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Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force Issues Final Report
The Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force has wrapped up its meetings and issued its final report. The recommendations at the end of the report are divided between "consensus issues" and "non-consensus issues." For the non-consensus issues, differing options were proposed by various task force members, and those options were all included in the report. Because the group was so split on many of these, they elected not to vote so they would not have several close votes that could be the subject of scrutiny from various stakeholders. Instead, the options are all given equal treatment, with an introductory paragraph that summarizes the position of the major stakeholders.
Some options call for better mapping and planning regarding construction aggregate. Others call for various degrees of local government preemption on environmental issues. Aside from the obvious intrusion on home rule authority, there are many other reasons why preemption is a bad policy option. The Bureau of Mine Reclamation within the Department of Environmental Protection issues an Environmental Resource Permit to new and expanding mines. However, that permit does not address all local concerns. Wetlands under acre are not regulated. Mitigation is also not required to stay in the same community. Upland habitat concerns are not addressed in the state permit. From a growth management perspective, local governments are required to address things such as wetlands and habitat in the conservation element of their comprehensive plan. Any new statutory provisions regarding construction aggregate materials should be consistent with the Growth Management Act. Additionally, environmental impacts are commonly considered at the local level in determining whether a proposed land use is consistent with neighboring uses. The final report can be viewed at the following link.