BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                      



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   AB 812|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  AB 812
          Author:   Ma (D), et al.
          Amended:  8/6/12 in Senate
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE  :  9-0, 6/12/12
          AYES:  DeSaulnier, Gaines, Harman, Kehoe, Lowenthal, 
            Pavley, Rubio, Simitian, Wyland

           SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  7-0, 7/2/12
          AYES:  Simitian, Strickland, Blakeslee, Hancock, Kehoe, 
            Lowenthal, Pavley

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8
           
          ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  70-2, 1/26/12 - See last page for vote


           SUBJECT  :    Reclaimed asphalt pavement

           SOURCE  :     California Construction and Industrial  
          Materials Association


           DIGEST  :    This bill authorizes the Department of 
          Transportation to establish specifications for the use of 
          up to 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement for hot asphalt mixes 
          on or before January 1, 2014.

           ANALYSIS  :    

          Existing law:
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          1. Requires the Department of Transportation (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 
             reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) may constitute up to 
             40% of hot asphalt mixes on or before January 1, 2014. 

          2. Specifies that this authorization does not limit the 
             authority of Caltrans to establish specifications for 
             this use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in amounts 
             greater than 40%.

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

           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% 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 

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          the projects.  More than a half dozen other states have 
          specifications that allow up to 100% RAP. 
           
          Comments
           
          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."

           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% 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.  This bill also requires Caltrans 
          to report to the Legislature on its progress toward the 
          development of the specification no later than March 1, 
          2016.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes   
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  8/6/12)

          California Construction and Industrial  Materials 
          Association (source)
          Associated General Contractors
          Bender Ready Mix, Inc.
          Blue Diamond Materials
          BoDean Company
          California Asphalt Pavement Association
          California Construction Trucking Association
          CalPortland Construction
          Don Chapin Company
          Granite Construction
          Hanson Aggregated
          P.W. Gillibrand Company, Inc.
          Sespe Consulting, Inc.
          Sierra Club

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          Specialty Materials, Inc.
          Teichert Rock Products
          Vulcan Materials Company
          West Coast Aggregates, Inc.



           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  70-2, 1/26/12
          AYES:  Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, 
            Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, 
            Brownley, Buchanan, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, 
            Conway, Cook, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, 
            Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Gatto, 
            Gordon, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger 
            Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, 
            Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Miller, 
            Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, 
            Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Skinner, 
            Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, 
            Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez
          NOES:  Garrick, Knight
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Butler, Charles Calderon, Davis, Gorell, 
            Halderman, Mansoor, Silva, Smyth


          JJA:mw  8/7/12   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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