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Residents tell Granbury council Wolf Hollow permit will face contested hearing; call for city help
Summary
Multiple Hood County residents told Granbury City Council that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has granted a contested hearing on the Wolf Hollow 3 air permit challenge and asked the city for legal and technical support, including funding for counsel and pollution monitoring.
Five residents who live near proposed or existing gas-fired facilities addressed Granbury City Council during citizen comments, saying the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hear a contested challenge to the Wolf Hollow 3 air permit and asking the city to help finance legal and technical support.
Cheryl Shadden, who identified herself as a Hood County resident, said advocacy groups and neighbors persuaded TCEQ to proceed with a contested hearing and that the group had raised enough concerns about local air emissions to trigger an administrative proceeding. "This will sit in front of an administrative law judge," Shadden said, and she listed pollutants residents are worried about, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and hazardous air pollutants.
Karen Pearson, another resident who said she and family members live about 800 to 1,000 feet from Wolf Hollow and a nearby mine, described health problems she associated with nearby facilities and urged the council to help the local group secure an environmental attorney and monitoring equipment. Pearson asked the council to support initial fundraising of at least $50,000 for legal and technical work and said total needs could reach into the mid-six figures.
Precinct 2 chair Shannon Wolf told the council she and other county residents are asking the city to adopt more stringent local protections (for example ordinances that prioritize water and air quality) so residents have stronger local tools when contesting permits. "Would you consider ordinances on clean air in the city?" Wolf asked, noting the county's location relative to proposed energy projects.
The petitioners asked the council to clarify whether the city would assist with funding or legal referrals; council members did not take immediate action at the meeting. Mayor Jim Jarrett attended earlier public events related to the matter, and residents thanked him for participating in a September TCEQ public hearing.
Ending: Residents said they will continue to pursue the contested hearing process at TCEQ and requested city assistance in identifying counsel and technical monitoring resources; council did not adopt a funding commitment at the meeting.
