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Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force Final Report
Summary of Consensus Recommendations

Issue 1 – Construction Aggregate Materials Resource Management
Consensus Recommendations (Not Prioritized)

1. Statutorily acknowledge that:

a. Construction aggregate materials are a finite natural resource.
b. Construction aggregate materials mining is an industry of critical importance to the state.
c. The siting and permitting of mines must be compatible with Florida’s environment and communities.
d. There are at least 33 counties where the aggregate and sand resource exists. Those counties include:
 

i. Aggregate Counties: Alachua, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie,
Hamilton, Hernando, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Levy, Liberty, Marion, Miami-
Dade, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor,
Washington

ii. Fine Aggregate Sand Counties: Bay, Calhoun, Clay, Gadsden, Glades,
Hendry, Lake, Marion, Polk, Putnam, Walton, Washington

iii. Shell Rock and Coquina Counties: Charlotte, Collier, Indian River, Lee,
Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St Lucie.

2. The Legislature should encourage a reliable, predictable, and sustainable supply of construction aggregate materials with a goal of maintaining public and private construction without interruptions.

3. The Legislature should continue to adopt policies, regulations and laws to encourage the increased use of recycled and reused construction aggregate materials as appropriate.

4. Alternative material substitutions for construction aggregate materials should be investigated and encouraged by all state agencies involved in construction as appropriate.

5. The Legislature should provide a specific appropriation for those activities required to further the goals of construction aggregate materials management, including but not limited to the development of the Strategic Aggregate Resource Assessment (SARA).

6. The SARA is critical to the economic, environmental, and social stability of the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) shall be the lead agency and shall work with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Department of Community Affairs (FDCA) in the preparation of SARA. The SARA should include, on a regional basis, the following:

a. For construction aggregate materials the SARA should:

i. The Florida Geological Survey (FGS) shall identify and map the areas where the construction aggregate materials deposits are located.

1. Information can be submitted by willing land owners to the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) for inclusion in State data repository.

2. The FGS should be directed to protect the confidentiality of any materials submitted to the FGS pursuant to the SARA process. The FGS shall maintain the confidential status of such information, as required by s. [to be adopted], and such information shall be exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).

ii. FDEP shall identify and superimpose on the above map the areas of natural resources subject to state permitting requirements.

iii. FDCA, along with the local governments, shall identify and superimpose the above map the areas of existing future land use elements of local comprehensive plans and local zoning regulations.

iv. Provide a projection of short and long term (5, 25 and 50 year) demand.

v. Provide an estimate of volume of aggregate available from already permitted mines to meet that demand.

vi. Identify out of state construction aggregate materials available to meet demand projections.

b. For infrastructure, identify the current and potential capacity of construction aggregate material imports into the State utilizing current and planned rail, connecting roadways and port infrastructure.

c. The SARA shall be updated every five (5) years and be included as part of the FDOT Florida Transportation Plan.

 

7. The state and local governments should protect existing mines from encroachment from incompatible development, and such actions should be expressly exempted from the Bert J. Harris Act.

8. The local governments should consider the expansion of existing mines. Mines should be sited, permitted or expanded in locations that result in the least amount of  additional environmental and community impacts.

9. The construction aggregate mining industry and construction industry should work with FDOT to establish a fee mechanism to pay for the initial costs of the SARA  implementation.

 

Issue 2 – State and Local Planning and Regulation of Mining
Consensus Recommendations (Not Prioritized)

11. Future procedures for the siting and permitting of construction aggregate materials mines should be based upon earlier and more inter-agency coordination.

Issue 3 – Infrastructure Improvements
Consensus Recommendations (Not Prioritized)

17. Provide statutory authority for FDOT to enter into Public-Private-Partnerships (P3) in development of rail and port infrastructure to facilitate distribution of strategic  construction aggregate materials.

18. The state should identify and prioritize possible funding sources for the improvement of or building of new rail/port facilities.

19. The aggregate resource counties should be - offered incentives regarding transportation funding – given priority as to transportation funding.

 

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