Advocacy

OKAA IS THE AGGREGATE INDUSTRY'S STRONGEST VOICE IN THE OKLAHOMA STATE CAPITAL. OKAA IS ALLIED WITH THE NATIONAL STONE, SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION (NSSGA) AT THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM NSSGA'S PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WELL-SEASONED IN NATIONAL POLITICS, WORKING TO REPRESENT THE INDUSTRY'S INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Become A Member

UNITED WE STAND

OKAA and NSSGA work tirelessly to make aggregates producers' voices stand out on Capitol Hill. OKAA and NSSGA keep their members informed, in tune, and inside the Washington game whenever its players and power plays stand to affect their members' business.

The Oklahoma Aggregates Association is the state's leading voice and advocate for the aggregates industry. We advance the public policies that protect and expand the safe, environmentally responsible use of aggregates that build America's infrastructure and economy.

RESOURCES

CURRENT STATE ISSUES

OKAA maintains a strong focus on issues at the State Capitol that have the potential to impact Oklahoma’s aggregates industry.  While issues change with each legislative session, OKAA is consistently focused on:

  • Taxation​: Oppose the passage of unreasonable taxation, such as any type of aggregate severance tax, as a means of funding county or other local governing body obligations.
  • Transparent and Reliable Permitting Practices​: Maintain the ability of stakeholders to participate in the mine permitting process in accordance with constitutional and statutory rights while preserving certainty and clarity to applicants; oppose policy that introduces legal steps that unreasonably extend and/or add significant costs to the permitting process.
  • Water Management and Planning​: Support protection of private property aspect of ground and surface water laws and Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s (OWRB) role in planning; oppose arbitrary policy that limits water’s availability for use as defined by current law.
  • Fair Regulatory Oversight:​ Oppose any unnecessary regulatory intrusion into aggregate industry operations or the legislature restructuring our industry regulatory bodies without consultation with OKAA as representative of Oklahoma’s aggregates industry.
  • Federal Overreach:​ Support efforts to keep the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) Clean Water Act rules expanding federal jurisdiction over water at a minimum, if at all.  Oppose other efforts to expand bureaucracy that slows aggregate production or makes it more expensive unnecessarily.
  • Transportation Funding:​ Support full implementation of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Eight Year Construction Plan and The Oklahoma Transportation Authority’s ACCESS Plan.  OKAA supports adequate funding for the state’s transportation and infrastructure needs implemented by federal, state, county, and tribal governments.
  • Legislative Issues:​ One of the principal objectives of the association is to work closely with the Oklahoma Legislature to influence legislation and regulations under consideration. As industries become more regulated, there must be representation of the business and free enterprise viewpoint. OKAA provides representation to its members through the Governmental Affairs Committee, which updates membership on important Oklahoma political issues by tracking and reviewing current legislative and regulatory rulemaking processes

OKAA frequently updates our issues profile based on input from the OKAA Government Affairs and Environmental & Regulatory Affairs Committees.  All Committees are open to participation by any employee of an OKAA-Member company.

THE SCOOP ON AGGREGATES

Read More