Aggregate Extraction Primer

7/28/2019 Aggregate Extraction Primer

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A Primer on AggregateExtraction Mining in Utah

When is aggregate extractionconsidered mining under Utah

law?

- Mary Ann Wright, Associate Director Mining


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1975 Utah Mining statute

A mining industry is essential to theeconomic and physical well-being of thestate of Utah and the Nation.

It is necessary to alter the surface of theearth to extract minerals required by our

society, but this should be done in sucha way as to minimize undesirableeffects on the surroundings.


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History

Utah Mined Land Reclamation Act1975* IncludedIncluded sand and gravel as mining

MLRA was amended 1987

*ExcludedExcluded sand gravel and rockaggregate from mining definition


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1987 Legislative Session

Sometimes you deal with sand andgravel, House members, you get somebig rocks in there. And you kinda make

small ones out of them. This is theaggregate part of it.

Quote of Rep. Christensen, H.B. 311,Leg History, 1987


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SGRA Rulemaking

1997 Rulemaking to define SGRA terms1998 Rules became final

1999 Appealed by AGC to 3rd

DistrictCourt - Rulemaking upheld

2001 AGC Appealed to Supreme Court

Rulemaking upheld 12/2001


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Issues of AGC Appeal

Wanted definition by end use - what the endproduct is called, i.e. rock aggregate

Wanted definition by no greater intrinsicvalue than the material in which it iscontained argument

OGM did improper rulemaking


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Definitions

Associated with sand, graveldeposit /sedimentaryprocesses

-Excludes solid bedrockexposed at the surface

Rock Aggregate

2mm to 10mm deposited bysedimentary processes

Gravel

1/16mm to 2mm, deposited by

sedimentary processes

Sand


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SGRA exemptionexemption applies to

unconsolidated sand or graveland larger rocks associated

with sand or gravel


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So what is regulatedmining?

In regard to Sand. Gravel & Rock

Aggregate


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Mining Is When the SGRAOperator:

Is no longer mining unconsolidatedalluvial material

Is mining into the bedrock

Is using a pattern of explosives to minethe bedrock

Is no longer in rip-able material, and istherefore mining consolidated bedrock


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Lets look at some examples

Example #1Blasting intobedrock

Example #2Blasting is beingused in place of

ripping


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This site has extracted themajority of sand and gravel at

the site

They are currently using patternblasting on bedrock to achieve thesame/similar product as before


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This site is still extracting sandand gravel in some areas

But is also using ripping to mine thebedrock


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If mining is in the bedrock, it is regulated mining

OGM is clear on what is regulated

But, the issues of Sand Gravel RockAggregate extraction in Utah still remains


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This is what is exempt:

Sand extractionGravel extraction

Rock aggregate extraction whenassociated with a sand and graveldeposit


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At first glance, this exemptextraction looks much like

regulated mining

This is an example:


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2003 Legislation

Authorized a Task Force Study of theImpact of Gravel Pits

Purpose: to study the operations of

gravel pits in the state and their impacton the surrounding environment and

infrastructure


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The Legislative Task Forcestudied the issue of sand,

gravel and rock aggregateextraction

They studied the following:


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Issues of SGRANoise, lights and Operation times

Dust Air quality

Aesthetics

SafetyReal Estate values

Road wearWater quality


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Task Force findings:

Recommendation: Change the statuteto delete current exemption for SGRA

This change did not go forward sinceLegislators were not convinced of this

as the solution to the SGRA issues.


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Aggregate Extraction Primer

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