A public hearing was held Monday August 10, 2015 at the International Center for Trade to present information to the community as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepare a Regional Environmental Impact Statement to analyze potential impacts within the region for future surface coal mining and/or lignite mining. 

Over 150 community members as well as others from extending outlying areas attended the meeting ready to voice their concerns about the environmental affects that an open surface coal mine can have on our community. 

Darvin Messer, Project Manager for the Regional EIS  for Coal Mining in Texas with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was present at the the hearing and clarified that they were not here to approve any type of mining or anything specific to Dos Republicas but were indeed giving the public an opportunity to voice their concerns and give input in the process for the way they evaluate permits for coal mining in the state of Texas. 

Over 25 speakers addressed the panel of representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers led by hearing officer Commander Clay Morgan of the Fort Worth Region of the Corps of Engineers including Mayor Ramsey English Cantú who expressed the serious concerns that the City of Eagle Pass has in regards to the Dos Republicas mine. 

Harry Nimso of the Comanche Tribal Council of Lawton, Oklahoma also spoke against the mine and explained of the sacred archeological sites that exist within the region. Helen Martinez, Representative to Sen. Carlos Uresti, was also on hand to stress the detrimental environmental impacts that can result from the Dos Republicas coal mine project. 

Maverick County Commissioner Jerry Morales also spoke and expressed to the panel the seriousness of the situation as there are many households and residential areas within the expansion of the area proposed by Dos Republics. 

He further asked why their was no consultation with Maverick County with relation to the scope of the survey area. “The people of Maverick County overwhelmingly oppose this mine. More than 8,000 citizens of the county have signed a petition against the mine”, stated Morales.  

This continues the process which will further impede or will finally result in the expansion of production for the multi-million dollar investment in the surface mining of coal and lignite in Maverick County.

An appeal will be heard on the matter of the flood plain permit which was denied late last year in Maverick County which will be heard by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in November.