HOUSTON — Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee has announced that Harris County is taking legal action against Texcon Ready Mix, a concrete batch plant located in north Houston near the Kashmere Gardens neighborhood.
Harris County Pollution Control found multiple violations over the course of more than a dozen separate inspections, including materials discharged into a nearby drainage ditch, a press release states.
“This facility clearly violated the Texas Clean Air Act and rules set by the TCEQ. We have given them plenty of opportunity to clean up their act and follow the law, but since they have failed to do so we are taking action,” said Menefee.
“We have to hold these companies accountable for putting the people who work and live nearby at risk. We will not tolerate businesses in our communities failing to meet basic minimum standards when it comes to public health and the environment.”
Harris County’s lawsuit asks that Texcon Ready Mix keeps pollution capture equipment in good working order, cleans up spills promptly, reduce emissions by paving and treating roads, install a PM monitor on the fenceline, and ensures materials are stored away from property boundaries.
Additionally, Harris County is requesting Texcon Ready Mix provide a written report in response to each required improvement.
“We have outlined several next steps that will ensure this facility meets proper standards and is not polluting our air. Hopefully this will serve as notice to other concrete batch plants that we are serious about enforcing environmental laws here in Harris County,” added Menefee.