A Letter from Our Board

Please join the North San Gabriel Alliance in filing a response requesting the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to RESCIND RESCIND its preliminary decision and DENY the draft of the air quality permit for the announced Exfluor Research Corporation chemical manufacturing facility on County Road 236.

If approved, this air quality permit would allow Exfluor Research Corporation to begin construction of this chemical manufacturing facility in northwest Williamson County, Texas.

Exfluor Research Corporation uses fluorine gas to convert hydrocarbons to fluorocarbons.  In the Notice for this proposed facility Exfluor states: “The proposed facility will emit the following contaminants: hydrogen fluorides, carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, nitrogen oxides and organic compounds.”.  The manufacturing process is dangerous and has produced documented leaks of hydrofluoric acid and other chemical products at other facilities. These chemicals are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in nature.

The pending Exfluor Research Corporation location on County Road 236 is surrounded by 150+ family residences, including historical farms, ranches, and homes, water recreation areas, agricultural lands, and wildlife conservation areas. The North Fork of the San Gabriel River runs through the area, and downstream to Lake Georgetown and Granger Lake, then into the Brazos River and on to the Gulf of Mexico. The City of Georgetown and the City of Round Rock obtain drinking water from Lake Georgetown.

Exfluor Research Corporation has already obtained a wastewater evaporation permit, which would allow them to construct an evaporation pond. The permit notates the "Receiving water body - North Fork of the San Gabriel River."

We understand that Exfluor manufactures fluorocarbons for NASA and the United States Air Force, among other important end users. However, Exfluor should locate this new manufacturing facility in an existing chemical manufacturing area, NOT adjoining family homes in the residential, agricultural, scenic, and natural area of the North Fork of the San Gabriel River.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Exfluor Research Corporation have the opportunity to do the right thing and RESCIND the preliminary decision and DENY the draft the air permit for the County Road 236 location.

In addition, TCEQ and other regulators must withdraw and deny other permits for this chemical manufacturing facility, and other polluters and abusers of the North San Gabriel River area. Join the fight!

Sign the petition now!