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 purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuilding Our Com5 munities by Keeping aggregates Sustainable Act of 2021’’ 

6 or the ‘‘ROCKS Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP ON COVERED RESOURCES. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days after 

3 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans4 portation shall establish a working group (in this section 

5 referred to as the ‘‘Working Group’’) to conduct a study 

6 on access to covered resources for infrastructure projects. 

7 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

8 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall ap9 point to the Working Group individuals with knowl10 edge and expertise in the production and transpor11 tation of covered resources. 

12 (2) REPRESENTATION.—The Working Group 

13 shall include at least one representative of each of 

14 the following: 

15 (A) State departments of transportation. 

16 (B) State agencies associated with covered 

17 resources protection. 

18 (C) State planning and geologic survey and 

19 mapping agencies. 

20 (D) Commercial motor vehicle operators, 

21 including small business operators and opera22 tors who transport covered resources. 

23 (E) Covered resources producers. 

24 (F) Construction contractors. 

25 (G) Labor organizations. 


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1 (H) Metropolitan planning organizations 

2 and regional planning organizations. 

3 (I) Indian Tribes, including Tribal elected 

4 leadership or Tribal transportation officials. 

5 (J) Any other stakeholders that the Sec6 retary determines appropriate. 

7 (3) TERMINATION.—The Working Group shall 

8 terminate 6 months after the date on which the Sec9 retary receives the report under subsection (e)(1). 

10 (c) DUTIES.—In carrying out the study required 

11 under subsection (a), the Working Group shall analyze— 

12 (1) the use of covered resources in transpor13 tation projects funded with Federal dollars; 

14 (2) how the proximity of covered resources to 

15 such projects affects the cost and environmental im16 pact of such projects; 

17 (3) whether and how State, Tribal, and local 

18 transportation and planning agencies consider cov19 ered resources when developing transportation 

20 projects; and 

21 (4) any challenges for transportation project 

22 sponsors regarding access and proximity to covered 

23 resources. 


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1 (d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study re2 quired under subsection (a), the Working Group shall con3 sult with, as appropriate— 

4 (1) chief executive officers of States; 

5 (2) State, Tribal, and local transportation and 

6 planning agencies; 

7 (3) other relevant State, Tribal, and local agen8 cies, including State agencies associated with cov9 ered resources protection; 

10 (4) members of the public with industry experi11 ence with respect to covered resources; 

12 (5) other Federal entities that provide funding 

13 for transportation projects; and 

14 (6) any other stakeholder the Working Group 

15 determines appropriate. 

16 (e) REPORTS.— 

17 (1) WORKING GROUP REPORT.—Not later than 

18 2 years after the date on which the Working Group 

19 is established, the Working Group shall submit to 

20 the Secretary a report that includes— 

21 (A) the findings of the study required 

22 under subsection (a), including a summary of 

23 comments received during the consultation 

24 process under subsection (d); and 


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1 (B) any recommendations to preserve ac2 cess to and reduce the costs and environmental 

3 impacts of covered resources for infrastructure 

4 projects. 

5 (2) DEPARTMENTAL REPORT.—Not later than 

6 3 months after the date on which the Secretary re7 ceives the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

8 shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 

9 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

10 and the Committee on Environment and Public 

11 Works of the Senate a summary of the findings 

12 under such report and any recommendations, as ap13 propriate. 

14 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

15 (1) COVERED RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘covered 

16 resources’’ means common variety materials used in 

17 transportation infrastructure construction and main18 tenance, including stone, sand, and gravel. 

19 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 

20 the several States, the District of Columbia, and 

21 each territory or possession of the United States. 

Æ 


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