Conroe Halts BioUrja Expansion Over Unpermitted Work

**Conroe Halts BioUrja Expansion on Pollock Drive Over Unpermitted Construction**

CONROE, TX – Conroe city officials have issued a cease and desist order to BioUrja Renewables, immediately halting a significant expansion project at their petrochemical plant located at 10705 Pollock Drive. The order, issued on April 19, 2024, followed the discovery of extensive unpermitted construction, including a towering new 100-foot distillation column, associated piping, tanks, and foundations.

City staff were alerted to the ongoing work on April 18, prompting an immediate investigation that revealed the scope of the unauthorized construction. This directly violates City of Conroe Ordinance Chapter 11, Section 11-120, which strictly prohibits commencing any construction without first obtaining a proper building permit.

The facility, which BioUrja purchased in October 2023, is undergoing a substantial operational transformation. It is transitioning from ethanol production to processing naphtha into high-octane gasoline blendstock, a change that significantly increases its petrochemical nature and potential environmental impact.

Tommy Woolley, Conroe’s Director of Community Development, confirmed the order, stating the city’s unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance. “We have a zero-tolerance stance on breaches of our building codes,” Woolley emphasized. City Administrator Kevin Lacy further underscored the city’s paramount concern: ensuring public safety. “Our priority is always the well-being of our community and adherence to all safety and environmental regulations,” Lacy said.

The stakes are considerable for BioUrja, which faces potential fines of up to $1,000 per day for each violation until the issues are fully resolved. The plant’s location near residential areas like Artisan’s Park and the Conroe Park North Industrial Park, as well as community resources such as the Montgomery County Food Bank and a Boys & Girls Club, makes strict adherence to safety protocols critically important.

Patrick Archer, BioUrja’s Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety, acknowledged receipt of the cease and desist order. He indicated that the company believed their initial work was foundational and did not immediately require a permit, or that they were actively in the process of securing the necessary approvals. Archer committed to working closely with the city to rectify the situation.

Adding another layer of regulatory complexity is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). BioUrja applied for a new air permit – specifically a Title V permit for volatile organic compounds – in January 2024. TCEQ spokesperson Mark Bosma confirmed this application and clarified that construction of new units *cannot* commence until the agency officially issues that permit. This requirement echoes a February 2024 meeting where city officials had already met with BioUrja representatives to discuss various permitting requirements for the plant’s operational changes.

Before any further work can proceed on the distillation column or any other new structures at the Pollock Drive facility, BioUrja will be required to secure both its building permit from the City of Conroe and the crucial air permit from TCEQ. Until these vital approvals are obtained, construction on Pollock Drive remains definitively halted.