rock crushing plant

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 50 filled the justice of the peace courtroom at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center Monday, cheering as county commissioners narrowly approved a resolution opposing a rock crushing plant on Sandy Creek.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A Llano County commissioner is holding a town hall meeting Tuesday, June 19, at the Kingsland Library to discuss a possible new portable rock crushing operation at Sunrise Beach Village off Texas 71.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

ROUND MOUNTAIN — Blanco County residents voiced concerns Wednesday evening that a rock quarrying operation may move into the heart of this idyllic, tranquil ranchland west of town.

Denver-based Summit Materials, which sells aggregates, has a subsidiary, Austin Materials, located in Central Texas. According to Davy Roberts, a developer who lives nearby, Summit Materials has made an offer on 350 acres of property owned by the family of the late Donald Edgar Smith.

The land in question is located at the corner of Ranch to Market Road 962 and Smith West Ranch Road (Blanco County Road 308) and includes about one mile of frontage along RM 962 and a half-mile frontage along Smith West Ranch Road. It is part of an overall tract of about 1,340 acres the family owns in northern Blanco County.

As a service to our readers, we have loaded the TCEQ Response to Comments regarding Asphalt Inc.'s air quality permit 148112 on our website in its entirety. This is available for free as an e-edition to our readers. This is the official 58-page TCEQ response to public comments made about the air quality permit for the proposed rock crushing plant to be located south of Marble Falls off US 281.

To read the document, go to http://bit.ly/2Aeg8cm and click on "TCEQ Response to Comments Asphalt Inc 148112"

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials told Marble Falls Mayor John Packer Thursday they did not know of proposed housing developments planned for south of Marble Falls when they reviewed an air quality permit application by Asphalt Inc. for a rock crushing plant, but added they would have made no difference.

“I didn't know about the new (Gregg Ranch) housing development or the (Baylor Scott & White) hospital or any of the infrastructure that was there,” said Don Nelon of the TCEQ Air Permits Division. “However, if there would have been a map which identified every existing house, every future house and all new businesses it wouldn't have mattered. If they are outside 440 yards of the rock crusher, there will not be an impact from this plant.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials do not believe a rock-crushing plant south of Marble Falls would have an impact on air quality at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, according to a letter sent to state Sen. Dawn Buckingham Thursday.

However, the letter also states the TCEQ “does not operate an air quality monitor in the immediate area of the proposed facility” with the closest particulate monitoring station some 25 miles east of the proposed plant site.

Earlier this month, Buckingham, R-Austin, had sent a list of questions to TCEQ executive director Richard A. Hyde PE about the impact the proposed Asphalt Inc. facility would have on air and water quality and how its permit would be enforced prior to a scheduled 7 p.m. Oct. 26 informational meeting about the permit at Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Public comment deadline for a proposed Air Quality Standard permit for a proposed rock crushing plant south of Marble Falls has been extended by three weeks until Oct. 31, state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, said Friday.

Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, informational meeting about the Asphalt Inc. permit application at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista, Marble Falls, Buckingham said.

“To my constituents in Senate District 24 I hear you,” Buckingham said. “Many of you in the Marble Falls and surrounding areas have voiced your concerns and frustrations about a proposed rock crushing permit request and an inability, in some cases, to get your questions answered. That's why I reached out to the regulatory agency involved on your behalf demanding more transparency.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The possibility of a new Asphalt, Inc. rock crushing plant on the far southern outskirts of the city brought the largest contingent of visitors to the Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday night, Sept. 19.

In a meeting that opened with proclamations recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the Marble Falls Library's Main Street location and hunger awareness, the agenda included a proposed ordinance establishing the intent of the City of Marble Falls to annex into the city limits 1,242 acres of land that would place the proposed plant in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city.

“Annexation is not a silver bullet,” said Mayor John Packer. “But it could give us some standing.”

The plant opponents seemed gratified, nonetheless, to witness a unanimous council vote in support of the ordinance.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Citizens begged state environmental officials to consider the cumulative effects of air pollutants at an air quality hearing for a local rock quarry Thursday.

Burnet County residents took to the mic to openly oppose the permit amendment, which would authorize modifications to the rock crushing facility at the Oldcastle Materials Texas quarry on US 281, (formerly Capital Aggregates) allowing for an increase in production.