ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2025 Highlights
Filed a complaint with TCEQ over concerns that the Boring Company was tunneling under Toll Road 130 at the Tesla Gigafactory without an approved air permit. The investigation resulted in a major violations. Despite having a previous major violation for constructing its grout and stabilization operation at its headquarter without an air permit, TCEQ decided not to issue a notice of enforcement and no fines or penalties were levied.
Filed complaints with TCEQ over Tex Mix Concrete starting its sand and gravel operation in Wilbarger Bend without registering or having a stormwater protection permit. TCEQ’s investigation led to two major violations.
Provided pictorial evidence of excessive algae near the outfall to the Corix wastewater facility at LCRA’s McKinney Roughs Park. The photos were the focal point for a two-day contested case hearing before an administrative court judge.
Investigated Corix Utilities Wastewater facility for construction without a TCEQ permit. The investigation resulted in a major violation from TCEQ.
Filed a contested case hearing with TCEQ on an air permit application from Rambo for a rock crushing plant at its Wilbarger Bend facility on concerns of the plant being too close to residences. Joined Environmental Stewardship in a contested case hearing for a 103-acre-feet well permit application by Rambo Materials, one of three sand and gravel mines that has moved into Wilbarger Bend.
Organized Wilbarger Bend landowners to seek standing in the Rambo Materials contested case. Testified in two Administrative Court hearings to argue why Green Gate Farms and its neighbors should have legal standing to contest the Rambo well permit. On second hearing, only Green Gate Farms was granted standing. The Lost Pines Water Conservation District sided with the mining company but voted for a rehearing on the merits of the case that eventually led to a TCEQ-mediated settlement.
Joined Environmental Stewardship in developing terms for a settlement with Rambo Materials. The settlement included Rambo agreeing to follow LCRA’s water quality ordinance for sand and gravel mining upstream of Ladybird Lake. This is the first time the ordinance, which is more stringent than TCEQ’s, has been applied to a sand and gravel mining operation along the Colorado RIver downstream of Austin.
Began working on creating a Bastrop County Citizens Advisory Council as part of the Rambo settlement. The council concept in other counties and cities has facilitated communication and compromises among stakeholders and aggregate production operations. These efforts have led to implementation of best management practices, which are voluntary under TCEQ rules and regulations.
Filed written and oral comments at a public hearing on a proposed wastewater permit that would expand the Corix wastewater facility near Camp Swift. Advocated for Corix to voluntarily set lower limits for phosphorus levels in its effluent discharged into Piney Creek.
Continued to lead bi-weekly meetings with coalition partners to discuss environmental issues in the county, focusing development impact on the river in and around Wilbarger Bend. Led communication efforts for Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM).
For the fourth year, Friends assisted reporters covering Elon Musk’s three companies along Wilbarger Bend — the Boring Company, X, and Space X. This year, Friends was quoted in the New York TImes, Bloomberg, the Independent (UK), the Austin Business Journal, and Community Impact. Friends will be featured in the new Texas Monthly/PBS Docuseries in the Spring of 2026.
2023-2024 Highlights
Requested a public meeting on a rock crushing air permit that provided first public input on sand and gravel mining moving into western Bastrop County
Requested TxDOT speed reduction study that resulted in a 5-mph reduction (from 65 to 60) on FM 969 in Bastrop County.
Filed complaint against Travis Materials for mining sand and gravel in the floodplain without a county permit. The county shut down the operation in May 2023.
Spoke out at Bastrop County Commissioner meetings of sand and gravel trucks stirring up dust on Wilbarger Bend Road. Rambo Materials agreed to pave the dirt road, which fronts a dozen homes and an ISD bus stop.
Requested a public hearing for a new wastewater permit in McKinney Roughs Park that will increase 10-fold the facility’s discharge capacity into the Colorado River. That hearing has led to a contested case hearing, which is awaiting for a date to be heard.
Alerted family descendants that graves in overgrown Barton Hill Cemetery were threatened by sand and gravel mining. Freedom Colony organizers are working with the landowners and mining operation to protect and preserve the cemetery, which includes the graves of two former slaves.
Filed complaints to TCEQ following more flooding events at a major residential development on Old Sayers Road. Additional state and county violations shut. down the project until major improvements were made.
Helped organize and publicize public hearing for The Boring Company’s wastewater permit application.
2022 Highlights
Stopped the clearcutting of 2,000 acres of Bastrop trees and unwarranted corporate tax break. Led a campaign to persuade Elgin County School Board to reject a 10-year tax abatement for Dogwood Creek Solar Factory. Partnering with Bastrop Interfaith, the campaign included stakeholder meetings, media coverage, presentations to the board, and a petition that received 1400 signatures. The board voted unanimously against subsidizing the proposed $640 million project — the largest in the country’s history — that would have clearcut nearly 2000 acres of trees.
Insisted that environmental regulations apply equally to everyone. Rallied residents in Wilbarger Bend to organize and push back against Elon Musk’s Boring Company after it began construction without securing state and county permits. This effort led to two TCEQ violations against The Boring Company and more oversight on Musk’s pop-up industrial park for SpaceX next door.
Joined and supported Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining in its statewide efforts to toughen environmental monitoring and regulation of the aggregate industry. Friends sounded the alarm over a massive sand and gravel operation coming to Wilbarger Bend. It has documented and reported several violations, including construction and mining operations before registering with the state.
Advocated for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church after environmental disaster caused by unsafe development. Documented and filed a complaint to state regulators after a massive erosion incident at a new mobile home development on Sayers Road spilled tons of topsoil, silt, and stormwater on neighboring Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. That complaint led TCEQ to cite the construction engineering firm for violations.
Participated in Bastrop Interfaith’s Candidate Forum in October 2022, meeting and posing questions to state and county candidates prior to the November election.