The Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association (TACA) applauded the passage of Senate Bill 2196, which requires the identification and mapping of state aggregate resource deposits by the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
The bipartisan bill was also supported by Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM), the Austin Regional Group of the Sierra Club and Public Citizen, among others. The bill was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on May 23 and becomes effective on Sept. 1.
“SB 2196 is good for Texas, as it helps facilitate those materials that are critical to the growth and well-being of residents and businesses,” said Josh Leftwich, TACA CEO and president. “Charting the state’s abundant natural resources will increase transparency for all stakeholders involved in or impacted by aggregate production operations.”
Authored by Sen. Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) and by Rep. Kuempel (R-Seguin), SB 2196 mandates that the Bureau of Economic Geology develop a clear assessment of the location of vital mineral deposits located throughout Texas, allowing the information to be easily accessed by public and private entities.
SB 2196 provides an opportunity to avoid the unintentional obstruction or stranding of critical materials that result in increased costs and time requirements for public works, infrastructure and private projects, as well as increased traffic and emissions due to longer travel distances between the producer and the project. It will also help production operations and housing and commercial developers avoid potential conflicts when determining where existing and possible future locations of suitable aggregate locations exist.
Aggregate mining is critical to all Texans and helps facilitate the growth the state demands. From 1,000 – 1,400 people move to Texas every day, creating unprecedented demand for the aggregates, cement, concrete and associated materials that are needed to construct vital infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, highways and homes.
Texas is the largest consumer of aggregates in the United States, producing 300 million tons (30,000 Unit Trains) per year.