Tag Archive for: Aggregate production testimony

Submitted Your Sand Mine Testimony Yet?

Today, October 30, 5:00 p.m. is the deadline to send testimony to the Texas House of Representatives Interim Committee on Aggregate Production Operations (APOs). The committee is looking into production practices of sand mines and other types of APOs across Texas.

Write About Your Experience

Written comments will be evaluated and considered by the committee when they make their decisions.

If you haven’t yet submitted comments, please take time to put something together—even if it’s just a few paragraphs!

Write about how YOU personally have been or will be impacted by sand mines. Pick one or two of these key issues that will most affect you personally:

???? Air quality
???? Water quality, use and availability
???? Surface and ground water contamination and flooding
???? Rapid development of APOs without adequate regulatory oversight, mine planning, or reclamation
???? Truck traffic
???? Nuisance issues: blasting, noise, odor, visible blight
???? Economic impacts, devaluation of property

How to Submit Comments

When you are ready to submit your testimony, email it to jeff.frazier_hc@house.texas.gov (jeff DOT frazier UNDERSCORE hc) or press the link below. Make sure to include:

  • Your name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Testimony in attachment (PDF preferred, Word Document OK, preferably five pages or less)

Deadline is 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2020.

EMAIL YOUR TESTIMONY

Not Choice Between Growth and Safety

Sand mining is necessary to make concrete and support growth. No one wants to put sand miners out of business. People do, however, have legitimate issues with egregious sand-mining practices.

They want sand produced in a manner that respects public safety, health, homes, and the environment.

Since starting this website I have created more than 200 posts about problems with the way sand mining is actually practiced in the Houston Area, and how dangerous practices contribute to flooding. To learn more, use the search phrase “sand mines” or see the index page. Here are some examples.

Sand mining in floodways on West Fork
Discharging industrial waste water into the public drinking water supply
Another discharge of industrial wastewater into the headwaters of Lake Houston
Failure to stabilize soil or restore land to alternative us after abandonment of mine.
Mining too close to natural gas pipeline and exposing it
Endangering five pipelines carrying highly volatile liquids near the West Fork San Jacinto
West Fork sand dune deposited during Harvey downstream from 20-square miles of mines in floodway. It contributed to the flooding of more than 7,000 structures.
River mining without a permit
Flooding adjacent property with floodwater
Barely plugged breach near LMI mine on West Fork
Pumping wastewater into wetlands

Don’t tolerate sand-mining practices that jeopardize your home, family and community. Write today.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/30/2020

1158 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

Action Alert: Aggregate Production Testimony Needed

Deadline 5pm today, Friday, 9/25: We need you!

Please sign up to speak at an ONLINE/VIRTUAL town hall meeting about sand mines and/or other aggregate production operations (APOs). The meeting will be Thursday, 10/1 for the House Interim Committee on Aggregate Production Operations. Please send an email to both jeff.frazier_hc@house.texas.gov and jeff.frazier@house.texas.gov stating your name, contact info, and your request to speak at the 10/1 town hall.

Probably not everyone will be called on to speak, but we want the committee to know that this affects vast numbers of people. It’s CRITICAL to communicate how many of us are negatively affected by existing and planned sand mines, quarries, concrete plants, and other APOs.

All of the House Interim Committee members will be present and this will be similar to speaking in front of the committee at the Capitol in Austin–but online.

Speakers will also come from the Hill County where APOs are severely impacting quality of life.

Examples of Problems in Lake Houston Area

Mouth bar on the West Fork San Jacinto that mostly formed during Hurricane Harvey. It backed up water and contributed to flooding thousands of homes and businesses. Much of the sediment came from 20 square miles of sand mines immediately upstream. Cleanup cost to state and federal governments so far: about $150 million.
The day the West Fork (right) ran white after the LMI Mine upstream put 56 million gallons of process wastewater into the drinking water for 2 million people (Source: TCEQ).
Breach at Triple PG mine one White Oak Creek emitted process wastewater into headwaters of Lake Houston, the source of drinking water for 2 million people. Attorney General is suing mine for approximately $1 million.
Concentrated silt after sand is washed. Exposed in floodway of the San Jacinto West Fork.
River mining without a permit at the Spring Wet Sand and Gravel Plant on the west fork.

Speak for Up to 3 Minutes

Be prepared to speak for up to three minutes about how YOU personally have been or will be impacted by quarries, concrete batch plants, or asphalt plants. Pick one or two of these key issues that most affect you personally:

???? Air particulate emissions
???? Water use and availability
???? Water pollution and flooding
???? Rapid development of APOs without adequate regulatory oversight, mine planning, or reclamation
???? Truck traffic
???? Nuisance issues: blasting, noise, odor, light trespass, visible blight
???? Economic impacts, devaluation of property

URGENT: DO TODAY BEFORE 5pm

Just send in an email requesting to speak. You’ll have a week to plan and prep. Thanks for helping protect our families and community!

If possible, it is VERY IMPORTANT to speak at this meeting. However, if you aren’t selected to speak, or you don’t get your request submitted in time, there will be an additional opportunity later this month to submit written testimonial. We’ll send more info on this in the upcoming days and weeks.

SEND EMAIL

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/25/2020

1123 Days since Hurricane Harvey