ROCKS Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 611 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group to conduct a study on access to certain resources for infrastructure projects, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 28, 2021 Mr. STANTON (for himself and Mr. BALDERSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group to conduct a study on access to certain resources for infrastructure projects, and for other pur- poses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuilding Our Com- 4 munities by Keeping aggregates Sustainable Act of 2021’’ 5 or the ‘‘ROCKS Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Mar 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H611.IH H611 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 611 IH SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP ON COVERED RESOURCES. 1 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days after 2 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans- 3 portation shall establish a working group (in this section 4 referred to as the ‘‘Working Group’’) to conduct a study 5 on access to covered resources for infrastructure projects. 6 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 7 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall ap- 8 point to the Working Group individuals with knowl- 9 edge and expertise in the production and transpor- 10 tation of covered resources. 11 (2) REPRESENTATION.—The Working Group 12 shall include at least one representative of each of 13 the following: 14 (A) State departments of transportation. 15 (B) State agencies associated with covered 16 resources protection. 17 (C) State planning and geologic survey and 18 mapping agencies. 19 (D) Commercial motor vehicle operators, 20 including small business operators and opera- 21 tors who transport covered resources. 22 (E) Covered resources producers. 23 (F) Construction contractors. 24 (G) Labor organizations. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Mar 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H611.IH H611 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 611 IH (H) Metropolitan planning organizations 1 and regional planning organizations. 2 (I) Indian Tribes, including Tribal elected 3 leadership or Tribal transportation officials. 4 (J) Any other stakeholders that the Sec- 5 retary determines appropriate. 6 (3) TERMINATION.—The Working Group shall 7 terminate 6 months after the date on which the Sec- 8 retary receives the report under subsection (e)(1). 9 (c) DUTIES.—In carrying out the study required 10 under subsection (a), the Working Group shall analyze— 11 (1) the use of covered resources in transpor- 12 tation projects funded with Federal dollars; 13 (2) how the proximity of covered resources to 14 such projects affects the cost and environmental im- 15 pact of such projects; 16 (3) whether and how State, Tribal, and local 17 transportation and planning agencies consider cov- 18 ered resources when developing transportation 19 projects; and 20 (4) any challenges for transportation project 21 sponsors regarding access and proximity to covered 22 resources. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Mar 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H611.IH H611 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 611 IH (d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study re- 1 quired under subsection (a), the Working Group shall con- 2 sult with, as appropriate— 3 (1) chief executive officers of States; 4 (2) State, Tribal, and local transportation and 5 planning agencies; 6 (3) other relevant State, Tribal, and local agen- 7 cies, including State agencies associated with cov- 8 ered resources protection; 9 (4) members of the public with industry experi- 10 ence with respect to covered resources; 11 (5) other Federal entities that provide funding 12 for transportation projects; and 13 (6) any other stakeholder the Working Group 14 determines appropriate. 15 (e) REPORTS.— 16 (1) WORKING GROUP REPORT.—Not later than 17 2 years after the date on which the Working Group 18 is established, the Working Group shall submit to 19 the Secretary a report that includes— 20 (A) the findings of the study required 21 under subsection (a), including a summary of 22 comments received during the consultation 23 process under subsection (d); and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Mar 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H611.IH H611 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 611 IH (B) any recommendations to preserve ac- 1 cess to and reduce the costs and environmental 2 impacts of covered resources for infrastructure 3 projects. 4 (2) DEPARTMENTAL REPORT.—Not later than 5 3 months after the date on which the Secretary re- 6 ceives the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary 7 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 8 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 9 and the Committee on Environment and Public 10 Works of the Senate a summary of the findings 11 under such report and any recommendations, as ap- 12 propriate. 13 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 14 (1) COVERED RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘covered 15 resources’’ means common variety materials used in 16 transportation infrastructure construction and main- 17 tenance, including stone, sand, and gravel. 18 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 19 the several States, the District of Columbia, and 20 each territory or possession of the United States. 21 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Mar 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H611.IH H611 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS