Environment
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Many Williamson County residents say they’ve been negatively impacted by the area’s growing rock quarry industry, and are looking to organize and take action. Almost 250 people gathered at a forum designed for residents to voice their concerns in front of a panel of speakers discussing the issue at Sun City in Georgetown on Feb. 29. Texas Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, and quarry and environmental experts spoke about how residents could seek local and legislative change to peacefully coexist with quarries and other aggregate production operations, or APOs, which extract gravel, sand and rock from the earth. Williamson County is home to the most APOs in Texas with 37 registered operations as of March 1, a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality representative told Community Impact . As the county’s APO industry expands, more quarries are located near existing and future residential developments, according to a presentation at the event. Rock quarries spark concerns "Quarries are absolutely essential for growth in the area. That’s how we build homes, roads [and] bridges. The goal is not to put them out of business, but rather how can we live together more harmoniously." CHRISTINA SCHWERDTFEGER, PANEL MODERATOR AND RETIRED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
Quarry qualms Residents cited experiencing the following due to quarries:
The impact
Representatives from several Georgetown-area neighborhoods near quarries shared their con- cerns, including people living in Berry Creek Highlands, Live Oak Park, Shady Oak Estates and seven neighborhoods in Sun City—a senior living community with more than 9,000 homes. Jill Shackelford, a former quarry owner, said forming a council with local leaders and quarry operators can bridge the gap between neighbor- hoods and the quarries aecting them. Operators can implement practices to reduce dust and noise pollution, including preserving vegetation, covering conveyors, and storing rock crushers in an enclosed space, she said. “You do have a voice,” Shackelford said. “You need to communicate with the operators that are in this county, and they need to communicate with you.”
Foundation and drywall cracks
Blastings without warnings
Poor air quality from dust pollution
Negative impact on property values
Loud noise and vibrations
Loss of vegetation
Many residents at the event expressed an interest in forming a citizen’s advisory council to advocate for better conditions.
Hazardous driving conditions
SOURCE: RESIDENTS AT THE FEB. 29 EVENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What they’re saying
Survey says In a survey of residents at the event, 97% of respondents reported personally experiencing negative impacts from quarries, specically:
“We chose Live Oak Park for its peacefulness, never expecting the encroachment of the mining operations and their operating companies that prioritize their stone extraction over people’s rights to clean air in a safe, clean environment,” Live Oak Park resident Mike Meadors said. Sun City resident Pat Berthold said the senior community fears poor air quality from dust will negatively impact their health and is seeking for a permanent air quality monitor to be installed nearby. The nearest monitor, which is 7 miles away, has indicated unhealthy air quality, and some residents have experienced respiratory problems, she said. Michael Spano, a Shady Oaks Estates resident and co-founder of the Coalition for Responsible
90% felt quarry blasts 45% had property damage 61% experienced excessive dust 55% had vehicle damage
SOURCE: COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE AGGREGATE MINING COMMUNITY IMPACT
Environmental Aggregate Mining, said his neigh- borhood has received no assistance from the city or county despite seeking help. “When can we come together as quarry operators, as citizens, the city and county to work this out together? Because it needs to happen,” Spano said.
Moving forward
damage, maintaining specic operating hours and making nondeceptive land purchases. “We’re talking about the industry that’s literally moving up against our neighborhoods, and there’s not a single thing to stop it,” Wilson said.
of political support. Moving forward, Wilson said he wants to incentivize APOs to implement best practices, including using a less impactful computer- based blasting method, monitoring water usage, addressing truck routing to avoid road
The number of APO permits in Texas has grown from 80 in 2005 when the state deregulated the industry, to 1,800 in 2018, Wilson said. Wilson said he has had little success with legislation in the Texas Legislature to mitigate the impact of APOs due to lobbying and a lack
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