Bill > HB578

This bill establishes the Alabama Quarry Safety Act, which introduces a comprehensive new process for local government approval of new quarry sites starting October 1, 2025. The bill requires quarry operators to submit detailed documentation to local government authorities, including a Comprehensive Quarry Use Plan, Traffic Impact Study, Infrastructure Impact Report, Noise Study, Reclamation Plan, and Community Advisory Plan before the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) can process any new quarry permits. Local governments must hold a public hearing within 60 days of receiving these documents and decide within 30 days whether to approve the quarry site, which must be at least 250 contiguous acres with 100-foot setbacks from the perimeter. Additionally, the bill mandates that each approved quarry establish a five-member advisory board including a local elected official, a nearby residential property owner, and a local business representative, who will meet quarterly to review the quarry's community impact. The legislation aims to balance economic development with community interests by giving local governments more control over quarry site approvals and ensuring ongoing community engagement. The bill does not apply to existing quarries or expansions of previously permitted sites and does not replace the need for other required permits.