CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nueces County is launching an environmental criminal investigation after 3NEWS discovered a huge illegal dump site along County Road 85, between Robstown and Driscoll, under a bridge along Pintas Creek.
3NEWS found that the site was being used to illegally dump trash, tires, air conditioners and oilfield equipment.
Nueces County Environmental enforcement officer Deputy Chris Dorr explained that it must have gone unreported for so long because people don't usually stop on the bridge.
"Of course as you can see out here it's all out of view," Dorr said. "You actually have to get off the bridge and look down and not a lot of people will stop on the bridge, so we appreciate the report."
There will likely be a few people who will not appreciate that the report was made to authorities.
"This is not a victimless crime somebody has to cover the costs for this," Dorr said. "It has to be cleaned up it has to be looked into."
Dorr picked up a bag of trash to be searched through to see if there might be a name or address inside. He said unfortunately there were no names or addresses that he could tie to the illegal dumping. He said people who live in the area will be questioned.
The deputy will also go through the rest of the illegal dump site to search for clues as to who did all of this. There's a real possibility that this mess could see someone charged with a felony, and as far as the cleanup, that is going to take a lot of time, effort and manpower.
"I'll get the guys together and make a plan and get with my lead foreman and we'll start cleaning up," Charlie Carrion with Nueces County Public Works said.
The county spends $100,000 a year cleaning up sites like this and could do more, but there's only two environmental enforcement officers to cover the entire county. Dorr said he relies on people calling in tips about sites like these so he can work to get them cleaned up. Of course he also wants to find who is responsible and hold them accountable for this crime.
If you know anything about this case you are urged to contact the county.
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