HB578 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Debbie Wood

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Quarries; Environmental Management Department prohibited form issuing permits under certain circumstances; procedures for local government approval provided; advisory boards provided for

Summary

HB578 would require local governments to approve quarry siting before certain state permits are issued, establish detailed local review steps, and create an advisory board to monitor quarry impacts.

What This Bill Does

The bill bars the Department of Environmental Management from processing new air or NPDES permits for quarries unless a local government approves siting. It requires operators to submit detailed plans and studies (Comprehensive Quarry Use Plan, Traffic Impact Study, Infrastructure Impact Report, Noise Study, Reclamation Plan, and Community Advisory Plan) and to conduct a public hearing. If approved, the local government must establish a five-person advisory board to monitor ongoing impacts. It also sets minimum site size and setback rules and outlines hearing and decision timelines, with exemptions for certain pre-October 1, 2025 applications and expansions.

Who It Affects

• Local governments (counties and municipalities) will gain authority and duties to review quarry siting, require specific documentation, hold public hearings, and establish an advisory board to monitor quarries.
• Quarry operators must prepare and submit the required plans and studies, obtain local siting approval before the state issues certain permits, and comply with ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements via the advisory board; sites must meet size and setback rules.

Key Provisions

• The Department of Environmental Management cannot process new air or NPDES permits for a quarry unless local government siting approval is obtained.
• Required submissions for siting approval include: Comprehensive Quarry Use Plan, Traffic Impact Study, Infrastructure Impact Report, Noise Study, Reclamation Plan, and Community Advisory Plan.
• Siting approval requires the local government to consider the submissions, hold a public hearing, and provide for public notice and access to documents.
• Quarry site criteria: at least 250 contiguous acres and operator must establish at least 100-foot setbacks from the quarry perimeter.
• Public hearing must occur within 60 days of receiving required documents; notice must be given at least 30 days in advance; decisions must be made within 30 days after the hearing, or it is considered a denial.
• Exemptions: applies only to applications after October 1, 2025 for certain cases; does not apply to existing applications to the department before that date or expansions of previously permitted quarries; does not remove other necessary permits.
• If a quarry is approved, the local government must appoint an advisory board of at least five local residents, including an elected official, a nearby residential property owner, and a nearby business owner; the board will meet quarterly and receive ongoing impact reports from the operator.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation & Natural Resources; Counties & Municipalities