PERCEIVED RISK AND THE SITING OF A CONTROVERSIAL ...

The creek, according to an environmental assessment conducted by James
Miertschin and Associates (the Austin engineering firm filing the permit on behalf of
WMARSS), is “entirely characteristic of the Blackland Prairie” (James Miertschin and
Associates & Paul Price Aquatic Ecology, 2007). In close proximity to the proposed
plant, on the Warren Farm across the creek from the plant site, lies an undisturbed
section of Blackland Prairie which supports extensive native wildlife and flora.
According a representative of the Native Prairies Association of Texas, who visited the
site, less than 3,000 acres of undisturbed Blackland Prairie remain out of an original
12,000,000. One of the concerns of the Warren family was that WMARSS was not only
unaware of this unique ecological system; they planned on destroying a large section of
it in the process of laying pipe to the City of Lorena. When the large Warren family
protested, both verbally and in writing to the City of Waco, they were told, in writing,
that if they did not cooperate, the land would be condemned through eminent domain,
leading them to seek legal counsel. Ultimately, after being advised by their attorney that
they could not prevail, the sold three acres of their native prairie land for an easement; a
large section of the prairie was disturbed when the land was excavated for the sewer pipe
and used for equipment storage. It was not restorated. A contributing factor to the
family’s strong opposition to the plant was the fact that they had been approached by
McLennan County a few months before the filing of the permit and asked to donate land
needed to upgrade an old iron bridge crossing Cooksey Lane. Although this upgrade was
necessary to carry the weight of the trucks that would be hauling sludge from the Bull
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