In a letter, Conservation Equity Management said the project is grounded in “careful planning, scientific rigor, and a commitment to sustainability.”
ANDERSON COUNTY, Texas — The company seeking to drill into East Texas aquifers and facing opposition from area officials says their applications are intended to be a solution to Texas’ water supply source crisis.
Conservation Equity Management has filed drilling applications with the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District, to advance a privately funded, phased groundwater development project focused on the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers in East Texas.
This act was drawn opposition from residents and lawmakers alike, such as state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine.
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin is now pushing back against recent developments.
“That aquifer actually extends over here in Smith County,” Franklin said.
Smith County Commissioners Court filed a notice of contest on Tuesday against the well applications.
“Let’s just slow this thing down,” Franklin said. “Don’t permit anyone to do this. and let’s bring in experts and let them evaluate the issue.”
Nichols said the proposed wells would extract over 10 billion gallons of water a year from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. Governments like Crockett, Van, Athens and Smith County have all expressed their disagreement with the project.
“We’re concerned about the quantity of water that’s going to be coming out, and what the impact might be,” said Jeremy Kilburn, chief legal and compliance officer at Wayne Sanderson Farms.
Wayne Sanderson Farms, one of the largest chicken producers in the nation, partners with family farmers in Tyler and Palestine.
“If water becomes a limiting factor to our operations, that can impact jobs,” Kilburn said.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms works with 350 family farms across Texas and employs more than 5,700 people statewide.
“We’re concerned about making sure that we’re able to operate at our fullest possible extent, so that we can provide those jobs to to those folks and partner with those farmers,” Kilburn said.
In a letter, Conservation Equity Management said the project is grounded in “careful planning, scientific rigor, and a commitment to sustainability.”
CEM says the applications that they’re seeking for drilling only and will allow the group to collect on-the-ground data to validate the hydrologic models developed in the first phase of the project, which was underway for 18 months.
“Let’s be clear: we are not seeking to produce or export water at this time,” the CEM letter reads. “Texas law requires a permit to drill any well—we cannot ‘wildcat’ and then apply after the fact. Once wells are drilled, they will be tested according to the standards of both the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and NTVGCD. We will then submit those results to the district.”
Kyle Bass, CEO of Conservation Equity Management, said the drilling applications are the first step in its ongoing constructive dialogue with the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District.
“Following our completion of the aquifer testing pursuant to our drilling permits, we will continue the process by reporting our findings and data to the District along with our application for additional permits authorizing production and exploration,” Bass said.
CEM said their approach reflects a phased, science-based approach to help Texas with meeting its growing water needs.
The Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District will host a public hearing Thursday at Jacksonville City Hall, giving residents and officials a chance to speak out before the July 19 petition deadline. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the meeting begins at 1 p.m.