Port Arthur council approves negotiating a contract for expanded nonhazardous industrial-waste handling at city landfill

The Port Arthur City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate a contract with Environmental Industrial Services Group (EISG) of Houston for a study, design, permitting, construction and operation of a facility at the city landfill to accept non-hazardous industrial wastes that are not permitted under the current landfill permit (PR No. 24356).

City staff told council the facility would accept non-hazardous industrial material such as chemically contaminated soil, asbestos and certain sludges after processing, but it will not accept hazardous waste. The new cell would be constructed on the footprint of the existing landfill; staff said the landfill has roughly 240 acres overall and a projected life expectancy in excess of 100 years.

City staff explained the regional need: there is no similar permitted facility within about a 40–50 mile radius, and firms now haul such wastes to facilities in Houston or Louisiana. Preliminary industry estimates provided to staff suggested potential regional demand and revenue in a range of about $2.5 million to $5 million per year, but staff emphasized those are preliminary figures.

Rates discussed in council backup and by staff include a higher rate for out-of-city customers (example cited: $28 per cubic yard) and a lower in-city rate (example cited: $13 per cubic yard) for “special waste.” Staff and some council members said the arrangement could stabilize landfill finances and support a self-sustaining solid-waste operation.

Council members asked about the project location, environmental protections and the landfill’s remaining capacity. “The land that section is gonna be on the existing landfill,” staff said, and added that the new facility would be a separately permitted and stringently regulated cell under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) standards.

The resolution to negotiate with EISG passed by voice vote after a motion and second; no roll-call tally was given in the council record. Councilman Lewis made the motion; Councilwoman Everfield seconded.

Staff noted the proposal does not change the city’s policy on hazardous waste: the facility would accept only non-hazardous industrial waste streams under the appropriate TCEQ permit conditions. Because the city would seek new permits and construct a separate cell, staff said the project would be subject to standard permitting, monitoring and operational controls required by state regulators.