Wal-Mart Construction Request Stalled Due to Environmental Concerns

The Environmental Board – leery of another controversy over a Wal-Mart and recent evidence of construction silt runoff issues at another nearby retail construction site – has shuffled a routine cut-and-fill (slope excavation) request for the proposed North Austin Wal-Mart superstore to the Environmental Board's Bull Creek Watershed subcommittee.

Attorney Richard Suttle, who represents the Wal-Mart at Rock Harbour, had the misfortune the previous week of following some rather compelling evidence before the Environmental Board of silt issues at another retail construction area. That's a real "no no" for the board, ever-cognizant of the Jollyville salamander. And company representatives had to admit they had done little study of the project's impact on the golden-cheeked warbler, which is protected on nearby preserves.

Wal-Mart has ramped up its own policies on environmental protection, Suttle said, taking a "zero tolerance" stance on construction violations. Despite Suttle's assurances that Wal-Mart would hire a full-time on-site environmental manager to oversee construction issues such as the protection of critical environmental features, Environmental Board members were concerned enough to send the proposal off to the Bull Creek Watershed subcommittee. The subcommittee will meet this Thursday to consider possible impacts of a proposed Travis Water Treatment Plan near FM 2222 and RR 620.