Proposed bills aim for concrete batch plant oversight

More administrative and regulatory oversight on concrete batch plants and quarries in Hays and Blanco counties might be on the horizon with the filing of four new bills.

The legislation, filed by State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood), is in direct response to concerns about the lack of oversight for concrete batch plants, gravel pits, quarries and stone crushers in the area.

“We’ve seen a proliferation of these facilities, often in someone’s backyard,” Zwiener said. “We have long-time operators that are good neighbors, but we also have new operators that have, quite frankly, been horrible neighbors.”