The 1,691-acre ranch in Eldorado, Texas, is owned by YFZ Land LLC., a holding company set up by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. David Allred, agent for YFZ Land, bought the property in 2003. Raymond Jessop is currently listed as the registered agent for YFZ Land - named for the song “Yearn For Zion,” penned by FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
Since taking over the once vacant ranch, FLDS members have built numerous homes, residential barracks, orchards, gardens, a dairy, construction and support facilities and a striking limestone temple.
But amid the flurry of construction, they sidestepped permits and regulations required by the state of Texas.
A preliminary agreed order, which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will consider May 10, found that YFZ failed to get permits or plan approval for a sewage system, an injection well, a concrete plant, waste dump or disposal site for used oil and bulk mineral storage.
YFZ has agreed to pay a fine of $20,373 for those violations, which occurred between May 2004 and April 2005. Commissioners can accept the agreement or make changes to it during their hearing, said Lisa Wheeler, a TCEQ spokeswoman.
In a separate action, TCEQ staff determined ranch operators improperly disposed of waste and hydraulic oil; released wastewater without authorization; and failed to get a permit to build and operate a cement silo. The new violations allegedly occurred between April and August of last year, according to TCEQ documents. Staff is proposing a penalty of $14,140, plus $10,000 a day in fines if the problems are not corrected.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
