TCEQ approves air-quality standard permit for Austin Ready Mix concrete plant in Kendall County

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on July 9 approved an air quality standard permit for a proposed concrete batch plant operated by Austin Ready Mix LLC in Kendall County and denied two timely hearing requests. The commission found the requesters did not meet the statutory distance threshold to qualify as affected persons.

Commissioner Bobby Janeca, acting as presiding chairperson, said the agency’s review followed the statutory two-step analysis for standard-permit batch plants, first determining whether hearing requesters were affected persons and then whether they raised relevant and material issues. The Texas Health and Safety Code limits hearing requesters for concrete batch plant standard-permit applications to persons residing in a permanent residence within 440 yards of the proposed plant, Janeca said.

The commission received two timely hearing requests from Bradley Adair and Bridal Bergman. Staff materials and the applicant’s map showed both residences lay beyond the 440-yard threshold, and the commissioners agreed no further hearing analysis was required.

The commission adopted a motion to deny the hearing requests, issue air quality standard permit registration number 178130 to Austin Ready Mix LLC as recommended by the executive director, and adopt the executive director’s response to comments. Commissioners voted in favor; the motion passed.

The commission noted that parties had been told no oral argument would be taken but that staff and the parties were available to answer questions. The permitting action and the denial of hearing requests were entered into the record and will be reflected in the agency files for permit registration 178130.