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Dust Control Practices for Quarries and Concrete Batch Plants

The Central Texas Corridor is growing rapidly and uses tons of concrete, crushed stone, gravel and sand to construct buildings, roads and bridges. Quarries and Concrete Batch Plants (CBPs) provide these essential construction materials to local businesses and governmental entities. They are essential businesses which are necessary for the continuing growth of Texas.

It is well known that quarries and CBPs can produce substantial quantities of dust from their operations. Fugitive dust might seem like a minor public nuisance but to a private homeowner or neighborhood community, it can cause human health problems, limit visibility on public roads and contaminate streams, creeks and aquifers. That’s why the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires permits for quarries and CBPs.

Central Texas Clean Air Coalition is working to get a better handle on which dust control practices are being used within CAPCOG and how regional air quality is affected, particularly for particulate matter (PM). Ramon Zarate attended a meeting of the Williamson County Aggregate Production Operation (APO) Citizen’s Council on June 4^th where one quarry operator shared details about their dust control measures. On May 14^th, the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition heard from Jill Shackelford, a former quarry owner, about her success stories to mitigate dust emissions. [AC1]

The table below identifies some typical dust control practices used at quarries and CBPs throughout Texas. Some of these methods are permit requirements from TCEQ and others are best management practices (BMPs).

Location at Facility	Dust Control Measures
Process Equipment	Spray water or mist on stockpiles, material loading and screening operations, conveyer belts and rock crushers to suppress dust. Install hoods, fans, and fabric filters to enclose and capture dust from dusty processes. Use a covered conveyer system with dry vacuum and baghouse instead of water for dust suppression.
Storage Piles	Monitor the moisture content of exposed materials. Apply water or an approved chemical dust suppressant on a regular basis. Cover and stabilize or enclose stockpiles if not frequently accessed. Install wind breaks or barriers around the storage pile. Limit height of stockpiles and maintain appropriate distance(s) from fenceline.
Haul Roads	Apply water or an approved chemical dust suppressant on a regular basis. Use a street sweeper to remove dust from paved haul roads. Limit speed of vehicles to 5 mph. Pave dirt roads with asphalt or concrete.
Public Roads	Install wheel wash stations near every vehicle exit to minimize tracked material onto public roads. Use rumble strips to remove material from truck wheels before leaving the property. Cover open-bodied trucks with tarps before leaving the property to avoid dust being blown into the air Install windbreaks, berms and fencing and re-vegetate wherever practical to minimize windblown dust
Prevention and Standard Operating Procedures	Inspect and maintain equipment on a regular basis Certified personnel should conduct visual emissions observations per EPA Method 9 or 22 after completing training at "Smoke School". Immediately halt operations if visible dust reaches the property line. Initiate corrective action as needed.

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