Abortion is outlawed in the state of Texas, but that does not mean the abortion industry is not still profiting off of pregnant Texas mothers seeking an abortion. Abortion is outlawed in the state of Texas, but that does not mean the abortion industry is not still working with companies inside the State of Texas that are assisting abortion facilities in their day-to-day operations.

BioCycle Healthcare Waste Management Services located at 8751 East Amarillo Boulevard in Amarillo, Texas, is one such company. Amarillo’s BioCycle facility is a Type V Registration solid waste facility operated by Oncore Technology, LLC, a company based in Grand Prairie, Texas. 

Oncore Healthcare Solutions, LLC, has done business as both Oncore Technology, LLC, and BioCycle, Inc., and has a history of serving as a medical waste transportation and disposal service for abortion facilities across America. 

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, an employee who was leaving BioCycle Healthcare Waste Management Services in Amarillo, Texas, stopped to answer some questions from a couple of curious bystanders outside of the facility’s gated entrance. I asked the employee if the company ever picked up from Planned Parenthood. The employee admitted to picking up from a Planned Parenthood in Wichita, Kansas – over six hours away. When asked if he picked up from any abortion facilities outside of Wichita, Kansas, the employee answered, “That’s the only one that I know about off the top of my head because it’s the one that I do because I’m just a driver here. So there’s probably more but I just don’t know off the top of my head.” When asked how often his company picked up from the Wichita abortion facility, the driver responded, “Every month. Once a month.” Upon being asked if the Amarillo facility was disposal or storage, the driver answered, “It’s both. We store it and then we dispose of it as well.” 

A Closer Look at BioCycle / Oncore Technology, LLC, in Texas

According to the Texas Secretary of State website, Oncore Technology, LLC (Filing # 800516022) and Oncore Healthcare Solutions, LLC (Filing #802751514) are listed as “in existence” Domestic Limited Liability Companies based in Grand Prairie, Texas. Currently, Timothy R. Vaughn of Dallas, Texas, is listed as the registered agent for both businesses. Oncore Healthcare Solutions, LLC, currently lists their managers as Vernon Wells (Grand Prairie), Timothy Vaughn (Dallas), Burton Patterson (Colleyville), R. Mason Bryant (Grand Prairie), and James R. White (Amarillo). BioCycle, Inc. (Filing# 801450174) is listed as an “in existence” Domestic For-Profit Corporation based in Amarillo, Texas. Melissa Baldwin of Amarillo is listed as the registered agent with James R. White listed as Director with an address in Henderson, Nevada. 

On July 24, 2015, Melaney A. Linton, who was the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc., located in Houston, Texas, responded to a letter dated a little over a week prior from the State of Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals Office of the Secretary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The letter was sent in regards to the process by which aborted children were disposed of in the State of Texas and if any of the unborn child’s remains were donated or sold to other entities. 

Speaking of their disposal process, Linton wrote, “Under Texas law, products of spontaneous or induced human abortions, regardless of the period of gestation, fall under the definition of ‘Pathological Waste.’ Pathological Waste is included in the definition of ‘Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities,’ which requires certain treatment and disposition under the Texas Administrative Code. PPCFC [Planned Parenthood Center for Choice – an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc.] disposes of Pathological Waste through an entity that is licensed for disposal of Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities.” 

Linton continued, “In Texas, immediately following an abortion or miscarriage management, the products of conception (‘POC’) are evaluated for completeness and gross abnormalities to ensure patient health and safety. If there are no concerns, it is securely stored until it is picked up by the licensed entity, which then disposes of it…”

When asked if any “Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast facilities, or any affiliates, subsidiaries or associates thereof, contract with companies that assist Planned Parenthood with disposing of, donating, or selling of unborn baby organs or body parts?” Linton responded, “PPCFC contracts with a company to dispose of its Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities, which includes Pathological Waste from PPCFC… PPCFC contracts with Oncore Technology, LLC for the disposal of Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities, including Pathological Waste. Oncore’s address is 2613 Skyway Dr. Grand Prairie, TX 75052. PPCFC does not contract with anyone for the donation or sale of fetal tissue.”

Before abortion was outlawed in Texas upon the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many sidewalk advocates and pro-life organizations like the San Antonio Family Association have commented on Oncore Technology, LLC, vehicles picking up what they believed to be the bodies of dead unborn children at abortion facilities across the state.

A Closer Look at BioCycle / Oncore Technology, LLC, in New Mexico

Oncore Technology, LLC (Business ID# 5239567) is listed as a Foreign Limited Liability Company based in Texas in “Active” status in “Good Standing” with the New Mexico Secretary of State. Oncore Healthcare Solutions, LLC (Business ID# 5497469) is listed as a Foreign Limited Liability Company based in Texas in “Active” status in “Good Standing” with the New Mexico Secretary of State. On the site, Vernon Wells, Timothy R. Vaughn, Burton H. Patterson, R. Mason Bryant, and James R. White are all listed as managers.

On March 23, 2021, Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident and pro-life advocate Tara Shaver wrote a letter to George W. Akeley, Jr., Manager of the Enforcement Division of the Solid Waste Bureau of New Mexico’s Environmental Department District 1. The letter read, “I have enclosed photographs of a vehicle, with Texas license plate #MVB3930, that appears to be hauling infectious waste from 701 San Mateo Blvd, N.E, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As you can see from the photographs, the vehicle is unmarked with respect to the name of the company.” Shaver shared that this appeared to be in violation of NMAC 20.9.5.14(A)(7) and (8) which requires commercial haulers of infectious waste to “label all solid waste collection vehicles with the company, municipality, or county department name” and “conspicuously label all solid waste collection vehicles with the environment department registration number.” Shaver continued, “The truck appears regularly at 701 San Mateo Blvd, N.E, in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Fridays at about 1:00 pm. I would appreciate the Environment Department looking into this matter and would also like to receive information about who is operating this disposal company.” 

The address at 701 San Mateo Blvd, N.E, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was Planned Parenthood. At that time, Planned Parenthood offered the abortion pill up to 11 weeks and 0 days and in-clinic abortions up to 19 weeks and 6 days. 

The apparent violations reported by Shaver prompted the New Mexico Environment Department to investigate. Daniel R. Galasso, the Solid Waste Bureau (SWB) Enforcement Officer, met with Amy Dickson, Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. She supplied the SWB with 17 special waste manifests, showing the company Oncore Technology, LLC, received and hauled what was deemed as “infectious waste” from the abortion facility for a brief period of time. On May 19, 2021, Galasso wrote to Dickson, “On May 6, 2021, I received the 17 special waste manifests you provided at my request pursuant to the Solid Waste Bureau’s investigation of a complaint involving Planned Parenthood’s contracted infectious waste hauler.” Galasso continued, “Upon review of the manifests, which were dated from January 8, 2021 through April 30, 2021, I noted that the generator block was insufficiently completed, as the name of Planned Parenthood’s representative was consistently written as ‘Raquel’ only, with a corresponding signature written only as the letter ‘R.’ The SWB acknowledges that it is possible that these represent the person’s legal name and signature, but it seems reasonable to question. Special waste manifests are required as well as document chain-of-custody by providing accurate information regarding the release and acceptance of the waste from the point of generation to its final disposal (‘cradle to grave’).” Galasso then concluded, “Accordingly, I want to be sure that the representative’s complete name and legal signature are used on all special waste manifests in the future. As a reminder, the New Mexico Solid Waste Rules, 20.9.8.19.C NMAC, require all special waste manifests to accurately reflect the necessary information, including the signature of the generator.” Oncore, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, was found to be an unregistered commercial hauler.

Thomas Simmons, the Operations Manager of Oncore Technology, told Galasso in August of 2021 that Oncore Health Solutions and BioCycle operated in conjunction for hauling purposes for Oncore Technology, LLC. SWB records determined Oncore Health Solutions was the transporter arriving at the New Mexico clinic; Oncore Health Solutions was also not a registered commercial hauler. These manifests used the registration number for a registered commercial hauler, BioCycle, Inc, located in Amarillo, Texas. As a result of the violations, the New Mexico Environment Department fined Oncore Technology $300 – less than the price of an abortion pill at a Planned Parenthood facility during the time of the investigation.

A Closer Look at BioCycle / Oncore’s Kansas Operations 

On December 19, 2011, a Foreign For-Profit Corporation Application was filed by the Kansas Office of the Secretary of State from an entity originating in Texas called BioCycle, Inc. The registered agent in Kansas was listed as The Corporation Company Inc. in Topeka, Kansas. The office address listed for BioCycle, Inc., was 7308 Andover Drive in Amarillo, Texas, with the name Nord Sorensen shown as the person to whom all mail should be directed. Under the section titled, “Full nature and character of the business to be conducted in the state of Kansas,” the section read “Disposal of medical waste products.” 

On June 3, 2013, BioCycle, Inc.’s annual report was filed for 2012. In this annual report, Nord Sorensen of Amarillo was listed as President and Director, James Cramer of Amarillo was listed as Vice-President and Director, and Dennis Clounch of Amarillo was listed as Chairman of the Board and Director. On April 8, 2014, its annual report was filed for 2013 with the same three listed as directors living in Amarillo. The only difference, however, was that this time Sorensen was listed as both the President and the Secretary. This would be repeated in the annual report filed on April 3, 2015, and the annual report filed on April 5, 2016. In the annual report filed on April 10, 2017, Clounch was listed as President, and Cramer was listed as the Vice President. With Sorensen’s absence, James White from Canyon Lake, California, was listed as BioCycle, Inc.’s new board member. On September 12, 2017, Clounch filed the Business Entity Amendment to Withdraw From Kansas. 

On July 28, 2017, a Foreign For-Profit Corporation Application was filed by the Kansas Office of the Secretary of State from an entity originating in Texas called Oncore Health Solutions, LLC. The registered agent in Kansas was listed as a Corporation Service Company in Topeka, Kansas. The office address listed for Oncore Health Solutions, LLC was 2613 Skyway Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas, with the name R. Mason Bryant being listed as the person to whom all mail should be directed. Under the section titled, “Full nature and character of the business to be conducted in Kansas,” the section read “Medical waste treatment.” 

On September 18, 2019, an annual report was filed by the Kansas Office of the Secretary of State from Oncore Health Solutions, LLC. In this annual report, under “Name and address of each member who owns 5% or more of capital (Kansas LLC only),” two entities were named: BioCycle, Inc., in Amarillo, Texas and Oncore Technology, LLC, in Grand Prairie, Texas. The report was signed, on behalf of the company, by Vernon Wells. A Certificate of Reinstatement of Limited Liability Company was also filed on September 18, 2019, from Oncore Health Solutions, LLC, echoing the same information filed July 28, 2017. Annual reports were filed on August 10, 2020, on April 14, 2021, on April 11, 2022, and on March 21, 2023. 

When it comes to Oncore Health Solutions / BioCycle / and Oncore Technology, the more searches turn up companies with similar names in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, and several other states – all with ties to these Texas entities. 

Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, said, “I find it utterly demonic that a waste management company in Amarillo, Texas, would be doing business with an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas.” Newman, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, continued, “There are two things that Texas can do to help us in our battle against the abortion industry in Kansas. One, they need to do everything they can to prevent their residents from coming to our state to murder their children. The parking lots of our abortion clinics are full of cars and trucks with Texas license plates. Texans coming to Kansas is what is keeping the abortion industry alive in our state. Two, as long as waste management companies in Texas are doing business with the Kansas abortion industry, the baby-murdering cartels will always have a place to get rid of the aftermath of their devilish deeds.” 

In June 2023, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment released a report entitled “Abortions in Kansas, 2022.” Out of the 12,317 induced abortions in Kansas, a total of 2,978 were performed on Texas residents. Of those 2,978 abortions, 50 were performed on Texas minors. Reporting on the study, the Charlotte Lozier Institute recognized, “Of the nonresident abortions performed in Kansas (8,475 in total), 35 percent were obtained by Texas women. Texas resident abortions increased 1,178 percent from just 233 in 2021 and comprised 24 percent of all Kansas abortions.” 

According to BioCycle’s website, the process of disposal of medical waste begins by weighing containers on an industrial scale. Then, waste-filled carts are loaded into the autoclave, a device used to sterilize the waste. This process is followed by unloading the materials into a shredder and then placing the shredded waste into a compactor.

While the State of Texas addresses the disposal of remains of unborn children from medical facilities within the State of Texas in §697.004 of the Health and Safety Code, the law does not address: (1) the transportation of the remains of unborn children who have been killed by an elective abortion from an abortion provider in another state, and (2) the disposal of the remains of an unborn child killed by an elective abortion outside the State of Texas at a waste management facility inside the State of Texas.

A citizen initiative petition in support of a Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn ordinance is currently underway in the City of Amarillo that would address these two loopholes currently in Texas’ anti-abortion laws. If the petition collects enough valid signatures, the Amarillo City Council will have to consider the ordinance as proposed. If the current version of the ordinance passes, the abortion trafficking of Amarillo residents for out-of-state abortions and the transportation and disposal of the remains of unborn children killed by an elective abortion by an abortion provider would be prohibited within the city limits of Amarillo.   

More information is forthcoming. 

This is a commentary published with the author’s permission. If you wish to submit a commentary to Texas Scorecard, please submit your article to submission@texasscorecard.com.

Mark Lee Dickson

Mark Lee Dickson is a director with Right to Life of East Texas and the founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative.

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