The Voice of Eldorado and Schleicher County Since 1901

YFZ hauling wastewater to San Angelo

AUGUST 26, 2004
TCEQ District 8 Director Ricky Anderson confirmed this week that wastewater is being transported from the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado to a wastewater treatment plant at the San Angelo landfill operated by Trashaway. Anderson said that his inspectors had visited the ranch on August 16th to confirm that an above ground storage tank had been installed.

Work is progressing on what appears to be a foundation for yet another large building on the YFZ Ranch. Construction activity at the YFZ, which seemed to have slowed a bit in recent weeks, appears to be escalating again.

He said that since that time ranch officials have hired a licensed wastewater hauler to transport the waste to San Angelo. Anderson said that his inspectors have received trip tickets documenting the process and that they continue to closely monitor the situation at the YFZ, which he says will only last until a permanent wastewater treatment plant can be constructed at the ranch.

Anderson went on to say that his employees are also working with YFZ officials on installing a public water system. That became necessary when state inspectors learned that more than 25 people would be residing permanently at the ranch. TCEQ has strict rules for the operation of a public water system, with stringent guidelines about quality and quantity of water produced, as well as how it is stored and distributed.

A call to TCEQ's Austin office revealed Tuesday that enforcement action is pending against the YFZ. It should be noted that the ranch could face fines as high as $10,000 per day for each of 29 violations previously cited by TCEQ. The Success also learned that the state agency has yet to receive an application for construction of a wastewater treatment plant at the YFZ Ranch.

YFZ resident said excommunicated by Prophet
Sources in Colorado City, Arizona tell the Success this week that Alan Steed, a one-time resident of the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, has been excommunicated by FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs. It was Steed who, along with three other men, met with Sheriff David Doran on April 28th of this year to reveal that the construction at the YFZ Ranch was not actually intended as a hunting retreat. At that time Steed identified himself as holding the office of Patriarch in the FLDS church.

According to others who have recently been barred from the church, Prophet Jeffs found Steed's family to be unworthy of him booted them out earlier. The prophet reportedly assigned Steed a number of new wives when he was sent to Texas to work on the Eldorado compound. Now, Steed himself may be out of the group.

That fits with what little can be seen here in Eldorado. Another of man who was active in the early development of the YFZ, Ernie Jessop, is reportedly no longer working here in Schleicher County, either. Officials at the ranch have told local authorities that he merely has been assigned to work on another project.

As always, the Success invites comment from YFZ Ranch and FLDS Church officials. So far, no such comment has been received.

The Eldorado Success invites Warren Jeffs and/or other leaders of the FLDS church to comment on this or any other story surrounding the FLDS and the YFZ Ranch