Big Bend Times recently uncovered an unsettling sight behind the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office. Over 50 quarts of what appeared to be used motor oil were stored haphazardly in five-quart motor oil bottles, many of which were not properly sealed.
In addition to this, we found several more bottles and four barrels of assumed used automotive fluids, as well as another barrel of unidentified waste fluids. Judging by their interaction with recent rainwater, the contents of these containers appear to be petroleum-based. The fluids were stored in an alarmingly careless manner, left open to the elements.
But that wasn’t all. County property was also found stored outdoors, exposed to the elements, and with trash scattered haphazardly around the area, raising serious concerns about the standard of care and maintenance at the Sheriff’s Office.
These discoveries potentially signal violations of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, which stipulate that all used oil containers and tanks must be labeled clearly. No such labels were observed during our investigation.
Used motor oil often contains hazardous concentrations of toxic heavy metals like zinc, lead, and cadmium. When improperly disposed of, these toxins can wreak havoc on the environment, contaminating wildlife, vegetation, surface water, and even drinking water supplies. Just one quart of oil can contaminate up to one million gallons of water, according to the EPA.
Other automotive fluids, including antifreeze, solvents, and gasoline, also pose significant environmental risks when not disposed of properly. If used motor oil is mixed with these fluids, it becomes contaminated and cannot be recycled.
Efforts to obtain a response from Sheriff Danny Dominguez and the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office regarding these concerns have been met with silence, despite numerous inquiries.
The Presidio County community now awaits a response, as the potential environmental and public health risks this apparent neglect could pose are significant. This careless storage of both waste materials and county property raises serious questions about the operations at the Sheriff’s Office, requiring immediate attention and action.
What I see are stored waste petroleum and other products that have not polluted . Some private companies or government entities would have polluted by empting these on vacant land . What’s your beef with the Sheriff’s Department? Old Billy, Sul Ross Baseball 67-68.
Q: What’s your beef with the Sheriff’s Department?
A: Disarray in Marfa: Improper Oil Storage and Neglected County Property at Presidio Sheriff’s Office Raises Concerns