Public Citizen Testimony in Support of SB 1758 — Study of Aggregate Production Impacts on Semiconductor Manufacturing
To: Chairman Brian Birdwell and the Members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources
CC: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, Sen. Carol Alvarado, Sen. César Blanco, Sen. Pete Flores, Sen. Kelly Hancock, Sen. Bryan Hughes, Sen. Tan Parker, Sen. Kevin Sparks
Via hand delivery and by email.
From: Adrian Shelley, Public Citizen, ashelley@citizen.org, 512-477-1155
Re: SB 1758, cement kilns near semiconductor manufacturers – Public Citizen testimony in support
Dear Chairman Birdwell and Members of the Committee:
On behalf of our approximately 30,000 members in Texas, Public Citizen appreciates the opportunity to testify in support of SB 1758, relating to the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility.
This bill speaks to a situation unique to Grayson County in which a cement kiln proposed to locate within six miles of a semiconductor chip manufacturer.1 Semiconductor chip manufacturing is a very sensitive operation that requires a high degree of control over factors including vibrations. Semiconductor chip manufacturers secure their facilities to the bedrock in order to eliminate vibrations. A cement kiln that is located next to a quarry that quarried limestone from the same bedrock could cause unacceptable vibrations even if it were several miles away. SB 1758 is narrowly tailored to address this situation in Grayson County. The bill does not extend liability to a cement kiln that predates a semiconductor manufacturing facility. The bill prevents cement production operations from locating within ten miles of a semiconductor manufacturer within the Grayson County study area.
SB 1758 commissions a study of the impacts of vibrations caused by aggregate production on semiconductor manufacturing. The study will determine whether 10 miles is an adequate setback from aggregate production and semiconductor manufacturing.
Our one suggestion for the bill is that the study also consider whether there are any other adverse impacts to human health or the environment from seismicity and vibrations from cement production operations.
We appreciate the opportunity to testify in support of SB 1758.