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In 2006, our church was exploding in growth and we needed more parking.  Since we are located on the Recharge Zone for the Edwards Aquifer, we are limited in our land usage.  We went to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TCEQ and obtained a permit or permission to extend our parking with decomposed granite.  We also obtained permission from the city of San Marcos.  We used decomposed granite so that water would pass through it and it would not ‘count against us’.

In 2010, we faced the same scenario.  We needed more parking.  We cleared a half acre of land and put more decomposed granite and crushed pavestone.  We obtained permission from the city of San Marcos and Hays County.  We did not go to TCEQ.  We had assumed incorrectly that the previous permit would cover the new parking area.

Someone from the community reported our new parking lot to TCEQ and they came to check it out in December of 2010.  Several weeks later, we received a call from TCEQ and they informed us that we should have had a new permit to complete the parking lot.  We were in violation and needed to contact them to get everything in compliance.  TCEQ’s website says that it can fine entities up to $10,000 per day for violations.  We contacted them immediately and began taking the appropriate steps to rectify the problem.  We had already hired a civil engineer who was preparing plans to submit to TCEQ for our new construction project.  Our engineer represented us to TCEQ and we moved along.

TCEQ called us last week and let us know that they are willing to work with us and the fine assessed should be minimal.  We will keep you posted when we hear something more.