Kerr County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution asking the Texas Legislature to place more regulations on mining operations.
The resolution states that although mining operations – also known as aggregate production operations – have attempted to be “good neighbors,” they can be detrimental to beauty, air and water quality, and can adversely affect property values and quality of life, if they’re near neighborhoods.
“The Kerr County Commissioners Court encourages existing and potential APOs to adopt best-management practices to minimize adverse health effects and nuisance issues,” reads the resolution as presented by Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Moser during the March 1 meeting of the Kerr County Commissioners Court.
The resolution passed by a 3-0 vote, with Precinct 1 Commissioner Harley Belew being absent for the vote.
The court voted following a presentation by representatives of Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining. According to the group’s website, several bills have been introduced during the current legislative session, plus recommendations were generated by the House Interim Study Committee on Aggregate Production Operations.
The resolution was sparked by concerns over West Texas Aggregate LLC’s desire for a permanent rock and concrete crusher facility near the airport east of Kerrville, at Al Mooney Road and Texas Highway 27.
The city of Kerrville unanimously approved a resolution in January opposing the issuance by the state of a permit for the facility. The mining operation is outside the city limits and its regulatory control, and the county has no authority over the company behind floodplain issues, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will consider the city’s resolution and any other comments in its decision about whether to issue the air quality standard permit to West Texas Aggregate LLC, which is out of Midland.
Comments to the TCEQ were due Jan. 15.
This article was written by Sean Batura with the Kerrville Daily Times on March 6, 2021 and is shared with permission.