A controversial package of bills to change state rules around aggregate mining has been delayed in a state house committee. Opponents to the legislation are hopeful that mounting resistance can either kill - or improve the proposal.
The bills (HB 4526-4528) propose to hand permitting of sand and gravel mines, from local governments, over to the state.
State and local elected leaders from West Michigan met yesterday to push back on the package, raising environmental, health, and safety concerns.
“These aggregate bills, sadly, were not ready for primetime," said Democrat House Representative Rachel Hood (District 76). "I'm incredibly happy that we have held off and now we have even more hard work to do here in the House.”
Kent County Commissioner (District 19) Kris Pachla said he’s grateful the legislation has been put on pause.
“We know there's a need to ensure access to materials for our bold statewide economic plans, but there's a right and a wrong way to go about tackling these issues which impact public health,” Pachla said.
Aggregate industry representatives say the legislation would standardize the process and stop townships from “disrupting the supply chain” with local opposition to mines.
Christy McGillivray, with the Michigan Sierra Club, said a “better version” of the bills is being drafted in the State Senate, that includes more environmental oversight and local input in reviewing aggregate mines.
