By: Sheffield (Senate Sponsor - Buckingham) H.B. No. 2582
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2017;
  May 1, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
  Resources & Economic Development; May 9, 2017, reported favorably
  by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; May 9, 2017, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an exemption for certain quarries from regulation as
  aggregate production operations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28A.001(1), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (1)  "Aggregate production operation" means the site
  from which aggregates are being or have been removed or extracted
  from the earth, including the entire areas of extraction, stripped
  areas, haulage ramps, and the land on which the plant processing the
  raw materials is located, exclusive of any land owned or leased by
  the responsible party not being currently used in the production of
  aggregates. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "aggregate
  production operation" does not include:
                     (A)  a site at which the materials that are being
  removed or extracted from the earth are used or processed at the
  same site or at a related site under the control of the same
  responsible party for the production of cement or lightweight
  aggregates, or in a lime kiln;
                     (B)  a temporary site that is being used solely to
  provide aggregate products for use in a public works project
  involving the Texas Department of Transportation or a local
  governmental entity;
                     (C)  an extraction area from which all raw
  material is extracted for use as fill or for other construction uses
  at the same or a contiguous site; [or]
                     (D)  a site at which the materials that are being
  removed or extracted from the earth are used or processed for use in
  the construction, modification, or expansion of a solid waste
  facility at the site or another location; or
                     (E)  a site at which:
                           (i)  the materials being removed or
  extracted from the earth are specialty or terrazo-type stone
  removed or extracted exclusively for decorative or artistic uses;
  and
                           (ii)  the portion of the specialty or
  terrazo-type stone horizon that is exposed for current production
  for commercial sale in the site does not exceed five acres.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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