A bill written to add protections for gravel mining operations cleared the Utah House on Thursday after debate over the balance between property rights and local government authority.
Utah Rep. Logan Wilde said his proposal, which would create special zones that could protect existing extraction operations, is designed to keep gravel resources close to the expanding communities that depend on them.
“Gravel starts to become expensive when you transport it very long distances,” Wilde, R-Croyden, said.
However, several lawmakers rose with concerns about the legislation, HB288, saying it could restrict the ability of local governments to regulate gravel pits.