Public Comments

One of the most critical actions you can take is publicly commenting on the TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (TCEQ) website. It only takes a few minutes! SCROLL DOWN FOR SAMPLE COMMENTS YOU MAY USE.

Visit https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ and enter permit number 175198 in the designated box.

After entering your contact information, you can explain why you oppose having a Concrete Crushing Plant in a residential area in Grayson County, Texas. IMPORTANT: The TCEQ will only consider comments about air quality!

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

“The general public often expresses concerns with crushing sites and operations that include, but are not limited to, traffic safety, noise, appearance, and property values. These types of concerns are not addressed under the Texas Clean Air Act and are beyond the commission’s jurisdiction. Those concerns of the general public regarding nuisance dust, ambient air quality, and potential adverse health impacts are the focus of the protectiveness review and the resulting conditions of the standard permit.” [emphasis added]

Read your neighbors’ comments here: https://bit.ly/TCEQPublicComments.

Need help writing a comment? Scroll down this page for sample comments you may use or edit.

Need help submitting a comment? Email nodenisoncrusher@gmail.com

  • I am writing to formally oppose the issuance of the air permit for the concrete crusher proposed by North Texas Natural Select Materials. It has come to my attention that the applicant has failed to properly account for single-family homes within the required 440-yard distance as set forth by TCEQ guidelines. This oversight is deeply concerning as the proximity of these homes to the proposed facility places residents at risk of significant air quality degradation, which could have harmful health impacts, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

  • Due to limited manpower, the TCEQ does not conduct on-site inspections to monitor air quality, dust control, or other compliance measures. Instead, they rely on facilities to self-monitor and only investigate if a citizen complaint is filed. This approach is inadequate when public safety is at risk. Just as inspectors check electrical wiring, bridge construction, and restaurants, they should also inspect facilities affecting public air quality. This responsibility should not fall on citizens. Increase the permit application cost to hire more staff or slow down the approval process.

  • I want to voice my concern about the proposed concrete crusher. A TCEQ document highlights that aggregate production operations (APOs), which include rock and concrete crushers, can generate significantly more particulate matter than concrete batch plants. This reinforces the need to carefully consider the location of such facilities to safeguard our community’s health and air quality.

  • I am deeply concerned about the proposed concrete crusher facility. The applicant has ignored homes located within 440 yards of the site, violating TCEQ's regulations. Furthermore, TCEQ has failed to implement recent EPA air quality standards, which have been updated to better protect public health from air pollution. The failure to enforce these updated standards in the permitting process undermines the trust residents have in TCEQ’s ability to ensure clean air and safe environments. The EPA’s standards are based on the best available science, and by not adhering to them, TCEQ is placing communities at risk of exposure to harmful pollutants. I urge TCEQ to reject this application and ensure that any future permits are in full compliance with distance regulations and the latest federal air quality standards.

  • This permit application raises serious questions regarding adherence to both TCEQ distance regulations and federal environmental standards. Given the facility’s proximity to existing homes, and the mobile nature of the crusher, it would require strict monitoring and enforcement mechanisms be put in place to ensure that the 440-yard buffer is maintained at all times during operation. If this permit is approved, what assurances do we have that the mobile crusher would remain in any compliant location - **if there is even any such location at this site?** Why wouldn’t TCEQ require GPS tracking or other forms of verification to ensure the crusher remains within legal boundaries at all times?

  • The residents of this neighborhood and Sherman/Denison at large have a multitude of reasons to A) be concerned about the potential health risks of this crusher, and B) have little to no faith that either of the TCEQ or the applicant is going to approve or conduct this project with any concern for residents past the minimum legal requirements.

  • I urge TCEQ to pause issuing new Air Quality Permits for Rock and Concrete Crushing facilities until the updated EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, revised in February 2024, have been incorporated. This update includes new evidence linking particulate pollution to serious health risks such as heart attacks and premature death. We call on the commission to adopt these updated standards immediately. Continuing to rely on current standards, which may not adequately protect public health, could have serious consequences.

  • I discovered that TCEQ does not conduct inspections or follow-ups to ensure facilities are complying with regulations. Instead, they depend entirely on facilities to self-report. TCEQ only gets involved if they receive a resident complaint. How does this approach safeguard our air quality? And how does it align with TCEQ’s mission statement, which aims to protect public health and natural resources while supporting sustainable economic development, with goals of clean air, clean water, and safe waste management?

  • This Air Permit must be rejected because of air quality concerns. The proposed location for these operations is entirely unsuitable. It is currently situated within a residential zone with additional residential development planned. Nearby are Texoma Medical Center and Downtown Denison Development, pivotal growth points for this area. Placing heavy-polluting industries in such proximity to these vital centers of development contradicts the anticipated significant growth in population and business expected in Grayson County.

  • While I recognize the need for concrete crushers near areas experiencing growth, placing one in such close proximity to homes disregards the health risks to our community. I urge you to deny this company permission to build their concrete plant, not only here but also in any location that could jeopardize community health.

  • I am writing to oppose Air Permit #175198 for the proposed concrete crusher. The application fails to acknowledge the presence of single-family homes located within 440 yards of the site, which directly violates TCEQ’s setback requirements meant to protect residential areas from harmful air pollution. This omission disregards established public health safeguards and puts nearby families at unnecessary risk. The location is simply too close to homes, and the potential environmental and health impacts make this project unacceptable.

  • I'm concerned about the air quality impacts near homes and compliance with environmental guidelines. Silica dust pollution from concrete crushing equipment poses a significant danger to human health. Inhalation of silica dust, whether in large doses or over extended periods, can cause irreversible lung damage known as silicosis, which is ultimately fatal. It's essential to ensure proper capture and cleaning of dust from equipment and trucks leaving the facility to protect our air quality and community health. Moreover, these trucks emit significant pollutants that worsen air quality. Studies indicate silica dust can travel long distances if not contained properly, compounding these issues.

  • The mobile nature of the crushing unit complicates compliance with TCEQ’s distance rules. Without clearly marked boundaries and operational constraints, there is a substantial risk of noncompliance.

  • I oppose permit 175198 for operating in a residential area. Concrete recycling at this facility would release crystalline silica, harming air quality and risking the health of nearby residents. It would also add to the noise and air pollution from the dirt-hauling trucks going in and out of the plant all day. The TCEQ should deny an air permit for such a facility near our community.