Say No to Central Texas Airport

Another interesting bit of misinformation in the 381 agreement concerns the stipulation on pg.2, (b) about the Airport Operating Certificate (AOC) 14 C.F.R Part 39 placing limits of the scheduled and unscheduled flight operations, and limits on aircraft from 9-31 seats.
There is NO stipulation that I can find in the AOC limiting cargo aircraft operations at all.
You can find this at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/14cfr139_04.html
In law, what is not specifically prohibited is permitted.
I see 24/7/365 UPS flights…

Before we can move forward with any substantive opposition, we need a site plan complete with contours clearly showing the “fuel farm” and it’s proximity to the Colorado flood plain contour. The “site plan” in the 381 is illegible, and shows no contours. We need a complete set of plans, if they’ve been filed.
MSDS on Jet A, A-1, and A-50 indicate that it is a known carcigen, and it’s ecotoxicity is “expected to be toxic to aquatic organisms,” and “this material is not expected to be readily biodegradeable.”
http://www.chevronglobalaviation.com/docs/aviation_turbine_fuel.doc
This is a concern, not only becase of the storage of fuel, and spills, but also the runoff from runways containing this material will go into the Colorado river. Additionally, the “industrial park” will have significant toxic chemicals present which could be desposed of in the drainage system of the site, unknown to county health or LCRA officials.
If the CTA plans on having a sewage treatment plant on site, then they’ll have to store chlorine gas to use in the treatment process. Storing and moving this material is extremely hazardous, as GUARD learned in the successful fightstopping the Alexander Oaks mobile-home project.
Additionally, the treatment process will have to use evapotransporation processes (spraying partially treated sewage onto land) to complete the process. This materiial will run off into the Colorado via on-site creeks and/or be absorbed into the groundwater.
This is just a small part of the infrastructure problems NOT addressed in the 381, and should be stressed by StopCTA.
We need to get ALL the subdivisions to work together NOW, or it’s gonna be built.

OK, I’m just finding out how truly screwed we are if we don’t stop this.
The runway length is 7200′. A couple of sources indicate that a minimum of 6000′ is needed for aircraft of 200K lbs and under.
Looking at takeoff and landing field requirements from this site (pg. 35 & 37) indicate that at 7200′ a DC-9-14, A-320-200, 757-200, DC-9-32, and numerous others could land if they’re carrying cargo. Here’s the site:
http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/student/07_Commercial_Aircraft_Design_Characteristics.pdf
When you go to 8000′ it gets even worse.
This airport is NOT going to be just for high-rollers coming to see F1 races, it’s gonna be for cargo.
Download this stuff and write the Commissioners court with registered mail. Carpenter and Associates is lying to the court, and is getting away with it…

More poop on Biz Jets. Looked at three, Bombardier Global 5000, carries up to 19 passengers, weighs 92,300 lbs, and it takes only 5000′ for take off.
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ’s), carries up to 63 people, or cargo, weighs 177, 200 lbs, nad needs 6000′ of runway.
Gulfstream G650, carries up to 18 people, weighs 103, 793 lbs, 6000′ of runway.
http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/bombardier5000/
There’s a lot more out there too.
So, I’d say if good old Jim is only gonna have “small” Biz Jets landing there, he’d only need 5K’ of runway, or 6K’ at the most.
The boy is lyin’ like a rug….

@Tom Thompson
With the proposed office/industrial park adding tens of thousands of cars a day to the traffic on FM 969 and FM 1704, imagine the additional impact with hundreds of trucks, small and large, traveling on these same roads as they deliver packages all over Central Texas. What are these people thinking? Can you say…money?

Everybody in the area needs to be aware of “avignation easements.”
These are easements that may be granted to the CTA to prevent litigation resulting from loss of property valuation because of the noise, dust, lights, and pollution caused by airport activities. They may also proscribe height restrictions upon structures and trees within your property that may affect flight operations.
The CTA site lies below the surrounding area and would require longer approach and take-off corridors that would necessitate that aircraft operate at a lower altititude than if it were at the same elevation as the surrrounding area.
Texas Heritage, and Hyatt Regency/McKinney Roughs and subdivisions to the south including BISD may be affected as they are on the flight lines.

FEMA reguates the activity and approves or disproves of construcion within flood-plain areas. This includes airports, and the surrounding infrastructure of aircraft maintainance, and TSA security facilities, which this facility must have to gain FAA certification.
I suggest people read the guidelines here:
http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/environmental_desk_ref/media/desk_ref_chap12.pdf
and here for TSA protocols:
http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/Attachment_5_R2845O_0Z5RDZ-i34K-pR.doc

The 381 agreement approved by Bastrop County Commissioners does not have any economic impact analysis in the agreement which is not required, but is a “best practice.”
See this site for more information about responsible city/county planning:
http://ntis04.hgac.cog.tx.us/Websites/subregional/toolbox/Implementation_Resources/Economic_Development_Agreements_Final.html

Apparently Commissioners make up rules as they go along. I can’t find anything in Texas Code 312 which allows them to give a 30 year tax rebate. I have contacted the Bastrop District Attorneys office via fax to see what authority the BCC has to skirt around 312. Should be interesting. A recent call in to the Texas State Comptrollers Office only reinforces my belief they are trying to skirt around the 312 limit of 10 years. “Culture of Corruption” fits Bastrop Government at all levels. To bad for the average taxpayer/resident.

“The authority to enter into tax abatement agreements is found in the Property
Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act located in chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code.
This chapter authorizes property taxing entities, excluding school districts, to limit the
property taxes assessed on real property or tangible personal property located on real
property due to the repairs or improvements to the property.1 Only property located
within a reinvestment zone is eligible for a tax abatement agreement. Accordingly, a tax
abatement agreement is an agreement limiting the increase in the value of the property
taxes due to improvements or repairs to real property. Such agreements are limited to ten
(10) years in length.”

More evidence the County is violating the law and their agreement is null and void. Who will take them to task? Why do hardworking, law abiding taxpayers have to spend their own money to hire and attorney to get their government to do the right thing. AND then the government will use OUR tax money to pay THEIR attorneys to fight us.
Check out this exchange between me and the DA

http://www.railroadingbastrop.com/ScamPort.htm

GUARD and it’s membership spent $10K to retain a competant envoronmental attorney to fight the Alexander Oaks project successfully.
Let me make this abundantly clear, the Commissioners Court, EISD, and the rest of Bastrop County sees this projcet as “good” for them economicaly. AThe 381 indicates that this is “an ecomomicaly deprived area,” IIRC.
The problem is that it’s not “good” for the residents of the five surrounding subdivisions, which pay taxes also, and will have a diminished quality of life, and lowered property values.
Everybody needs to quit whining, and get some organization to set up a “pledge” system to finance a legal challenge. There’s NO OTHER WAY.
Man up, or buy earplugs for your family…..

Just got off the phone with the Texas Attorney General. They offered NO assistance at all even though I told them I was essentially reporting a CRIME!
They told ME to get a lawyer. It is disturbing to note in this State and County “we the people” have little power to get our elected misfits to do the right thing. I can assure you if you or I was in violation of Texas Codes we would be charged, fined and even hauled off to jail. The Bastrop County Commissioners and etc., can violate Texas Codes and then tell us “get a lawyer.” What a crock of garbage.

The State of Texas has NO power to enforce it’s own codes!
I have called the Texas Comptroller, Texas Attorney General and the Secretary of State. All said they can’t help me in this matter.
Let’s get this straight folks. The local government violates Texas Code and there is no Texas State agency to complain to. One told me to “get a lawyer.” Why do I as a citizen and taxpayer have to hire a lawyer to compel the local government to follow the law? Is this not ludicrous? I am sure any Bastrop County Official is laughing at any attempt to derail their actions. I suspect they could have told me I was wasting my time in this corrupt state.
Good luck folks……..you live in Bastrop County and you are screwed!