Darling Ingredients, Plagued by Complaints of Foul Odor at Bastrop Co. Plant, Withdraws TCEQ Permit Amendment Application
AUSTIN, Texas — On Tuesday, community advocates learned from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that Darling Ingredients withdrew its application to modify its air permit to increase emissions at the company’s rendering plant in Bastrop County.
The withdrawal is a victory for area residents who have complained to state and local authorities about a foul and potentially harmful smell coming from the plant. It also highlights the importance of the TCEQ permitting process, including robust participation from community members affected by industrial facilities. In 2022, the state’s Sunset Advisory Commission called the TCEQ a “reluctant regulator” that suffers from a transparency problem and lacks the trust of the public. The Sunset report included a recommendation for increased opportunities to participate in TCEQ decisions.
The facility has been under a TCEQ enforcement action in response to ongoing community outcry.
“Too often, community concerns take a back seat to a company’s interests during the permitting process,” said Kathryn Guerra, the director of Public Citizen’s TCEQ Watchdog campaign. “The people of Bastrop County had to take extraordinary steps to be heard. It’s a story that is repeated in communities large and small across Texas, where community voices are routinely ignored.”
It is unclear why Darling withdrew the request. The amendment application did not allow for any public notice or input from the residents who have complained about the issue for years. Shortly after the amendment was requested, the TCEQ brought five additional violations against the facility. Residents have made almost 350 complaints to the TCEQ since July.
“Darling hasn’t complied with its current permit in years. We don’t have confidence that a new permit amendment, if refiled, would change that. It stinks in my community, and Darling needs to do more than tinker with permits to stop the smell,” said Elgin City Council member Joy Casnovsky, who organized residents to hold their own town hall last month to express their concerns.
Darling Ingredients could refile its application at any time.