Alternate title: That's what bottled water is for! or Isn't TCEQ stretched enough as it is?

SB1858 has been put on the general state calendar for tomorrow. Here's what we just got from GEAA:

The end may be near for Edwards Aquifer protection standards across the region. Senate Bill 1858 by Armbrister threatens to destroy decades of work by stripping cities of their power to prevent water pollution.

Attorney David Earl, known for filing many developer lawsuits against our city, is lobbying heavily for the bill. If this bill passes, the aquifer and hill country will be left helplessly exposed to destruction by irresponsible out-of-state developers like Pulte Homes.

OPPOSE SB 1858 (Armbrister/Smith)
PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL

Cities and counties already have drinking water and flood control programs that are popular and financed through local taxes. These popular and necessary programs are threatened by SB 1858.

SB 1858 requires TCEQ to certify stormwater/flooding/water quality programs before they can be enforced. TCEQ does not have the budget and scientific resources to second-guess local scientific and technical expertise assembled by cities.

SB 1858 rolls back lots of hard work by making cities and counties start over. In order to have an effective program under this bill, it must be adopted by all cities and counties within a three county area.

Have you ever heard of three city councils and three commissionerâ??s courts all agreeing on a detailed regulatory structure?

How can a county afford to enforce the same program as a large city? Counties need to be able to adopt their own programs that work for their budgets and environmental needs.

TCEQ is under funded and understaffed. Its annual budget for the entire Aquifer from Austin through Brackettville has been less than $600,000. The City of Austin alone for its small section of the Aquifer spends over $5 million annually on regulation and enforcement.

No additional funding or staff is provided to TCEQ to handle the additional obligations imposed on it by SB 1858.

OPPOSE 1858â??PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL