A public meeting set for next Tuesday evening in the Presidio High School cafeteria will give residents a chance to confront state regulators over a wastewater-discharge permit tied to the Shafter Mine, a project that the small community has relied on for its water supply for years. The gathering, scheduled for 7 p.m. on October 27, centers on TPDES Permit No. WQ0004297000, the permit associated with the mine.
A Town Built Around the Mine's Water
Shafter is home to roughly 30 residents, and the community has long depended on the mine for its water, according to bigbendsentinel.com. All 25 water hookups in town are maintained by the mine, the outlet reported, a detail that underscores why any change to the facility's water operations carries outsized stakes for the handful of households there. The Shafter Project itself sits in Presidio County near Marfa; Presidio is roughly 32 kilometers south of the project, according to the project page maintained by Black Bear Minerals.
Concerns driving next week's meeting go beyond the town's drinking water. According to Yourbasin, the advocacy group Protect Shafter says the mine water contains lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and other harmful contaminants. The same report says the company is seeking approval to pump more than 1 million gallons of contaminated water per day into local arroyos if the state permit is approved — a figure attributed to Protect Shafter.
A Discrepancy Over Discharge Volume
The permit would authorize discharge of mine-dewatering water at a daily average flow not to exceed 360,000 gallons per day, less than the more than 1 million gallons per day cited by Protect Shafter.
Issues raised during state reviews reportedly go well beyond volume. The Big Bend Sentinel reports that state investigators documented deficiencies in materials management and containment practices and recommended corrective actions and further monitoring. Among the issues raised, per the same account, have been questions about chemical storage, wastewater management, discharge controls, stormwater protection, and the handling of materials on site.
Why Residents Are Pushing for a Public Say
Community members, elected officials and neighboring landowners have requested opportunities for public participation specifically because of these water-quality, site-management and oversight concerns, the Sentinel reported. Those who cannot attend in person next Tuesday can submit comments directly to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the outlet noted, with comments accepted up until the meeting concludes.
Protect Shafter has also said that the mine project carries pending permit challenges and ongoing litigation concerning property interests within the project area, and that TCEQ has received numerous complaints against the mine operator, per Yourbasin. The group describes its mission as guarding the Rio Grande, noting that local arroyos in the area lead toward the river. Its website, protectshafter.org, is sponsored by Southwestern Holdings, Inc. John B. Scott, identified as Texas attorney general and a Southwestern Holdings spokesperson, has urged people to attend the forum, according to the same report.
The Company's Position on Permits
Black Bear Minerals, which refers to the project as the Shafter Silver Project, says on its company website that it is advancing exploration and restart studies at the site. The company has said that major permits referenced in a 2018 preliminary economic assessment were confirmed as valid, current and transferable where required, with that review completed in early 2026. Black Bear states that its major operating and environmental permits are active and in good standing, while some minor administrative and restart-specific permits remain to be finalized, according to the company. Separately, Black Bear has said recent exploration at the site confirmed elevated silver grades and gold intercepts.
A TCEQ administrative-package document identifies JBM Project, LLC — described in the filing as the owner of Shafter Mine — as having applied under Permit No. WQ0004297000, with an application date of January 7, 2026, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The mine has changed hands and production status repeatedly over the years; Aurcana acquired it in 2008 and operated it from 2012 until December 2013, per Black Bear Minerals' own project history.
Market Backdrop for the Restart Push
The renewed interest in Shafter comes as silver prices have swung sharply. Prices reached a high near $64 an ounce in December 2025, while $100 an ounce has been forecast, underscoring the financial incentive behind restart efforts at aging silver operations like Shafter.
How to Weigh In
Members of the public may submit comments in person at the TCEQ meeting, which will be held at 1000 E. Highway 170 in Presidio, Texas, or in writing through the TCEQ eComment system or by mail. Written comments sent by mail should be addressed to the TCEQ Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, and should reference Permit No. WQ0004297000. The meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
