More than 100 people attended an October 27 hearing at Presidio High School on a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) wastewater discharge permit application tied to a possible reopening of the Shafter mine. The permit seeks an average discharge of 360,000 gallons per day, with a maximum of 1.8 million gallons per day. Cibolo Creek Ranch owner John Poindexter and state Sen. César J. Blanco both requested a hearing on the permit.
Black Bear Minerals, an Australian company that bought the mine, presented slides on water quality. Shafter resident David Long said the analysis looked within acceptable limits. He also said he is concerned about stormwater runoff. A company representative said stormwater requires a separate permit that the company would address later. TCEQ staff had documented several violations at the mine after a fall 2025 site visit, including elevated levels of heavy metals inside the mine.
Presidio Mayor John Ferguson said the turnout showed residents care about environmental quality and also support new jobs and tax revenue. TCEQ's executive director will now respond to comments before a final decision on the permit. Public comment on the permit is no longer being accepted. Black Bear Minerals CEO Dennis Lindgren did not respond to requests for comment.