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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