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August 25, 2010 · A local environmental group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the organizers of a major road construction project they believe will threaten the Edwards Aquifer. The group, Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas, says the massive construction project to expand the interchange at U.S. Highway 281 and Loop 1604 could harm the Aquifer’s recharge zone and threaten several species. Enrique Valdivia is the President of the organization filing the lawsuit.
“The interchange is going to be built in a very environmentally sensitive area. 281 and 1604, last time I checked are hazardous material routes. There’s going to be hazmat trucks going in four directions,” said Enrique Valdivia.
The lawsuit claims organizers pushed the project ahead using what’s called a Categorical Exclusion to avoid environmental studies and safeguards. Leroy Alloway is the Director of Community Development with the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, one of the groups named in the lawsuit. He says organizers are trying to put more environmental safeguards in place.
“When we’re looking at the ‘Categorical Exclusion,’ it’s designed for projects that improve operations and safety. That’s what this interchange project would do: improve the operations and safety at US 281 and Loop 1604, the most accident prone intersection in San Antonio,” said Leroy Alloway.
The construction project is largely funded by federal stimulus money that must be spent in the next five years. The Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are also named in the lawsuit. |
