Presidio City Council Shows No Support For Removal Of Midland Exemption
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: December 20, 2012
PRESIDIO -- The Presidio City Council has struck a significant blow against a plan to give Presidio County's Underground Water Conservation District more authority.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports that Presidio City Council members decided not to take action on a proposal to remove Presidio County from the Midland Exemption.
The Midland Exemption allows certain municipalities to be exempt from regulation by water conservation districts in the production and use of groundwater.
The exemption has helped shield Marfa, Presidio and other area municipalities from the regulatory authority of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District .
Officials with Presidio County, the City of Marfa and the Presidio County Water Board had pushed for the removal of the exemption.
Those in support of removing the exemption -- and thereby helping protect Presidio County's groundwater from sale to other municipalities -- were hoping to bring the issue before the Texas Legislature, who could then vote to remove the exemption.
However, without the Presidio City Council's support, the measure can't go to the Texas Legislature.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports that Presidio City Council members decided not to take action on a proposal to remove Presidio County from the Midland Exemption.
The Midland Exemption allows certain municipalities to be exempt from regulation by water conservation districts in the production and use of groundwater.
The exemption has helped shield Marfa, Presidio and other area municipalities from the regulatory authority of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District .
Officials with Presidio County, the City of Marfa and the Presidio County Water Board had pushed for the removal of the exemption.
Those in support of removing the exemption -- and thereby helping protect Presidio County's groundwater from sale to other municipalities -- were hoping to bring the issue before the Texas Legislature, who could then vote to remove the exemption.
However, without the Presidio City Council's support, the measure can't go to the Texas Legislature.
