BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó






           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE       BILL NO: AB 812
          SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN              AUTHOR:  Ma  
                                                         VERSION: 1/12/12
          Analysis by:  Art Bauer                        FISCAL:  yes
          Hearing date:  June 12, 2012



          SUBJECT:

          Reclaimed asphalt pavement

          DESCRIPTION:

          This bill authorizes the California Department of Transportation 
          (Caltrans) to establish specifications for the use of up to 40 
          percent reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for hot asphalt mixes 
          on or before January 1, 2014.

          ANALYSIS:

          Existing law:

           1. Requires Caltrans to use recycled materials unless it 
             determines that the use of these materials is not cost 
             effective.  

           2. Defines "recycled materials" to include, but not limited to, 
             glass, glassy aggregates, and paving materials utilizing 
             crumb rubber from automobile tires.

           3. Requires state agencies to make maximum use of recycled 
             products.  

           This bill  :

           1. Authorizes Caltrans to establish specifications where RAP 
             may constitute up to 40 percent of hot asphalt mixes on or 
             before January 1, 2014. 

           2. Requires Caltrans to report to the Legislature regarding the 
             progress toward developing and implementing the specification 
             on or before March 1, 2016.  

          COMMENTS:





          AB 812 (MA)                                            Page 2

                                                                       


           1.Purpose  .  The purpose of this bill is to encourage increased 
            use of recycled materials, thereby enhancing the conservation 
            of natural resources.  The author argues that the "Re- use of 
            asphalt rubble conserves natural aggregate resources and 
            reduces transport distances, particularly if done on a 
            construction site.  In addition, re-use of asphalt rubble in 
            surface pavement allows re-use of the oil content."

           2.Background  .  RAP is created when asphalt pavements are 
            crushed, screened, and recoated with a binder before being 
            re-applied as pavement.  In discussions on this bill last 
            year, Caltrans committed to the author to "fast track" 
            completion of a specification allowing for the use of up to 25 
            percent RAP for surface paving projects following the June 
            2011 release of a study by the California State Polytechnic 
            University, Pomona , demonstrating the utility of this blend 
            of RAP.  The study was favorable, and Caltrans developed the 
            draft specification in October 2011.  It is now in use.  

            Recycled RAP is already in widespread use by asphalt producers 
            and contractors throughout California on projects that are not 
            on the state highway system.  The industry believes the use of 
            RAP does not compromise the quality of the projects.  More 
            than a half dozen other states have specifications that allow 
            up to 100 percent RAP. 

           3.What does this bill do  ?  Caltrans will embark on testing RAP 
            specifications in the coming year in anticipation of allowing 
            the percentage of RAP to be up to 40 percent of the mix by 
            January 1, 2014.  The actual percentage of RAP used on a 
            project varies based on local conditions, including the 
            availability of RAP. This bill simply codifies Caltrans' 
            efforts in this regard.  The bill also requires Caltrans to 
            report to the Legislature on its progress toward the 
            development of the specification no later than March 1, 2016.

           4.Double-referral  .  The Rules Committee referred this bill to 
            both the Transportation and Housing Committee and to the 
            Environmental Quality Committee.  Therefore, if this bill 
            passes this committee, it will be referred to the Committee on 
            Environmental Quality. 

          Assembly Votes:
               Floor:    70-2
               Appr: 17-0
               Trans:    14-0




          AB 812 (MA)                                            Page 3

                                                                       



          POSITIONS:  (Communicated to the committee before noon on 
          Wednesday, 
                     June 6, 2012)

               SUPPORT:  Associated General Contractors
                         California Asphalt Pavement Association
                         California Construction and Industrial Materials 
          Association (sponsor)
                         California Construction Trucking Association
                         California Rock Crusher Corp.
                         CalPortland Construction
                         Holliday Companies
                         Lehigh Hanson, Inc. 
                         Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management 
                         Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task Force
                         Minerals Technologies
                         Specialty Materials, Inc.
                         Teichert Rock Products
                         United Contractors
                         Vulcan Materials Company
          
               OPPOSED:  None received.