Bill Text: PA HR70 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting the department of Transportation to conduct a study of the slate industry for the purpose of devising the best means of utilizing the slate waste by-product as a component in highway construction and civil engineering projects.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 20-10)

Status: (Passed) 2011-12-06 - Adopted (192-1) [HR70 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR70-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 604
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 70 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY HARHART, PICKETT, QUINN, REICHLEY, MAJOR, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DAY, FLECK, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HAHN, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MILLER, MYERS, O'NEILL, PEIFER, RAPP, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, STEVENSON, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND SONNEY, FEBRUARY 14, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 14, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Requesting the Department of Transportation to conduct a study
of the slate industry for the purpose of devising the best
means of utilizing the slate waste by-product as a component
in highway construction and civil engineering projects.
WHEREAS, Huge quantities of solid wastes are generated as a
result of mining and mineral processing activities in this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the majority of these by-products
have been disposed of in unsightly dumping areas which are
aesthetically unattractive and often degrading to the
environment; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania slate industries produce enormous
amounts of waste material from the quarrying, splitting and
milling of slate; and
WHEREAS, The lack of disposal options and of markets for this
material has resulted in the stockpiling of large quantities of
slate waste; and
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WHEREAS, The growing quantity of slate waste is a major
concern for communities and governmental agencies; and
WHEREAS, Additional efforts to recycle such wastes are
needed, and existing stockpiles of slate waste throughout this
Commonwealth should be remediated; and
WHEREAS, Slate waste, because of its similarity to
conventional aggregates, represents a potentially useful source
of material for a variety of applications where crushed rock is
specified; and
WHEREAS, The highway construction industry has a long history
of using recycled products for highway construction and civil
engineering projects and can effectively use large quantities of
diverse materials; and
WHEREAS, The use of waste materials in the construction of
pavements has benefits in not only reducing the amount of waste
materials requiring disposal but can also provide construction
materials with significant savings over new materials; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request the
Department of Transportation to undertake a study documenting
the feasibility of using recycled slate waste in projects
associated with highway construction, concrete aggregate and
drainfields or as a skid-resistant aggregate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation be urged to
report its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor's
office within six months of the adoption of this resolution,
such report to include:
(1) pertinent technical, economic and environmental
considerations involved in the use of slate waste for highway
construction and civil engineering projects by State and
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local governments; and
(2) the utilization and practices of all states relating
to the reuse of slate waste material in construction
projects.
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