20materials%202007.pdf
Why should you care?
"The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) is proposing water quality rules that would require spill reporting and would regulate storage of hazardous substances and petroleum products over the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones within the EAA’s jurisdictional boundary and five-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)."
"The purpose of the PRs is to regulate certain activities that have the potential to affect the quality of groundwater in the Edwards Aquifer as well as the quality of hydrologically connected surface streams.
Upon approval, the rules would regulate certain activities that occur over the portions of the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones that are located within the EAA’s jurisdictional boundary and
five-mile ETJ."
Until this point, the EAA has only exercised jurisdiction within the borders established by the enabling legislation. These proposed rules extend their jurisdiction beyond those borders into a five mile Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) as allowed by the same legislation.
In Kendall County, this overlaps the statutory boundary of a Groundwater Conservation District, the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District. This district has worked long and hard to ensure a safe and adequate groundwater supply for all who depend on this resource in Kendall County.
The way I see it, an unprotested expansion of a border to protect from pollution on or near the surface can conceivably be expanded to cover the groundwater below as well.
Any and all comments you have to offer are important. Please let the EAA know what's on your mind.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at redfish@gvtc.com
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