Texas Industries, Inc.
TXI Overview
Hornsby Bend Projects East and West in Travis County Texas
Do you have questions or comments about
the Hornsby Bend project?
Click here to send us your thoughts and questions. Below you can also
find the answers to our most often asked questions received from
interested parties.
TXI Hornsby Bend Permit Response Line: 512.276.1335
Click here to view maps for the Hornsby Bend project.
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Q. What is this permit for?
A. This development permit is required by the City of Austin. It is a cut and fill permit. Back to top
Q. Is this permit for a cement plant?
A. No. It is a permit for the extraction of aggregates to eventually replace an existing aggregate operation. Back to top
Q. What is aggregate?
A. Aggregate in this case is sand and gravel. Back to top
Q. What is aggregate used for?
A. Aggregate is used to construct and rebuild roads, highways, bridges, buildings and other essential structures necessary for everyday activities and economic development. Back to top
Q. Will there be blasting?
A. No, The sand and gravel aggregates will not require blasting. Back to top
Q. Will there be dust and noise?
A. Yes, dust and noise are a part of aggregate operations. Although, they will be minimized and adverse effects will be avoided. Also, dust and noise are regulated by state and federal agencies. Back to top
Q. What will be the land use after this operation is completed?
A. The land is currently in agriculture. TXI plans are to return the land to agriculture use. Back to top
Q. Is there a site that is currently in operation where truck shovel mining is being performed currently?
A. Yes, please contact the Operations Manager jparks@txi.com to arrange a tour of our facilities in the area. Back to top
Q. Will there be jobs available for residents in the area?
A. Yes, when we are in need of filling positions, we attempt to hire from the local area/community. Back to top
Q. During the project, how will TXI be involved and what kind of interaction will TXI have with the local communities that surround the operation?
A. TXI prides itself in being a good corporate neighbor and we feel it is important to work together with the community to address concerns that are brought to our attention. We will continue to operate in that manner as we move forward with this project. TXI also supports organizations such as the United Way, FFA, Webberville Forth of July and Hornsby Cemetery Association. Back to top
Q. What is the source of water that TXI will use in the mining operation?
A. The water used at the mining operation is primarily surface water collected in retention ponds, along with groundwater that infiltrates the site. Water use at this site is primarily for dust suppression. Back to top
Q. How soon will you begin reclamation after mining is completed, and how quickly will these areas be re-graded and re-vegetated?
A. Reclamation grading begins when the second or subsequent mining cut is opened. Re-vegetation typically occurs during the next following growing season, while complete return is anticipated within 24 months of finished grading. Back to top
Q. What is the impact to wildlife on the project area?
A. There will be minimal if any impact on local wildlife. All riparian corridors are being preserved on the property. The majority of wildlife species are found within these corridors. Open agricultural areas that are being mined are typically not desirable for most fauna. Approximately 715 of our 1,974 acres will not be mined. Back to top
Q. Can this project stop before reclamation is completed?
A. The project cannot stop until the reclamation is released by the City of Austin. TXI will be required to post a reclamation bond The bond gives financial assurance that the reclamation will be completed. Back to top
Q. What type of real estate development will be made after the mining has been completed?
A. The mined areas will be graded to meet permit requirements, and after mining the land use will be agricultural and habitat. TXI’s Real Estate group manages land after it has been utilized for reserves. Back to top
Q. Are cut down trees replaced?
A. Since the mining area is generally in open fields with few or no trees and the use of the land on these tracts have been farmed historically, TXI expects that a minimal number of trees will be impacted. Back to top
Q. How well-studied are these mining and reclamation techniques? Are they academic or something industry knows well?
A. Truck and shovel techniques are well-known in the industry and are being practiced today. Back to top
Q. How deep will the excavation pits be at maximum depth?
A. The pits will be approximately 35-50 feet deep. Back to top
Q. After reclamation is complete, will this make the land unstable and increase the risk of sink holes?
A. No, the geology of this area does not lend itself to sink hole formation. Back to top
Q. What is the approximate size of an open mining "cut" at any single time?
A. Cuts can vary in size depending on the size and encumbrances on the tract, but generally the width will range from 100 to 150 feet and the length can range from 100 to 2,000 feet. The typical length is between 100 to 1,000 feet. Back to top
Q. What are the hours of operation and days of the week?
A. Generally the operation will run daylight hours, five to six days a week, but at times there may be a variation in that schedule. Back to top
Q. How are dust and noise from the operation monitored and controlled?
A. Noise on the property site is regulated by the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has oversight to ensure that no nuisance conditions are created. Dust is managed by applying water to the haul roads. The material that is excavated will have inherent moisture that minimizes dust generation. Back to top
Q. Will the water trucks be sufficient to address wind impact to carry dust?
A. Yes, the water trucks will operate during the facility’s operational hours to ensure that dust emissions are managed. Back to top
Q. How many people will be working on this operation and where will they park their vehicles?
A. This operation will employ 15 to 20 people at maximum production, and TXI will have an on-site employee parking area. Back to top
Q. Will you run your equipment on weekends?
A. While we cannot guarantee that we will not perform needed maintenance or occasionally run equipment on weekends, our intention is to operate during daylight and normal business hours. Back to top
Q. Can you guarantee there will be no nighttime operations?
A. While we cannot guarantee that we will not perform needed maintenance or occasionally run at night, we will operate our processing facility at Webberville to minimize the need to do so. Back to top
Q. Under good market conditions, when will the entire operation conclude?
A. The operation will conclude in approximately 15 to 20 years as determined at this time. Back to top
Q. Will there be detonation of explosives at the mining operation?
A. There will be no detonation of explosives during this project. All material is removed using tracked excavator equipment. Back to top
Q. How can residents surrounding the project area be assured that wells will not be contaminated or impacted by the project?
A. Groundwater modeling has been performed to determine that no adverse impact will result from this project. We do not anticipate these operations to have an impact on surrounding wells. Back to top
Q. How will the current water use change as a result of this operation?
A. The water use will not significantly change, for the agricultural areas. Water used on site will be collected from retention ponds on the property and returned directly to the site. This facility manages water, but is not a big consumer of water. All water used, is captured and recycled onsite for continued use in the operation. Back to top
Q. Will you ever be required to draw down water in order to remove the material and will the permit allow this practice?
A. The permit allows for this practice, but any water extracted as a result of the mining activities will be retained and returned to the property. Back to top
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Questions & Comments
If you have questions to ask us or comments about the Hornsby Bend project, simply fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Maps
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Documents