YFZ wastewater permit moves forward
 
The Eldorado Success
Workers at the YFZ Ranch have been busy

Workers at the YFZ Ranch have been busy moving topsoil from other areas of the property to fill in a low area near the ranch's first three buildings. There is some speculation that the soil is being excavated from the area where a wastewater treatment plant is proposed, on the north side of the property.

YFZ Ranch officials moved another step closer this week to obtaining a state permit to operate a wastewater treatment plant on ranch property. A public notice, published in this edition of The Success, indicates that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has determined that the YFZ application is administratively complete and will now begin a technical review of the application.

The permit application has already caught the attention of the Upper Colorado River Authority which on December 17, 2004 notified TCEQ Chief Clerk LaDonna Castanuela of its desire for a public meeting to be held in Eldorado, or at another location nearby, for the discussion of the YFZ permit request.

According to the public notice the proposed wastewater treatment plant will be located some six miles northeast of downtown Eldorado. If approved the plant will not exceed an average daily flow of 100,000 gallons and will discharge its treated effluent through a pipeline to an unnamed tributary of Milligan Draw. From there, the treated wastewater will flow into Milligan Draw, which flows into the South Concho Draw. Ultimately, the South Concho Draw becomes the South Concho River near Christoval.

According to the public notice, a copy of the YFZ permit application is on file for public review at the Schleicher County Courthouse.

The permitting process is very similar to that followed by the City of Eldorado. Following the public comment and/or public meeting phase the TCEQ executive director will decide whether or not to recommend TCEQ commissioners approve the permit application. At that time, members of the public will have the opportunity to request a contested case hearing, similar to a legal proceeding in state district court.

The YFZ Ranch, which is controlled byt he Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and its prophet, Warren Jeffs, has been cited for numerous environmental violations by the TCEQ, including the improper handling of sewage. Those cases are still under review by the agency.

Taxing issues

Schleicher County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Scott Sutton was slated to visit the YFZ Ranch on Wednesday of this week. Sutton needed to gain access to the property before the end of the year so he could set an appraised value for the property in place on January 1st. That value will be used to calculate the taxes for the county, school, hospital district and water district in 2005.

Apocalyptic prophecy

Sources in Colorado City, AZ tell the Success that FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs is predicting that the end of the world is imminent. Many FLDS faithful believe the end will come this weekend with the coming of the new year and will coincide the with the laying of the cornerstone on the group's temple at the YFZ Ranch.

If that is the case, then the workers at the YFZ don't appear to have gotten the word, as construction continues on a number of fronts. Also, the publication of the legal notice for the wastewater treatment plant would seem to indicate the group is planning for the future.

Legal issues

Utah District Judge Stephen L. Henroid refused this week to dismiss attorney Rod Parker from a civil case brought against the FLDS Church and a charitable trust, known as the United Effort Plan, that is controlled by the church. Parker was on hand Monday to represent the FLDS and the UEP while a key witness was deposed in the case. The lawsuit accuses FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs and two of his brothers, Blaine and Leslie Jeffs, of sexually assaulting their nephew Brent Jeffs when he was a young boy. Blaine Jeffs and Leslie Jeffs were present for the deposition and represented themselves. Prophet Warren Jeffs did not appear at the deposition and was not represented by counsel.

The witness, who was deposed Monday, is reportedly in the military and is due to deploy to the Middle East in a matter of days. Brent Jeffs' attorney, Roger Hoole of Salt Lake City, UT, argued against allowing Rod Parker to drop out of the case until after the deposition. Judge Henroid agreed with Hoole and ordered Parker to continue in the case until after the deposition.

It is unclear at this time if the FLDS, the UEP, Prophet Warren Jeffs, or his two brothers, plan to mount a legal defense in the case. When attorney Rod Parker asked Judge Henroid to remove him from the case he noted that he had fundamental differences with his clients and suggested that the judge is likely to hand down a default judgement against them.

 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published December 30, 2004
 
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