CURRENT LEGAL ACTIONS
Far South Mining
Files Edwards Aquifer
Protection Plan with TCEQ
TESPA staff, consultants, and attorneys reviewed the Far South Mining’s EAPP application and found several areas requiring questions and comment.
On November 16, 2023, TESPA filed its comments with TCEQ, along with several other concerned groups, including San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM), and Protect Our Hill Country Environment.
Read TESPA COMMENTS, as prepared by attorney Jeff Mundy and consultant Blue Creek Consulting.
A copy of Far South Mining EAPP application can be found HERE.
EAPP application information can be found on TCEQ website HERE.
TESPA delivers First Amended Notice of Intent to Bring Legal Action against
Far South Mining LLC
November 7, 2022 The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, “TESPA,” provides notice of its intent to file suit seeking injunctive relief arising from and relating to a proposed quarry and rock crushing operation in Hays County, Texas, sixty days after the service of this notice as required by the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1540(g), the Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. § 1365(b), and the Safe Drinking Water Act 42 U.S.C. § 300j-8.
TESPA vs AquaTexas
TESPA, along with some of its courageous members who are also Aqua customers, will present Aqua’s own records showing that from 2022 through 2024 Aqua pumped its water wells in the Wimberley area above its permitted legal limit by a collective 170 million gallons. Within the same period, Aqua’s leaking pipelines lost more than 136 million gallons.
At the October administrative hearing, TESPA will also present testimony from Dr. Robert Mace, Carlos Rubinstein, Ricky Anderson and Neil Blandford—all who are longtime leaders in Texas water policy. Aqua’s dependence on pumping and selling unlawful groundwater jeopardizes future water service for its existing customers and threatens the Trinity Aquifer, including the iconic and beloved Jacob’s Well.
Despite Aqua’s unsubstantiated claims that it has addressed over pumping and leaks, Aqua’s records for the first three months of 2025 indicate that Aqua pumped its wells for the Woodcreek II service area over its legal limit by more than 11 million gallons and lost over 9 million gallons through leaks. Aqua is making a bad situation worse by adding new homes as customers—and with plans to add hundreds more.
TESPA is asking the PUC to protect the Trinity Aquifer and residents in the Wimberley area by finding Aqua in violation of PUC rules and ordering Aqua to reduce its service area, find alternative sources of water, and to repair leaks.
With regard to the federal lawsuit filed by Aqua against the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD), TESPA first intervened and now has withdrawn from that case to focus upon the PUC effort. This withdrawal comes after the federal court ruled against Aqua, affirming HTGCD’s right to regulate Aqua and then reaffirmed that ruling in denying a motion for rehearing. TESPA intervened in the federal lawsuit to defend the right of the HTGCD to regulate, and with that ruling in hand TESPA saw no reason to continue to spend money on the federal case, choosing instead to focus upon the PUC case.
In this case, as in all other legal actions, TESPA remains committed to our mission to protect and defend our water, aquifers and springs—our irreplaceable natural resources in the Texas Hill Country.