The landowner, Jess Mayfield, was first issued a temporary permit to put waste onto a 793-acre plot in 2006 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality despite objections from state Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, county officials and neighboring landowners. With only a few days left before the deadline to contest the 2016 renewal of the permit, county commissioners retained Austin-based law firm Allison, Bass and Magee to voice the county's opposition in Austin.