TCEQ Investigates Exposed Pipelines at Porter Sand Mine, Finds More Alleged Violations
9/5/25 – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has completed investigating exposed pipelines carrying highly volatile liquids at a sand mine in Porter operated by Texas Frac Sand Materials Inc.
TCEQ documented the pipeline issue and referred it to the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates pipelines in the state. As of this writing, it is unclear whether the pipelines remain exposed.
Other Alleged Violations Found
While at the mine, the TCEQ investigator noted other alleged violations that are now part of an active enforcement action. Specifically, the report notes that the operator had not stabilized the entrance. Nor had the operator installed structural controls along the bridge that crossed White Oak Creek.
In addition, the investigator noted breaches in the dikes of the mine’s southernmost pit. One came in from White Oak Creek and the other flows out to Caney Creek.
Previous Alleged Violations
The report also notes that a 2023 investigation found three previous issues at the mine. They included failure to:
- Maintain vegetative controls
- Maintain structural controls
- Develop a Mine Plan.
A 2024 investigation noted that the vegetative control issue had been resolved. However, the other two issues remained and were referred to the TCEQ’s enforcement division.
A followup investigation in 2024 noted failure to prevent the unauthorized discharge of process wastewater into waters of the state.
Other Problems Dating Back Before Harvey
Prior to Texas Fracsand operating the mine, Triple PG Sand Development (the property owner) operated it.
Triple PG also had multiple run ins with the TCEQ. One resulted in a million dollar lawsuit.
The lawsuit, which the state attorney general lodged on behalf of the TCEQ, has been delayed for six years by legal maneuverings. It began in October 2019 and is still waiting to come to trial in Travis County. See Case D-1-GN-19-007086.
The lawsuit alleged uncontrolled and unauthorized release of process wastewater from the mine’s dredging pond into the headwaters of Lake Houston. And it sought $1.1 million in damages plus $25,000 per day that the releases continued. The text of the lawsuit details other alleged violations dating back to 2015. However, Montgomery County Appraisal District records show that Triple PG acquired the property in early 2017.
In November 2019, Triple PG began a flimsy repair of its dikes. The repair later washed out and had to be redone. Then that repair washed out, too.
Pollution from the mine even became an issue in Tony Buzbee’s campaign for Houston Mayor.
In December 2019, I documented a natural gas pipeline exposed through mining activity at the Triple PG mine.
In May of 2020, TCEQ alleged the fourth unauthorized discharge of process wastewater in 10 months!
That’s critical because TCEQ requires the mine to monitor its waste for:
- Nitrate + Nitrite N
- Total suspended solids (TSS)
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Lead
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Selenium
- Silver
- Zinc.
For More Information
So far, no large fines. But the miners have gotten some hefty tax breaks from Montgomery County.
For the full text of the TCEQ investigation, see this TCEQ report dated 8/28/25.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/5/25
2929 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
