Council approves submission of coastline remediation plan to TCEQ; staff flag high disposal costs

The city authorized staff to proceed with remediation options for the coastline resources Response Action Plan and submit the plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Staff reviewed options that had been tabled at a December 2 meeting. David and Amy (staff) reported their research indicated an in-house over-excavation option would remove contaminated soil and allow the city to proceed with planned development once TCEQ and the Texas General Land Office signs off. However, staff warned that disposal and hauling costs were substantially higher than expected; staff cited hauling and disposal alone approaching roughly $400,000 in the estimates they gathered.

Staff described logistics: contaminated soil would be loaded into lined roll-off containers (roughly 150 loads in staff estimates) for transport to an accepted disposal facility (staff named a vendor in discussion). Staff noted groundwater contamination remains a separate groundwater issue; over-excavation would address soil contamination in the area discussed.

Council discussed potential timelines and funding. Staff said the city could include a timeline in the Response Action Plan and might be able to extend start dates to buy time for financing, but dragging the project out could increase costs. Council asked staff to research funding sources; staff said grants may take too long, but they would investigate several avenues, including internal savings identified in other projects.

After discussion, the council voted to approve remediation options for submission to TCEQ and directed staff to explore funding options and timelines. No specific appropriation was passed at the meeting; staff said they would seek funding and return with a proposal.

The council noted acting sooner could reduce costs and that the city will need TCEQ approval before work begins.