Nearly two dozen Burnet County residents traveled to Austin April 24 to testify before the Texas Committee on Environmental Regulation in support of a quarry regulation bill.
The hearing was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. but delays moved their timing to testify later that afternoon. Organizers say they did not waste time, however.
They knocked on doors to pass along their support for Texas House Bill 5151, sponsored by State Rep. Terry Wilson (HD-20), that would place limits on where rock quarries could operate around the state.
Particularly, Saveburnet. com’s committee launched their group after a controversial quarry operation planned to sink roots in Hoover’s Valley near state parks and a camping venue.
“We did meet with Terry Wilson’s office,” Committee member and coordinator Randy Printz told The Highlander. “We brought a contingency, met with his staff and went over the support. He’s going to be there in person (at the hearing) and meet with the committee.
“We want to make sure that we show support, so the committee members will vote yes, so it will proceed,” he added. “We went to committee member offices, met with staff and left them information tthey’re going to pass along.
Texas House Bill 5151 would set a permanent limit on the distance of rock quarries and crushers from venues considered scenic, environmentally sensitive and recreational.
The bill states that:“[C]rushing facilities are prohibited at any site that is located within: (1) four miles of a lake owned or operated by a Texas river authority, with a national fish hatchery; (2) four miles of the entrance of a state park operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with a cavern dedicated in 1971 as a National Natural Landmark; and (3) two miles of a youth camp founded in 1975 and licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a site that was legally operating as a mine, quarry, or rock crushing facility on or before Jan. 1, 2025.”
The hearing had not convened by press time April 24.
“It was originally going to be at 10:30, but now they say 1 or 2,” Printz said. “Terry Wilson’s bill will either be 1, 2 or 3 up. Hopefully we get out of here by 6 or 7 tonight.”
About 18 people rode together on a leased bus, and another half dozen supporters arrived individually.
“It’s the first time for just about all of us. We’re learning,” Printz said. “We found a lobbyist helping us for free.
“We all kind of have the same theme, but we have people to focus on the camp, I’ll focus on the air. Alot of people will focus on the water.”
Wilson’s district, which includes Williamson County, is adjacent to State Rep. Ellen Troxclair’s (HD-19) district. Troxclair’s district includes Burnet, Blanco and Gillespie counties and part of western Travis County. Texas House Bill 3482, sponsored by Troxclair, was detailed April 9 at the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Natural Resources in Austin.
