Residents wary of TCEQ permits for Musk companies
Rajiv Y. Patel, Green Think Consulting managing engineer, sits with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality staff during a meeting in Bastrop March 21. Photo by Fernando Castro
Mayor Connie Schroeder voices comments during a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality meeting in Bastrop March 21. Photo by Fernando Castro
BASTROP — Space-faring ventures have caused local stir on Earth.
Residents filled a hotel to max capacity March 21 to voice questions and concern on water and wastewater permits related to SpaceX and The Boring Company facilities being built near Bastrop. Representatives from the companies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality responded to the queries at the TCEQ meeting.
“TCEQ looks at everything that’s going into the water and does their analysis to give limits to assure the water going into the river or land applied is safe for the environment,” said Rajiv Y. Patel, Green Think Consulting owner, who is working with Elon Musk’s companies.
The permit application was submitted July 15, 2022, by a third Musk entity, Gapped Bass LLC. If approved, the permit would authorize treated process wastewater and domestic wastewater at a daily average flow up to 142,500 gallons per day to be discharged through an outfall or disposed through surface irrigation of 63 acres of non-public access land.
According to TCEQ, Gapped Bass LLC, located at 130 Walker Watson Road, proposes to operate a wastewater treatment facility. The building would service The Boring Company’s equipment manufacturing and testing facility, with would include on-site residences.
“The facility does want to tie into the city treatment system. Currently, there’s not infrastructure in place for that to happen. In the interim, this is the solution,” said Patel. ”Ultimately we hope to not even utilize the full capacity of what’s being authorized.”
The consultant said Gapped Bass has been working with TCEQ to make sure rules are in adherence.
“TCEQ looks at everything that’s going into the water and does their analysis to give limits to assure the water going into the river or land applied is safe for the environment,” said Patel. “Gap Bass responsibility on that would be to monitor and sample and submit results on monthly basis to demonstrate compliance. The water authorized by the permit, it’s going to be 97% or more sanitary water.”
Despite assurances, residents still had concerns in regards to specifics, Gapped Bass’ history and the danger wastewater could mean for the Colorado River and surrounding land. Bastrop Mayor Connie Schroeder was no different.
“We are working and negotiating, but working and talking and having to sign documents is two different things,” said Schroeder. “You’ve heard from many of the residents how important the Colorado River is to us.”
Schroder’s main concern was timing of what could happen if a deal can’t be negotiated with Gapped Bass in five years to tie in with the city’s system. That said, the mayor indicated the city was capable of taking in the new wastewater source.
“We just want to make sure that everyone in the community knows we have capacity for it. We have plans. We have goodwill and negotiations are great,” said Schroeder. “We just want to make sure we all stay on the same page.”