County Takes Responsibility For Illegal Dumping Near Fabens

County Commissioners Court wants to find out who gave the order to dump asphalt in a former landfill near Fabens.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) informed county officials about the illegal dumping on land leased by the county.

“We know the problems with illegal dumping that we face in this community, especially out in the open desert,” said County Judge Veronica Escobar, who added the TCEQ will not fine the county as long as it cleans up the mess.

ABC-7 stopped by the landfill and could not find any asphalt that appeared to have been dumped.

Escobar said it appears the county’s Public Works Department is responsible and the county will fix the problem.

“We didn’t want to dispute it and say, ‘this might not have been us, it could have been other people, or it could have been another government,’ we just want to accept responsibility,” said Escobar, “That lease is under (the county’s) name, we’re responsible for it, we want to take swift action.”