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Local groups land sand mine deal, fight wastewater discharge
A settlement between local environmental groups and a sand mining operation promises stronger protections for the Colorado River and Bastrop County communities.
The agreement involves Rambo Materials, an aggregate production operation located along the river on Wilbarger Bend Road in western Bastrop. The site neighbors Elon Musk’s Boring Co. and will now be required to add water monitoring, restrict operations and help launch a citizens advisory group.
“This agreement highlights the need for enhancing communication and implementing best practices throughout the basin to help protect the health of the river and the surrounding communities,” said Skip Connett, cofounder of river defender Friends of the Land.
SETTLEMENT TERMS
Under the deal, Rambo must build 20-foot berms — raised barriers — relocate its facility entrance, limit hours and avoid mining within 50 feet of the river. The company also agreed to install a groundwater monitoring well, share data with protest groups and contribute $40,000 toward Colorado River water quality monitoring, $37,000 for a nearby replacement well and up to $25,000 for noise mitigation.
According to Environmental Stewardship Founder Steve Box, whose group contested Rambo’s groundwater permit last year, the effort demonstrates why vigilance matters.
“This is an exceptional aquatic-life use segment of the river and is in need of improved management practices by state agencies,” he said in a letter to supporters.
In exchange for the concessions, Environmental Stewardship and Friends of the Land withdrew from contested case hearings before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District.
The agreement will remain in effect for 10 years, with some obligations tied to the life of the facility, records show.
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
A key provision of the settlement is the creation of a citizens advisory committee, which will bring together quarry operators, residents and local officials to discuss impacts and long-term planning.
“Local advisory councils are vitally important since no other effective mechanisms exist in Texas for communities and industry to collaboratively address concerns and long-term planning,” said Cliff Kaplan, executive director of Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining.
Connett said the citizen initiative would give residents a direct role in holding industries accountable.
PLANT EXPANSION
The settlement comes as the Camp Swift Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant seeks a tenfold increase in capacity to 2 million gallons per day.
An application to TCEQ would allow treated effluent to be discharged into a tributary that flows into Piney Creek and then the Colorado River less than a mile upstream of Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop, according to Box.
At a Sept. 15 public meeting, residents and landowners gathered to express concerns about flooding, property impacts and water quality. Box said Environmental Stewardship will continue pushing for stronger protections.
“Better monitoring and management of this segment of the river is needed,” he said. “Every drop of water we use today is connected to the decisions we make as individuals and as a community.”
