State’s budget addresses government control of quarries

By |  September 21, 2017

A frac sand plant and thickening tanks at Wisconsin’s Taylor Frac. Photo courtesy of McLanahan Corp.

Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) vetoed a provision in the Wisconsin state budget that would have taken away the rights of local governments to regulate aggregate operations.

According to the La Crosse Tribune, the provision would have prohibited counties and municipalities from regulating blasting, hours of operation, noise, air and water quality. The provision also limited local zoning laws’ reach.

The La Crosse (Wisconsin) Tribune reports that the governor does not reportedly object to the notion of limiting local control but rather to the manner in which this provision was introduced. Walker argues the provision was not discussed thoroughly enough to be included in the state budget.

“While I support the need to address quarry regulations and the ability to provide materials for public works projects in a timely manner, changes of this magnitude should be addressed as separate legislation where the implications can be more carefully explored,” Walker says.

The La Crosse Tribune reports the state legislature’s budget-writing committee introduced the measure after less than 90 minutes of debate. The provision was debated as part of an omnibus motion to amend the state’s transportation budget.

Read the La Crosse Tribune’s full article here.

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Kevin Yanik

About the Author:

Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.

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