Commissions for the City of Garden Ridge, Texas

Mission
Serve as an educational resource to the citizens of Garden Ridge, advising them about the Hanson Quarry and itsimpact, monitor quarry operations for compliance with City Ordinances, recommend needed changes to City Ordinancesand to develop a quarry grievance process in order to protect the natural and economic environment and the quality oflife in the City of Garden Ridge. The Quarry Commission which has no legal or regulatory authority functions as apoint of contact with the management of Hanson Aggregates Servtex to enhance relations and to work on issues in the best interests of the citizens of Garden Ridge.

Overview
The Hanson Aggregates Servtex Garden Ridge Quarry comprises approximately 3000 acres of which the operational portionis within the city limits. It produces approximately 25,000 tons of crushed stone daily. At this time on an average of two to three times per week, the quarry blasts rock for their crushing operations. These blasts are generallynear midday and are generally well below federal guidelines. Current plans are to mine the area behind Trophy Oaks subdivision which should take several years. Then mining operations will shift to a northwesterly direction, whichwill be generally towards city hall, Georg Ranch and Old Schoenthal Road. However, the Quarry face which will have a different orientation will still be adjacent to Trophy Oaks for several years. The current projection is that it will take –up to 25 years to mine their holdings.

Currently, there are no state, county or local laws governing mining operations so long as they comply with federal guidelines and meet environmental standards. Your Quarry Commission has been effective in reducing the impacts of quarry operations on our community.

Accomplishments

The Garden Ridge Quarry Commission has been in existence for over 10 years (August 2011). It was formed with the approval of the City Council and Mayor by concerned citizens. The commission has little legal recourse to stop quarry activity, though we continually support efforts at the state and county level that would change this. We have always made it a critical issue to mitigate and moderate the impact of the quarry on the citizens of Garden Ridge. Without our (your) concerns being voiced, The quarry would likely blast much closer to the Federal guideline maximums. The Quarry Commission, working with The City Council, the Mayor, Hanson Aggregates and Austin Powder has been successful in the following areas;

1: Upon being formed the Quarry Commission created an open channel for dialogue with the quarry. The commission instituted a blast monitoring system in an attempt to better understand and evaluate quarry blasts. Numerous educational meetings have been held to better educate the members of the Commission. This has allowed better and more pointed communication with Hanson and Austin Powder for the benefit of city the residents.

2: The Quarry Commission negotiated with Hanson to purchase and use a blast face profiler to reduce air blasts during quarry detonations. Generally, it is the air blasts not the noise or the ground vibrations that are the most perceptible.

3: The Quarry Commission encouraged Hanson to change from the use of standard blasting caps to the use of electronic blasting caps. This action was taken in order to lessen the perceived impact of blasts by better controlling the split mille-second timing between the typical 36 individual detonations that make up a “blast” over the course of one second. These electronic caps, which cost over $3000 more per blast, have afforded more consistency in controlling blast effects.

4: With the encouragement of the Quarry Commission Hanson constructed and continues to enlarge an earthen berm between the western most limits of the quarry face and the Trophy Oaks Subdivision. This berm provides visual screening; helps deflect quarry noise, and acts as a physical barrier.

5: The Quarry Commission requested that Hanson provide employees and contractors to work with the Commission. This includes the quarry site manager and the lead blasting contractor. This allows for better communications which results in faster response to citizen concerns.

6: At the recommendation of the Quarry Commission Hanson purchased one, and ultimately 3, calibrated seismic monitors and has paid the expenses of blast measurements at specific locations directed by the Commission based on citizen requests and required data.

7: After a lengthy process, Vibra-Tech, the firm that was instrumental in developing Federal Mining Guidelines was selected by the Commission and approved by the City Council to monitor quarry blasting. This firm collects and analyzes blast data then renders monthly reports on each blast to the City. This data is used by the Commission and Hanson to reduce impact of the quarry operations. Under the provisions of Garden Ridge City Ordinance 34, Hanson assumed the cost of an independent blast vibration consultant firm which monitors blasting operations. Upon a request from the Commission, Hanson has expanded the initial agreement from monitoring at one to three locations.

These reports are available on this website.

8: With the encouragement of the Quarry Commission Hanson changed the face of the quarry in order to better direct ground vibrations away from the majority of the City.This expensive measure caused the quarry to cut a hundred foot deep by approximately 950-foot wide notch out of solid limestone. As this notch was extended to the west he intensity of blasts was more perceptible. Due to the shift of the quarry face, Hanson is incurring daily increases in their production costs as the operation is less efficient and time/distance to the crusher is increased. In October 2005, Hanson began to bench their blasts in the notch thus reducing the required amount of explosives as they approach Trophy Oaks. Benching refers to blasting 50 feet deep instead of the normal 95 feet. A second blast for the lower 45 feet is required, but should have much reduced effects.

9: The Quarry Commission has conducted 2 public meetings which included Hanson, Vibra-Tech, the Quarry Commission and an independent soils engineer to better educate the citizens about blasting and soils related concerns.

10: With the aggressive encouragement from the Quarry Commission Hanson retained a blasting contractor whose firm is working with the Commission to lessen blast effects rather than just being focused on production goals. This was agreed to by Hanson after the 2 other blasting contractors being evaluated exceeded impact guidelines in test shots. Until January of 2011 Austin Powder, the blasting contractor had not exceeded limits one time.

11: The Quarry Commission has educated and continues to educate the citizens on quarry issues and operations through Grapevine articles, the city’s website, quarry site tours and the Commission’s monthly meetings. We encourage citizens to attend our monthly meeting. Don’t wait for a blast to impact you before you become educated on the quarry operations, your Quarry Commission’s ability to support you and what State and Federal rules apply.

12: The Quarry Commission has developed electronic means for citizens to contact the City and Commission about quarry concerns at quarrycom@ci.garden-ridge.tx.us Citizens are encouraged to report any excessive or unusual blasts in order that they can be properly investigated.

13: The Quarry Commission has routinely encouraged Hanson to do everything possible to keep blast impact data at 50% of the Z curve and to be highly sensitive to air over pressure.

14: The Quarry Commission has repeatedly talked to Hanson and Austin Powder about blast timing to mitigate impact. This technical issue is one of the most important points that must be understood and pursued to lessen impact on our homes.

15: The Quarry Commission has negotiated a minimum distance of 1000’ from the nearest citizen residence. While a good case can be made that closer blasting requires much more stringent blast controls and this mandate makes specific distances less important we, nonetheless, feel our citizens will be more comfortable with specific setbacks (unlike Shaveno Park where mining occurs within 250’ of some homes).

16: The Quarry Commission has worked routinely with Hanson on noise and light discipline. Hanson has been immediately responsive on night time lighting issues and OSHA audible backup alarms. They redirected lights and purchased OSHA approved strobe devices for night time operations.

17: The Quarry Commission has always recommended that Hanson and Austin Powder be sensitive to weather events that might increase blast impact. Austin Powder, with Hanson’s approval, has on numerous occasion held or even postponed shots that might be negatively impacted by weather.

18: The Quarry Commission has created a citizen blast report form and has a personal follow up plan to contact citizens about their blast reports. We discuss each citizen report and assign a commission member to personally contact the citizen involved. We discuss each blast report at our open meetings.

19: The Quarry Commission is serious about our blast follow up process. We have had one instance where, by Federal Standards, damage may have been possible to structures. The timely filing of these reports is important if we are to follow up with Hanson and seek repairs. Even where damage is not reported or covered your Quarry Commission, by its very existence, constantly reinforces to Hanson the need to be “low impact”

20: The Quarry Commission has routinely encouraged Hanson to be responsive to citizen blast damage complaints and repair damage whenever possible. Hanson requested that each homeowner be contacted by the city’s contracted blasting supervisor and that a full report be filed. Damage was, in some cases, repaired by Hanson.

21: The Quarry Commission has written a letter to the State legislature on the need for hard rock mining legislation. This letter was presented to the legislature by Mayor Fiebleman. We encourage all citizens to be in contact with their legislators on this issue. There are NO regulations in Texas that control hard rock mining. This isn’t likely to change without your input.

22: The Quarry Commission promoted and supported a meeting and tour at the Quarry with Senator Wentworth. This is another effort to bring to state legislators the importance of overseeing hard rock mining in Texas. Senator Wentworth is more engaged in this issue that most who currently serve us. Write to him.

23: The Quarry Commission promoted and supported a visit to Austin to meet with State officials on quarry operations and impact zones. We hope to do this again and would encourage all citizens who can attend to do so. More voices are better heard.

24: The Quarry Commission has been very aggressive in our reaction to blasts that go beyond the Federal Guidelines (3 times in the past 10 years, to Mar 2011). Both the Quarry Commission and the quarry believe once is too often. We will continue to press for zero errors.

25: The Quarry Commission has encouraged the employment of outside experts to report to the quarry commission on oversight, monitoring and blast impact mitigation techniques. Our newly proposed ordinance 34 will substantially raise the annual fees paid by the quarry. Some of this money will be used to pay qualified outside experts to assist the city in it’s quarry oversight responsibilities.

26: The Quarry Commission believes that blast face direction is important and has regularly encouraged the quarry to turn the face of the active mining site away from the homeowners in Garden Ridge whenever possible to help reduce blast impact, especially air over pressure.

27: The Quarry Commission has been successful in encouraging Hanson to continue its dialogue with the city in the face of citizen legal action. Many companies stop all contact when litigation occurs. This has been, on two occasions, the initial reaction of Hanson attorneys. Your Quarry Commission and local Hanson management has managed to push beyond these potential restrictions and continued our dialogue.

28: The Quarry Commission has successfully encourage Hanson to listen to the new techniques and technologies presented by Vibra-Tech, Austin Powder and outside experts without consideration to cost where possible. Hanson and Austin Powder have on numerous occasions brought to our attention costly techniques that, in the absence of your Quarry Commission, might have not have been used.

29: The Quarry Commission completed and forwarded to City Council its recommendation for an update to Ordinance 34. This process started in earnest in 2007 and was held up for about 18 months by citizen litigation. We have discussed this ordinance update in 60 public meetings. The old ordinance in meaningfully inadequate in protecting our properties.

30: The Quarry Commission is working on a Public Meeting that will cover he impact of quarry operations and Texas weather and soils on our homes. The Commission has held this type meeting in the past. It is our effort to better inform the citizens as to the Quarry and it’s operations.

31: The Quarry Commission is working on a Public Meeting with City Council to discuss and consider citizen input to Ord. 34. The Commission is interested In all feedback from citizens as we move forward.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE GARDEN RIDGE QUARRY

In operation since 1937, the Hanson Aggregates Servtex Garden Ridge Quarry now comprises approximately 3000 acres of which the majority of the operational portion is within the city limits. It produces approximately 25,000 tons of crushed stone daily and will continue to operate for the foreseeable future. At this time, the quarry blasts rock for their crushing operations normally two to three times per week as opposed to the previous four to five times per week. Upon completion of mining the area behind Trophy Oaks subdivision, operations will shift to a northwesterly direction, which will be generally towards Georg Ranch and Old Schoenthal Road. The current projection is that it will take up to 25 years to mine their holdings.

Currently, there are no state, county or local laws governing mining operations; however they are to comply with federal guidelines as defined by the US Bureau of Mines and to meet environmental standards. To date, the impact of Hanson quarry operations are routinely below these Federal guidelines. Even though the Quarry Commission has no legal or regulatory authority, it has been effective in reducing the impact(s) of quarry operations on our community.

Through an independent reporting system, the Commission monitors all blasts and functions as a point of contact with the management of Hanson Aggregates Servtex. The Commission’s goal is to enhance community / quarry relations and to work on issues in the best interests of the citizens of Garden Ridge. Working with the Commission, Hanson has taken a number of positive actions to reduce the impacts of their operations on the city. Information on these actions is available on this website or at the city hall.

The Commission will continue to educate the citizens on quarry issues and operations through future Grapevine articles, the city’s website, and the Commission’s monthly meetings. Citizens may obtain and/or provide information or express concerns by attending Commission meetings, which routinely meet the second Monday of each month, at 7:00pm, in the City Court Room or by sending e-mail to the commission at:
quarrycom@ci.garden-ridge.tx.us.

FROM YOUR QUARRY COMMISSION

Documents in Layman's Terms
Your Quarry Commission has developed several documents that are written in “Layman’s terms” which will allow citizens to educate themselves about the Hansom
Quarry. The use of these will allow those attending Quarry Commission meetings to better understand proceedings and reports which in turn will result in more efficient meetings. Copies of these documents as well as electronic versions can be obtained either by contacting the City Hall or at the Quarry Commission meetings. They will also be available on line once the city’s website is restored.

We Need Citizens to Assist
To assist the Quarry Commission with its mission, it is important for the commission to understand the impact of the quarry on the entire city. The commission needs citizens to complete and submit reports to the City Hall to provide a clear picture of the impact the quarry operations on the city. The Commission needs to know about minimal blasts as well as those which cause concerns. This is especially important as the quarry has been and will be mining in new areas. Please make copies of the report on the reverse side of this page for your use. An electronic version is available from the City Hall and in the future will be available via the city’s website.

Quarry Blasts
Each quarry blast is monitored at three separate locations and reports are rendered to the city. One monitor is at a permanent location, another at the closest residence to the blast and a third is placed at the discretion of the Commission. Citizens desiring to have a monitor placed at their residence may do so by contacting a commissioner, City Hall or sending an e-mail request to the address below. The Commission will do its best to honor all requests as its availability allows.

Vacancy on the Commission
In the next few months there will be vacancies on the Commission. In order to maintain continuity, having names of citizens on file who are willing to serve their community will prove very beneficial. If you are willing to give several hours a month, please contact the Commission via e-mail at quarrycom@ci.garden-ridge.tx.us or call the City Administrator at (210) 651-6632. The city would best be served if the Commission had representation from all areas of the city. The commission would like representation from Regency Oaks and west of Bat Cave Road.

Invitation to Quarry Meetings
Citizens may obtain and/or provide information or express concerns by attending Commission meetings, which routinely meet the second Monday of each month, at 7:00 pm, in the City courtroom or by sending e-mail to the commission at quarrycom@ci.garden-ridge.tx.us.