Residents of Burnet County are voicing their concerns about the potential impact of a proposed rock-crushing plant near the Camp Longhorn area. The project, which has not been fully detailed to the public, is feared to affect local lakes, rivers, creeks, and the overall ecosystem. "We are putting out signs and we are handing out flyers," Director of Camp Longhorn, Indian Springs, Nan Manning, told KXAN, stressing the importance of the environment and its protection from potential industrial harm.
Community concerns are not limited to environmental impacts but also extend to public health, with increased truck traffic and potential air quality deterioration high on the list of potential consequences. Fermin Ortiz, an opponent of the proposed plant, highlighted the potential problems due to explosives that could fracture the landscape, including the region's caverns and caves. "This is the only Texas Hill Country we will ever have," Ortiz said in a plea for conscientious planning. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has acknowledged awareness of the air quality permit filed, requesting TCEQ’s due diligence, as reported by KXAN.
The worries are echoed in the city of Burnet, too, where residents are wary of the threats the rock-crushing quarry could pose to the local aquifer and beyond. As per CBS Austin, Keri Weaver spoke on the susceptibility of the environment stating, "This is just not the place for a facility like this that is going to harm such a precious and special and unique and fragile ecosystem."
A response from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality indicated that the emissions from a plant authorized under the standard permit should not cause an exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and thus are not expected to adversely impact the environment. However, the community remains skeptical, and efforts to organize against the quarry are underway. "There will be area maps and PowerPoints and all kinds of pictures to show exactly what would happen," Nan Manning informed CBS Austin.
Despite reaching out for comments, the plant's company, Lonestar Crushing LLC, has not yet responded to inquiries from media outlets. As the community gathers for a meeting at the Hill Country Fellowship Church to discuss and oppose the proposed development, residents continue to fight for what they believe is the preservation of their local environment and quality of life.
