Locals chartering bus to testify for second quarry bill at Capitol
Save Burnet is organizing a bus trip to the Texas Capitol on April 24 to support House Bill 5151, which would ban rock quarries near certain lakes and state parks. File photo
Another major quarry restriction bill is up for hearing Thursday, April 24, at the Texas Capitol, and a group of Burnet County residents are chartering a bus to make sure their voices are heard.
House Bill 5151, authored by state Rep. Terry Wilson of District 20, would ban aggregate production operations, including quarries and rock-crushing plants, within 4 miles of certain lakes and state parks and within 2 miles of youth camps licensed by the state. A similar bill authored by Burnet County’s representative, Ellen Troxclair, is currently being revised after its hearing.
The hearing for HB 5151 is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday before the House Environmental Regulations Committee. It was written in direct response to an Asphalt Inc. quarry proposed for a site near Inks Lake and Longhorn Cavern state parks and Camp Longhorn in Burnet County.
Local nonprofit Save Burnet is offering free transportation from Burnet to Austin for supporters willing to speak in favor of the bill during the public hearing.
“We’ve still got about 16 spots open,” Save Burnet Chairman Randy Printz told DailyTrib.com. “We’d love for people to come with us and speak up. It doesn’t have to be long, just heartfelt. A few words can make a big difference.”
Printz, a local rancher, lives directly across Hoover Valley Road (FM 3509) from the proposed quarry site, which is just southwest of the Burnet city limits. He said the project is both personal and regional.
“You’d be putting a rock quarry next to two state parks and a kids’ camp,” he said. “This bill is a step toward protecting the Hill Country and the people who live here.”
Bus seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those willing to testify. To reserve a spot, visit Save Burnet’s contact page and fill out the contact form, commenting that you want a seat. Those taking the bus should arrive at the AgriLife Extension building, 607 N. Vanderveer in Burnet, at around 7 a.m. Thursday for a 7:30 a.m. departure. The bus will return after the hearing concludes, sometime between noon and 4 p.m.
“We rented a small bus because of the short time period. We didn’t elect to get a big one out of respect for the committee members and the legislators,” Printz said. “We didn’t wanna take 50 or 100 people down there, so we thought, you know, 15 or 20 people is respectful of the committee’s time.”
Written comments may also be submitted online at comments.house.texas.gov. The hearing will stream live at house.texas.gov/videos.
Printz said some supporters are traveling quite a distance to attend the hearing.
“We even have someone flying in from Tennessee,” he said. “This place means something to people, even those who just visit.”
Printz also addressed House Bill 3482, which was filed earlier this legislative session by Rep. Troxclair. HB 3482 was heard by the House Natural Resources Committee on April 9 and left pending. According to Printz, Troxclair is now working on revisions based on feedback received during that hearing.
While HB 3482 calls for increased regulation and data collection near sensitive areas, Rep. Wilson’s HB 5151 takes a firmer stance, directly prohibiting new aggregate mining operations near specified parks and camps.
“This isn’t about stopping all development,” Printz said. “It’s about putting boundaries where they make sense. And this is one of those places.”