Oak Ledge Properties withdrew its application to continue activities on its 77-acre site in East Haven. The New Haven Register reports that the developer had planned a mixed-use development, but withdrew its application on the same day a new application would be due to extend its current operations. The planning and zoning commission chairman told the newspaper that the developer no longer can conduct blasting or crushing. It is now limited to selling stockpiles of crushed stone already on the property.

Maine

The Bangor Planning Board unanimously approved a request from Randy Gardner to expand his 6.98-acre quarry operation by an additional 5.25 acres. According to the Bangor Daily News, the board also extended the operation’s conditional-use and site development permits for three more years. It did, however, limit operating hours to 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Some neighboring residents expressed disappointment over the decision, but several sent letters of support to the city planning officer.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Supreme Court ordered the city of Batesville to take another look at a request from Memphis Stone and Gravel to operate a gravel pit in the southern part of Jackson. The Associated Press reports that its decision reversed earlier decisions by the state Court of Appeals and a Panola County judge. Justice Ann Lamar said the court could not determine from the case record how the city reached its conclusion that the pit would be legal and added that the board of aldermen should allow both the operator and its opponents to present evidence to support their positions. Finally, she said the aldermen should then provide more specifics on whatever conclusion it reaches.

Louisiana

St. John Enterprises said it plans to invest $32 million to upgrade Madison Parish Port Commission facilities in Tallulah, La., and to create approximately 450 jobs over the next five years, Workboat reports. The plant was expected to be online and delivering two new barges by late February. According to St. John CEO Ron Lewis, he has a contract to build six new 195- by 35-foot deck barges for a sand and gravel customer.

Minnesota

At Aggregates Manager’s press time, plans for Tiller Corp.’s proposed Zavoral mine were under review. The company is seeking permission for extraction and hauling, followed by reclamation. It does not plan to wash or process material on the site. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Scandia’s project advisory committee planned to review a preliminary draft of Tiller’s environmental impact statement. The 64-acre pit has not been mined since the 1980s.

Missouri

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a proposal that would allow five operators to dredge an additional 1 million tons of sand and gravel from the Kansas River each year and increase the number of dredging sites. According to The Kansas City Star, the companies can currently dredge 2.2 million tons of sand and gravel from 10 sites. Those same companies — including Kaw Valley Cos., Holliday Sand & Gravel, Penny’s Aggregates, Master’s Dredging, and Meier’s Ready Mix — want to dredge 3.2 million tons a year from 13 sites. Some environmentalists are speaking out against the proposal. A spokesman for the Corps said it will take a year for its decision process to be complete.

Missouri

Mining engineering students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology have developed an interesting fundraiser: fright nights at S&T’s Experimental Mine. The university reports that The Haunted Mine has been held every year since 1997 and serves as the main fundraiser for mining engineering activities and student organizations. Mining engineering students volunteer to work at the event and earn funds for the organization of their choice, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; Women in Mining; the International Society for Explosives Engineers; and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association; as well as the university’s mine rescue and mucking teams.

Nevada

Gov. Brian Sandoval named Steve Hill as director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The Associated Press reports that one of his main tasks will be to develop a state economic development plan and criteria for the designation of regional development authorities. Hill is a former vice president of CalPortland and served as a member of Sandoval’s transition team.

Nevada

Work has begun on the last remaining portions of the Las Vegas Beltway. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Paving began work on the 7-mile, $117 million project after more than a year in delays. Fisher Sand and Gravel filed a federal lawsuit when its $112.2 million bid was rejected and alleged that commissioners were biased toward union companies. Las Vegas Paving is a union company. The dispute was settled when the county agreed to pay Fisher $5 million to walk away from the project. Las Vegas Paving is paying a portion of the settlement, with the remainder coming from interest earned on the project funding that has been held in escrow since 2009.

New York

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a permit for Elam Sand and Gravel Corp.’s mine in West Bloomfield. It is seeking permission to operate a 45-acre parcel. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports the operator still needs a special-use permit from the town of West Bloomfield. The town has adopted a moratorium on new special-use permits, and the company has filed lawsuits to force the town to void the moratorium and act on its permit application.

North Carolina

Vulcan Materials Co.’s charitable foundation made a $25,000, five-year pledge to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham on behalf of its Rockingham Quarry employees and families. According to the Richmond County Daily Journal, the donation will help fund the children’s museum, which is designed to stimulate adventure in learning and stimulating play. “Supporting educational programs is one example of Vulcan’s commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate,” Plant Manager Charles Heatherly told the newspaper. “Supporting Discovery Place KIDS is a natural extension of our educational and stewardship initiatives, and we look forward to being a part of their exciting programs in this community.”

Texas

Summit Materials made a series of acquisitions in Texas, including Industrial Asphalt, Inc., Asphalt Paving Co. of Austin, Inc., and Ramming Paving Co., Ltd. The acquisition includes quarries, asphalt plants, and paving services. “We are very pleased to welcome the new companies and their employees to Summit,” Tom Hill, former CEO of Oldcastle, Inc. and current CEO of Summit Materials, said in a press release. “These businesses are a great combination, and together with RK Hall in northeast Texas, they expand Summit’s presence in the state.” Since it was formed in 2009, Summit Materials has completed 20 acquisitions.

Washington

Wm. Dickson Co. has been fined $24,000 by the Washington State Department of Ecology for discharging sediment-laden water in a storm drain that emptied into a salmon-bearing creek. According to the state agency, the operator’s permit limits the amount of turbidity that the gravel operation can discharge and prohibits any discharge that violates the state’s water quality standards for turbidity. It found that the source of the turbid water was a hole in the bottom of the pit where a pump was used to dewater the pit excavation over a bank into a creek. The operator said he plans to update his site management plan to prevent future discharge of turbid water into Swan Creek.

Wisconsin

The Eau Claire County Board adopted a moratorium that freezes frac sand mine development in the county for six months. According to The Leader-Telegram, the board voted 24 to 2 to approve the measure, which lasts until May 31. During that time, county officials say they plan to study the effects of sand mines on public health and the environment. Some supervisors sought quick passage of the moratorium because two sand mines have been proposed in the county during recent months. It impacts any company that had not begun mine construction as of Nov. 16.

Province News

A 31-year-old Northern Alberta quarry worker was killed on Nov. 7 after his arm was caught in a conveyor at Milestone Quarry, south of Fort McMurray. CBC News reports that the man was removing excess gravel when he was pulled into the conveyor’s rollers. A stop work order was issued at Surmont Sand and Gravel while investigators for Occupational Health and Safety investigated the incident.

Alabama

Vulcan Materials Co. named John McPherson as its senior vice president of strategy and business development. According to a company press release, McPherson was hired from international management firm McKinsey & Co., where he served as a senior partner in charge of human capital practice.

Arizona

El Mirage dropped a controversial proposal to annex mining property owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, The Arizona Republic reports. The city’s proposal raised the ire of neighboring Youngstown leaders, who threatened to sue. Under state mining laws, neither city has the regulatory ability to stop mining on the site, where such activities have taken place for decades. El Mirage Mayor Lana Mook told the newspaper that annexation would allow some control over operations and that some control (from one of the neighboring communities) was better than no control. City Council members canceled the meeting when the vote was to take place and allowed the proposal to expire.

California

Want to know how much concrete is needed for a job? There’s an app for that. Graniterock Co. recently released an updated version of a free iPhone application to help construction workers estimate the amount of materials needed for their projects. “We are a brick and mortar industry and maybe a little slow to adapt to new things,” company spokesman Keith Severson told the Monterey County Herald. But, he added, “We’re not old in spirit.” The original app was released in the spring; the new version boasts upgraded graphics. An Android version of the app is expected to be available soon.

Illinois

Meyer Material Co. recently filed a petition with the village of Cary seeking a four-year extension to its 2008 contract with the village. The Northwest Herald reports that the company agreed to pay the village $6.25 million over a 10-year window in exchange for permission to move its gravel pit beyond the Algonquin border. The company said that stagnant sales of sand and gravel would prohibit it from completing extraction, reclamation, and conveyance of the lands in a timely manner. Under the 2008 agreement, the company would owe the village $100,000 for every month it goes past the deadline. At Aggregates Manager press time, the village had not responded to the request.

Illinois

The North Aurora Village Board unanimously rejected Lafarge North America’s request to extend its aggregate mine beneath two 200-foot-wide electrical utility rights of way. According to The Beacon News, homeowners have complained about mine blasts shaking their houses and cracking their walls and foundation, however, Lafarge attorney Bruce Goldsmith told trustees that the mine has never violated village or federal limits on noise levels or vibrations from underground blasting. He noted that blasts near a 30-inch-wide natural gas line running through the right of way where the company hoped to mine would not damage the pipe, and local utility officials had approved the work, as long as they monitored vibration levels around the pipe using a seismograph. The attorney’s arguments did not persuade board members who rejected the proposal.

Iowa

The Telegraph-Herald reports the Prairie du Chien City Council voted 8-to-2 to greenlight an agreement that would allow Prairie Sand and Gravel Co. to build docks and boat slips along the river wall of St. Feriole Island. The docks will go up in 2012 on a one-year trial basis, with a number of conditions. The docks can’t be placed before May 1 and must be removed by Oct. 12. There can’t be any overnight docking, and the docks must be removed at the request of the city if the river level goes above 15.5 feet, a half-foot below flood stage. The company must also purchase a $1 million liability insurance policy.

Minnesota

By a slim 3-to-2 vote, a new gravel pit was permitted, and the expansion of an existing pit was granted. The Free Press reports that the two Mankato pits faced opposition from seven people who testified against the proposal, however owner/operator Pete Forrey prevailed in his effort to expand local aggregate supplies. The new mine is 38.86 acres and will be mined in 10-acre segments. The second site, at Hard Rock Quarry, received permission to expand the existing site by 18.25 acres.

Nevada

In late October, Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak hosted a trio of public meetings in Henderson. According to The Associated Press, the meetings were related to Service Rock Products and Cemex’s proposal to mine 1 square mile of federal Bureau of Land Management property in the Sloan Hills area over the next 20 years. The first hour of each meeting was an open house with specialists to answer questions, followed by a 30-minute presentation of the project and 90 minutes of public comment.

New Hampshire

The town of Winchester’s planning board faces a legal challenge to its handling of Mitchell Sand and Gravel’s new asphalt plant. The Keene Sentinel reports that four residents filed an appeal of the planning board’s decision in Cheshire County Superior Court. They allege the board failed to enforce some of the 23 conditions it placed when granting permission for the asphalt plant earlier this year. The town must file a written appearance form this month and has until Jan. 6, 2012, to respond to the appeal.

New York

Appellate justices again upheld a Supreme Court ruling nullifying the town of Nassau’s law banning commercial mining. According to The Times Union, the town re-appealed the justices’ March decision with information omitted in the original argument, but failed to sway the justices. Troy Sand & Gravel, the producer who has been involved in the eight-year dispute on mining rights, asked the court to render its special-use permit after their prolonged permitting efforts. The justices, however, noted that neither the town nor the town’s local laws provide for a default approval of a special-use permit when the town doesn’t comply with the appropriate time periods.

New York

An attorney for Dolomite Products Co., a part of Callanan Industries Inc., said she hopes that its plan for an asphalt plant on Route 67 will be on the town planning board’s December agenda. The Saratogian reports that the company filed an application with the Zoning Board because it needs a height variance to construct the plant, which is estimated to be 70 feet tall. If approved, the plant would begin the environmental impact review process. It would also need approval from the state Historic Preservation Office for archaeology issues, the newspaper reports.

Washington

Gravel mining could begin soon in Thurston County after an adversarial citizens’ group announced that it would not appeal a court decision allowing Maytown Sand and Gravel to mine the site. The Olympian reports that Friends of Rocky Prairie gave up its lengthy battle after a local judge ruled that it lacked standing to challenge a county land-use decision regarding the site. A spokesperson for the group said it would have needed a million dollars to cover a bond necessary to move the appeal forward. Port of Tacoma Commission President Connie Bacon told the newspaper that the public entity appreciated that the courts agreed with its legal assertions, but was discouraged by the amount of unnecessary time and money (estimates show the port’s costs to range up to $2 million) incurred through the legal challenges.

Wisconsin

Eau Claire County officials are considering an increase in mining fees to offset the costs associated with reviewing an anticipated increase in applications for silica sand mines. According to The Leader-Telegram, the county Finance and Budget Committee recommended the County Board increase its $35-per-acre charge to review proposed mines’ reclamation plans. The proposal would increase costs for a one- to five-acre mine to $200, while any mine larger than 102 acres would cost $7,000. The committee also recommended that public hearing fees be increased from $150 to $250. Buffalo County is also considering an increase in fees for new mines in that county.

Wisconsin

The Red Cedar Town Board voted 4-to-1 to send a proposed sand processing plant to Dunn County officials for their consideration, The Leader-Telegram reports. Radnor, Pa.-based Preferred Sands wants to build a 160-acre plant near the northeast corner or Menomonie. If approved, it would process sand from its own mines.

Province News

Sudbury (Ontario) city council members approved a proposal to ask the province to impose a levy on mining companies using municipal roads to haul material. According to cbc.ca, the online arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Councilor Andre Rivest proposed a system of royalties, similar to those already paid by sand and gravel companies, with profits going toward road repair. The city will now approach the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to lobby for a change in provincial law.

Georgia

The Columbus Council unanimously approved Vulcan Materials’ request to construct an elevated, enclosed conveyor to transport material from its quarry on the east side of the road to its existing processing plant on the west side of the road. According to the Ledger-Enquirer, two 12.5-foot-wide steel enclosure tubes will be erected and set in place 28 feet off the ground near the quarry’s entrance. Vulcan spokesperson Jimmy Flemming told the newspaper that the company believes the conveyors represent a safer alternative to shuttling material back and forth via truck. The agreement is for 50 years, but the city and Vulcan are able to revisit the issue every five years, as needed.

Illinois

When is dirt dirty? That’s the debate between aggregate and landfill operators as the Illinois Pollution Control Board holds hearings about rules proposed by the state Environmental Protection Agency to define whether dirt and debris from construction and demolition sites is clean enough to be deposited in quarries. The Chicago News Cooperative says the proposed rule would require dirt headed for quarries to be tested for specific contaminants and could not be dumped if it exceeds safety limits. Quarries would also have to monitor groundwater once a year and report any problems to the state within 60 days. An attorney for the landfill group says its problem is with groundwater monitoring and protection. He scoffs at the notion that the group’s concerns are driven solely by lost business. A spokesperson for a quarry owner group says that the proposed screening requirements are redundant and notes that new rules would increase costs to deposit waste, a common activity among many city agencies.

Nebraska

Scotts Bluff County has asked a court to stop Western Engineering from mining sand and gravel near the North Platte River. The Republic reports that the complaint claims that a county road has been damaged. Further, the county says mining is a permit violation because a conditional-use permit for the mine expired in 1993 and mining on the site is not authorized. The company did not respond to the newspaper’s request for a comment.

North Carolina

Vulcan Materials Co. recently renewed its support for the land and water conservation work of Foothills Conservancy. Mountain Xpress reports that Bryan Spach, area sales manager for Vulcan’s Mideast Division, presented a $2,500 award to Susie Hamrick Jones, executive director of the Foothills Conservancy, a regional land trust that preserves natural areas and open spaces of the Blue Ridge Foothills region including watersheds, significant wildlife habitats, forests, and farm lands. “Vulcan Materials has been one of our corporate partners for the last 10 years,” Jones told the newspaper. “We applaud their company-wide focus on environmental stewardship and education and appreciate their support of our land and water conservation programs.”

Ohio

A hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Ralph Haefner, raised concerns that a limestone mine pumping 40 million gallons of water a day from one Columbus quarry to another (located in a city well field) could affect the city’s drinking water. According to The Columbus Dispatch, staff members of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the water quality will continue to meet state and federal standards and that “a great deal of careful planning and review has gone into evaluating and permitting this process.” Ken Holland, president of Olen Corp., told the newspaper that the quarry was expected to be dewatered by the end of October and that a greatly reduced pumping level would be used after that to keep it dry and allow further limestone mining.

Oregon

The rest of the state could take a lesson in economic development from the city of Lebanon, state Sen. Frank Morse (R-Albany) told more than 80 people gathered at an October chamber of commerce meeting. The Democrat Herald reports that he said the city’s positive attitude toward industrial development and streamlined permitting process are non-existent in many communities. “Time to market is a key to economic prosperity,” said Morse, former president of Morse Bros. sand and gravel company. He said he supports Gov. Kitzhaber’s concept of developing “regional solution centers” that include representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Quality, and business development and housing and community services. He also stressed the state’s need for a rainy day fund and noted that the state’s Public Employees Retirement System will eventually make it difficult to keep state and school budgets on track.

Pennsylvania

Attorneys with Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) filed an appeal before the Environmental Hearing Board challenging the permit granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which allows New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry to expand. According to a press release from the organization, the appeal was filed on behalf of the Primrose Creek Watershed Association, as well as PennFuture. The chair of PennFuture’s legal staff said that the DEP had made a formal determination that Primrose Creek is impaired and that the quarry is the cause of the impairment. Therefore, he claimed the agency’s decision to allow quarry expansion is “arbitrary and capricious and contrary to the law.”

South Carolina

At Aggregates Manager’s press time, three Vulcan Materials operations — Lakeside Quarry, Anderson Quarry, and Liberty Quarry — were about to host “Rock On,” an event to benefit the Boys Home of the South. According to the Independent Mail, more than 40 vehicles participated in the event last year. All types of vehicles were to tour the three sites, with food, activities, and a car show at the Lakeside Quarry, where the tour was to end. Each vehicle registered in the ride provides a $25 WalMart gift card for one of the boys so he can purchase Christmas gifts.

Tennessee

Vandals did about $25,000 worth of damage to equipment at a quarry on Woodcliff Road in Putnam County. According to the Herald-Citizen, the perpetrators put sand and gravel into the engine oil and transmission of a track loader, causing the damage. The owners plan to install more gates to prevent further incidences.

Wisconsin

Michels Materials’ Quarry Quest in Neenah drew what may be a record-breaking crowd of 15,000. Craig Uhlenbrauck, Quarry Quest co-chair, told the Post Crescent that he believed the event had raised more than $940,000 during its tenure and this year’s event looked to put it past the $1 million mark. Proceeds benefit local children’s charities, including the Quarry Quest Environmental Education Fund. Activities at the event included controlling a crane, creating gemstone jewelry, and riding a boom lift to get an aerial view of the site. One new activity, the “Wishful Diamond Dig,” allowed adults to fill sand buckets for one minute with the goal of finding prize tokens for a local jeweler. Proceeds from that event went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.

Washington

The City of University Place has proposed rezoning of a property to stop its owner from mining gravel on it. The News Tribune reports the owner had applied for a permit to mine a portion of his property and had previously won permitting battles against the city for such permission. The city’s attorney, Steve Victor, asked the owner’s attorney for an option other than mining near the city’s gateway. The response was to rezone the property as neighborhood commercial, which is a more valuable land use. In a twist, neighbors of the site are objecting to the rezoning because they believe it is likely to result in a gas station. Other neighborhood commercial options include banks, convenience stores, and offices. The neighbors have said they would prefer the short-term impacts of a mine over the permanent headaches of a commercial enterprise.

Province News

A recently released survey shows that Ontarians are in favor of a certification system for responsibly sourced aggregate materials. The Ipsos Reid survey (available online at www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/) found that 85 percent of respondents believe that a voluntary certification system that recognizes environmentally and socially responsible aggregate operations is a good idea. “As a leading supplier of aggregate in the GTA (greater Toronto area) and adjacent municipalities, we find these results affirm that a certification program like SERA would be supported,” said Andrea Bourrie, director, planning and regulatory affairs, Holcim Canada Inc. “These results clearly indicate that, by and large, communities recognize that aggregate operations are important for the economy and for building strong, livable communities. The results also imply that the aggregate planning and approval process would be less confrontational if a certification system was being adhered to.” In June, Socially and Environmentally Responsible Aggregates (SERA) released a set of draft standards that propose voluntary operating procedures that would allow operators a third-party assessment of their social and environmental practices. Those standards are currently under review and revision by a stakeholder group that includes municipalities, environmental and community groups, and the aggregate industry.

By Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief

Illinois

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation to help reduce fuel and equipment costs for trucking companies throughout the state. According to a press release from the governor’s office, the new law allows the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to issue permits for loads that previously exceeded size and weight restrictions for travel on state highways, if specific conditions are met. Sponsored by Sen. William Haine and Rep. Daniel Beiser, Senate Bill 42 applies to “divisible” loads that previously had to be broken down into separate shipments to meet the standard truck weight limit of 80,000 pounds. IDOT can now issue the necessary permits for a truck hauling a load weighing more than 80,000 pounds if it is traveling less than 5 miles and will not negatively impact pavement conditions along its route.

California

Duarte city officials have taken another step in their efforts to stop Vulcan Materials Co.’s mining project in Azusa. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the city filed its objections to a superior court decision with the state appeals court. A three-judge panel will now review the case, which could take more than a year to complete. The city has been fighting the project since the Azusa City Council approved Vulcan’s plan to shift its mining operations from 80 acres on the eastern end of its 270-acre property to 80 acres on its western end, closer to Duarte.

Illinois

Two of Lafarge North America’s Illinois aggregate operations, Cave in Rock and Joliet, were recently awarded with the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) Community Relations Award. The award recognizes producer member companies whose community involvement and support activities enhance the public’s perception of the member’s aggregate operation and the aggregate industry in general. The Cave in Rock quarry was recognized for its community efforts around wildlife habitat restoration, working with residents to help clean up the banks of the Ohio River, and donations of money, materials, and services to community groups. The Joliet Quarry award recognized its community efforts and donations to Habitat for Humanity, Morning Star Mission Ministries, and employee’s labor to clean up the shoreline along the Illinois River. “It is part of our operating philosophy to give back to the communities in which we operate,” said Matthew Dantinne, vice president and general manager for Lafarge Midwest Aggregates. “We enjoy being part of the communities and continue to look for opportunities where we can make a difference.”

Minnesota

The Zavoral project advisory committee met in late August and toured Tiller Corp.’s proposed mine site before hearing reports regarding dust emissions, visual impact, traffic, and reclamation of the project. According to the Country Messenger, approximately 70 people attended the meeting concerning the 114-acre site. An air quality expert said the proposed mine would exceed national air quality standards if mitigation measures were not used, but noted that water, dust control chemicals, and sweeping could offset those impacts. Mining would not be visible to boaters along the neighboring river. One member of the committee noted concerns about traffic safety, while a resident called for the operation to be liable for damage to neighboring homes. The group’s final meeting will be held Nov. 16.

Montana

The Montana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the decision of a local judge who threw out a lawsuit filed by a Gallatin citizens group. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that the citizens group challenged the constitutionality of the way protests were handled concerning a gravel zoning district in the Gallatin Gateway area. The issue began when the Gallatin County Commission imposed a two-year temporary zoning district that required new and expanding gravel pits to go through a conditional-use permitting process, and area gravel operators, agricultural families, and developers protested the ordinance. Under a county law, property owners representing 50 percent of titled property in the proposed zoning district can protest and stop zoning. The citizens group argued that people, not land, vote, and the protest law infringed on the rights of others. The district judge did not rule on that issue because the law also required the county to act within 30 days of the protest period and either form the zoning district or throw it out. The county did not act on the zoning district.

New York

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has scheduled hearings for Elam Sand and Gravel Corp.’s proposed mine in West Bloomfield. According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Administrative Law Judge Molly T. McBride will oversee the process. It will include two hearings; one for public comment and another to define, narrow, and possibly resolve issues related to the mine. Participation at that conference will be limited to DEC staff, the operator, and others requesting party status prior to the conference. In addition to the DEC permit, Elam requires a special-use permit from the town of West Bloomfield, which has adopted a moratorium on new special-use permits. The operator has filed lawsuits to force the town to act on the permit and to void the moratorium.

Oregon

Some Saginaw residents are upset by increased evening activity at Northwest Mineral Resources, KVAL 13 reports. The company has increased activity on Delight Valley School Road to supply its involvement in a repaving project for Interstate 5, but that paving can take place only between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. Lane County is reviewing the company’s operation plan, and the county’s sand and gravel committee is expected to address the project’s impact on residents.

Texas

A state appeals court has ruled against Cemex in a suit that claimed the company owed Texas a half-billion dollars in mineral royalties from its quarry in McKelligon Canyon. The El Paso Times reports that Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson sued the company, seeking $558 million in fees he says should have gone into the Texas Permanent School Fund. Texas property owners are generally required to lease mineral rights prior to extraction of oil, gas, and other materials from the ground. They then pay state royalties — a percentage of the market value — of what is removed from the land. While Cemex owns the land, the state claims the rights to minerals in the land. Cemex bought the quarry in 2005. Through the lawsuit, the company argued that “dirt, caliche, sand, gravel, limestone, and other materials at issue are not ‘minerals’ reserved to the state and therefore belong to Cemex.” It also argued it could not be held responsible for any royalties before 2005 when it purchased the land. The case will be returned to the trial court to determine how much the company owes.

Texas

At the end of August, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a public hearing concerning EOG Resources, Inc.’s proposed 1,400-acre frac sand mine in Muenster. According to the Gainesville Daily Register, both neighbors of the proposed site and EOG staff members made statements. Some neighbors addressed concerns that the site would destroy the bucolic nature of the area, while others were concerned about environmental impact. Employees noted the economic benefits of the site and pointed to the company’s efforts to aid Montague County during recent wildfires as a representation of what kind of neighbor the company would be.

Washington

The Washington Department of Ecology announced that it has modified the state’s Sand and Gravel General Permit. The new permit reduces the level of turbidity and solids that facilities may discharge into the state’s waters, and it requires portable operations to provide public notice prior to their activities. The action settles an appeal of the permit by the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. The Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association intervened in the appeal, supporting the department’s original permit. The permit regulates water discharges from sand and gravel operations, quarries, and similar mining operations as well as hot-mix asphalt plants, concrete batch plants, and stockpile yards. It covers about 950 facilities in the state. Changes are effective Oct. 1. For more information, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/sand/.

Wisconsin

EOG Resources’ new sand plant in Chippewa Falls is scheduled to open by the end of the month, nearly a year after work on the facility began. The Leader-Telegram reports that, in early September, the plant was 90 percent complete and 300 people were working on the site. Approximately 40 sand mines are either currently operating or proposed in this part of the state, where the sand is particularly hard, round, and porous, making it ideal for use in extracting petroleum and natural gas from the ground. The EOG plant was originally expected to cost between $45 and $50 million, but that figure has grown to approximately $60 million with the addition of an indoor sand storage building.

Province News

Athabasca Minerals Inc. received approval from the government of Alberta for metallic and industrial mineral leases totaling approximately 31,630 acres at the Firebag Frac Sand Project located in the Wood Buffalo region of northern Alberta. The company says it intends to continue development of the project by initiating a National Instrument 43-101 technical report and pilot scale production of frac sand. “We are extremely pleased at the continued progress of the Firebag Frac Sand Project and look forward to additional positive developments, which will confirm the economic viability of frac sand production,” Dom Kriangkum, president of Athabasca Minerals, said in a press release. “This potential revenue stream further complements our existing revenues generated from the Susan Lake Aggregate Operation and Camp Operations. In addition to this, we continue to investigate industrial minerals, which benefit from the heightened activity in the oil and gas and oil sands industries.”

California

Santa Clarita and Cemex officials have agreed to keep working toward a legislative solution as federal politicians approached their summer break. The Signal reports that city officials are ramping up their fall campaign to generate support for a federal bill proposed by Sen. Barbara Boxer, who asked the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for a hearing on her bill, S. 759. Under that legislation, the Bureau of Land Management would sell three parcels of land and use the proceeds to pay Cemex the value of canceling mining contracts on two leases it executed with the company to allow extraction of 56 million tons of sand and gravel during a 10-year window. Cemex has said it is interested in trying to reach a legislative solution. If legislation does not pass, the company is expected to obtain the necessary mining permits to begin operations in 2012.

Georgia

Coweta County students attending the third annual “Back to School Bash” received enough school supplies to last a semester, as well as a book bag to carry them to class. According to the Times-Herald, the program is designed to provide students from underprivileged families, or those whose parents are financially strapped due to illness, disabilities, or unemployment, have the necessary supplies. Vulcan Materials and Walmart donated the school supplies and gifts.

Illinois

The state of Illinois, through the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, received $219,948 in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration for health and safety training for fiscal year 2011. The funds will be used to provide federally mandated training. “These funds will assist the state in carrying out critical training for miners in our area, enhancing safety conditions,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) in a press release. “I will continue to support these efforts.”

Maine

Mining opponents may fight recent changes to Michigan’s Zoning and Enabling Act, according to a report in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. The update, passed in mid-July, restores the “very serious consequences” standard that had been enforced in the state for years. It allows local governments to consider factors such as impact on surrounding property values, existing land uses in the vicinity, and pedestrian and vehicle traffic safety before approving an aggregate mine. It also allows regulation of operating hours, blasting hours, noise levels, and dust control. That standard was lost when the state Supreme Court overruled a circuit court decision in Kyser vs. Kasson. In that case, the township refused to allow the property owner’s (Kyser) agricultural property — which was adjacent to the gravel district — to be rezoned for mining. The state Supreme Court deemed that the “very serious consequences” standard improperly usurped local authority to zone and plan. Shortly after that decision, officials in Portage Township used the decision to halt mining at a rural sand and gravel pit in a rural-residential zoning district there. State Rep. Matt Huuki then introduced a bill to restore the standard, and it sailed through the House and Senate before being approved by Gov. Rick Snyder. Gerald Fisher, the attorney who argued Kasson’s case before the Supreme Court, called the new statute unconstitutional and offered to challenge it himself for free.

Missouri

Missouri transportation officials have approved a new five-year construction plan that cuts project spending in half, kspr.com reports. The new plan, approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, closes several offices and lays off hundreds of workers. Spending levels of about $600 million a year on roads are approximately half of the $1.2 billion average spent on projects in recent years. DOT officials say they’ll concentrate on maintaining the state’s major highways, improving smaller state roads, and repairing and maintaining bridges, but any new construction projects are unlikely.

Nebraska

The York County Commissioners took no action on a tort claim filed by a Doniphan couple who say their vehicle was damaged by gravel flying from one of the county’s trucks in Grand Island. The York News-Times reports that a York County truck driving in front of the wife’s car had a loose tarp and sprayed gravel over her car. The couple asked for reimbursement for replacing their windshield “which was chipped, pitted, and looked like it had been sandblasted.” The interim highway superintendent told the county board that people at the gravel pit told him the York County truck was completely tarped down and said that the truck driver was not operating in a reckless manner. The claim was directed to the county’s insurance carrier.

North Carolina

The Dog Park at Tanglewood, in Clemmons, received an $11,000 donation of construction materials from Vulcan Materials Co. The materials will be used in building the new parking lot for the dog park. “We are proud to help kick start the new Dog Park at Tanglewood project,” Tom Carroll, Vulcan’s director of business development, said in a press release. “This park will be a valuable addition to the community, which is why we are glad to see our materials will be used to contribute to its success.”

Oregon

Oregon officials gave Ross Island a clean bill of health. According to the Daily Astorian, efforts have been underway to clean up the island since 1999. Contaminated sediment was found in the Ross Island lagoon and other areas during the 1990s, and, since then, Ross Island Sand and Gravel has spent millions on the cleanup. The company will continue monitoring the project and maintain the sediment caps, as well as continue some other cleanup efforts. The city of Portland obtained an uncontaminated portion of Ross Island several years ago, and a long-term planning effort should be rolled out soon.

Pennsylvania

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved plans for New Hope Crushed Stone Co. to excavate 50 feet deeper in a Bucks County Quarry. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that one of the conditions attached to the approval provides that, if mining results in any adverse impact to Primrose Creek’s water quality, mining must stop and can only resume if the DEP is satisfied that the problem is permanently mitigated. Other conditions address the area’s geologic terrain and relate to the operation’s impact on the area’s geology. Residents blamed the quarry for causing sinkholes and lowering the water table.

South Dakota

In July, Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc. hosted visits from Gov. Dennis Daugaard and members of his administration, as well as Suzanne Veenis, southeast area director to U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, at its Yankton factory location. Joe Vig, president of Kolberg-Pioneer, said the governor’s visit included an overview of the company, its parent company, and its development and growth. The importance of supporting necessary federal and state funding for highways and bridges was stressed as key in contributing to the growth. The importance of highway funding and fuel tax issues were also stressed during Veenis’ visit.

Tennessee

Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc. and Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Co., of Pine Bluff, Ark., announced they have entered into an agreement for Ingram to sell its Ingram Materials LLC subsidiary to Pine Bluff. Ingram Materials produces aggregate in middle Tennessee, western Kentucky, and northern Alabama, and has three sand dredges on the Ohio River, in addition to distribution facilities. As part of the agreement between the two family-owned businesses, Pine Bluff and Ingram Barge Co. will enter into a long-term towage agreement under which Ingram Barge and Pine Bluff will tow Pine Bluff’s sand and gravel barges on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Pine Bluff is expected to hire all existing Ingram Materials associates and continue operations without substantial changes.

Texas

Dallas-based Texas Industries acquired three ready-mixed concrete plants and one aggregate operation through an asset swap with Cemex, the Statesman reports. Terms of the deal were not released. “We see in this region there is going to be a significant upside potential over the long-term — and by long-term, meaning more than five years, up to 10, 15, or 20 years,” company spokesman David Perkins told the newspaper. “It’s going to experience some pretty significant growth, and we want to be part of that.”

Texas

U.S. Concrete, Inc. announced that its board of directors would appoint William J. Sandbrook as its president and CEO, as well as director. He joins the company from Oldcastle Products and Distribution, where he served as CEO and was responsible for three product groups. Sandbrook was named AggMan of the Year in 2001. “We are extremely pleased to have someone of Bill’s caliber joining our management team. His extensive experience in the building products sector and impressive track record for growth will be great additions to the company,” Eugene Davis, chairman of the board, said in a press release. “Bill’s proven vision and leadership skills should result in a smooth and successful transition.” Sandbrook succeeds Michael Harlan, one of the founders of the company.

Washington

A Lewis County judge sided with the new owners of Maytown Sand & Gravel LLC and the Port of Tacoma in granting a summary judgment allowing gravel mining to begin there. The Olympian reports that the ruling reverses the Thurston County Board of Commissioners’ decision to require new environmental studies on the site. It also reinstates findings that the sand and gravel company holds a valid, special use permit for mining the site. An environmental group vowed to challenge the decision.

Province News

The Saint John (New Brunswick) Council rejected an application for a new gravel pit in the Lattimore Lake area. According to CBC News, councilman Bruce Court recommended the denial based on reports from the city staff that it reviews gravel pits one or two times a year. That would not provide enough control or policy, Court said. Steven Langille, of Fundy Bay Sand and Gravel, unsuccessfully argued that the proposed pit would be too far from homes for dust to be a problem, and the pit would only operate on weekdays until 6 p.m.

United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates.

Arizona

A $400 million new cement plant, the first in the state in more than 50 years, plans to ramp up production as soon as the economy improves. The Arizona Republic reports that the Drake Cement plant, near Paulden, acquired three suppliers in the region and branded them Drake Materials. The plant has been in the works since the 1990s and is one of three currently operating in the state. “The market is very difficult,” Brad Belt, senior vice president, told the newspaper. “There is not enough demand for any producer in the state to be running 24 hours a day. In these markets, we run the plant as long as we can until our storage capacity is full, and then shut down and fire up again when it is time to replenish.”

California

In mid-June, the Duarte City Council voted unanimously to appeal a judge’s ruling in favor of neighboring Azusa and a mining plan for Vulcan Material Co.’s Azusa Rock Quarry. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Duarte City Manager Darrell George said, “The council’s decision to appeal continues Duarte’s belief that the Vulcan EIR is seriously flawed and that destroying the Van Tassel ridge is the wrong thing to do.” A judge ruled in Azusa’s favor on all counts, including a claim that the environmental impact report was flawed. Azusa councilman Keith Hanks told the newspaper that he was disappointed in Duarte’s decision to appeal, but confident that his city would prevail.

Connecticut

Ken Evarts, president of Seashore Construction Co., appealed a cease-and-desist order for his operation, but the appeal was rejected. The New Haven Register reports that the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously agreed that Evarts should no longer be able to extract and remove material from his property. Evarts’ attorney said that extraction had been taking place since the turn of the century and should be allowed to continue if it predated zoning laws, which went into effect in 1953. The town engineer presented two photos of the land from 1951 and 1971 showing that it was farmland at that time. The Zoning Board of Appeals chairman told the newspaper that it did not have enough evidence to say that the non-conforming use predated zoning laws and rejected Evart’s appeal.

Maine

West Cumberland voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on commercial gravel operations in rural residential neighborhoods. According to the Portland Press Herald, the vote was 862 to 507 in favor of the first citizen-initiated referendum to change an ordinance in the town’s history. Last fall, the town halted a gravel operation on land owned by Elvin and Randy Copp because it did not have the correct permits. A six-month moratorium was then imposed on new gravel pit applications. Rural residential zones cover about 80 percent of the town. The change does not impact existing aggregate operations in the area.

Minnesota

At Aggregates Manager’s press time, a July 1 state government shutdown appeared imminent. In the absence of a state budget agreement, agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) were preparing contingency plans in case contracts are suspended, pending authorized appropriations. The Saint Paul Legal Ledger Capital Report noted MnDOT’s 2011 construction program includes 258 new and ongoing projects valued at $900 million, with another $398 million worth of improvements over four years to state roads rated as poor. Tom Stockert, area vice president for Knife River Corp., told the local publication, “We typically don’t show profits until well after July 1, closer to Labor Day.” The company currently has a state project to make improvements to Highways 30 and 83 in Blue Earth County as well as a $14.4 million Highway 212 project in Renville and McLeod counties.

New York

Elam Sand and Gravel and a former town board member, Gary Evans, filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court to force West Bloomfield to act on the company’s application for a special-use permit. According to the Democrat and Chronicle, the lawsuit was filed on June 7. A day later, the town adopted a nine-month moratorium on new special-use permits in the town’s agricultural zone (which includes the mine site). A lawyer for the operator told the newspaper that the moratorium was adopted specifically to stall its application.

Ohio

Ohio aggregate companies are benefitting from a new state initiative, CSI Ohio, intended as a common-sense initiative to cut the negative impact of red tape on state businesses. Columbus Business First reports that Lieutenant Gov. Mary Taylor is directing the program. With Taylor’s help, Pat Jacomet, executive director of the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association, says his group was able to conclude a decade-long negotiation with the state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a package of general permits designed to streamline the ability of aggregate companies to begin new operations. Under the new system, companies agree to abide by specific requirements and environmental protections outlined in a general permit issued by the EPA. Companies can then work immediately on projects by notifying the EPA that they will operate under the general permit.

Oregon

Following approval of a gravel mining operation by the Lane County Board of Commissioners, opponents plan to fight the mine on the state level. According to The Register-Guard, about 40 landowners and residents have joined Families for a Quarry-Free Neighborhood. In 2007, mining applicants Donald Overholser and Rodney Mathews applied for county approval of an 18-acre quarry. The project was approved by the planning director in 2010 with some conditions to address issues such as road improvements, hours of operation, truck size, speeds, and number of daily hauling trips. The mine applicant appealed the road improvements, and the hearing official affirmed the planning director’s decision, but removed some limitations including truck speed and number of trips. The board of directors upheld that decision, and opponents are now appealing to the state Land Use Board of Appeals.

Pennsylvania

A New Hope couple, Jim and Kathy Lyons, have organized a citizens group — New Hope Residents Association — to urge state officials to deny a permit for the New Hope Crushed Stone and Lime quarry. According to The Intelligencer, the quarry is seeking approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to dig to depths of 170 feet, a 50-foot increase from its current level. The DEP is reviewing its request. In the meantime, the New Hope Council president told the newspaper that the council may consider sending a letter supporting the community group’s resistance. The group also turned to Rep. Bernie O’Neill and Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, both of whom have supported its cause.

Texas

Industrial Asphalt’s KBDJ Conservation Land & Quarry has implemented a dry dust suppression system at its Hays County quarry. According to Hays Free Press, new equipment and technology are reducing dust emissions by up to 35 percent, while reducing water usage by at least 80 percent. “Dry dust suppression helps protect two natural resources of great value to our neighbors — fresh water and clean air — allowing our company to continue providing locally sourced raw materials that are the building blocks for our region,” KBDJ President Jill Shackelford told the media. The quarry is also using enclosed conveyors to minimize airborne dust.

Texas

A new state law, based on HB 571, takes effect on Sept. 1. It requires aggregate operators to register their facilities by Sept. 1, 2012, with inspections beginning Sept. 1, 2015. The law is intended to eliminate the impact of rogue operators and would assess permit fees of about $550, The Houston Chronicle reports. Registration fees — of less than $1,000 — would be assessed to operators. Sites that are not registered will face fines of between $5,000 and $10,000 per year, with fines up to $25,000 if they remain unregistered for a three-year period. “This brought together a lot of people who normally work on the opposite end of the spectrum,” Richard Szecsy, president of the Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association, told the newspaper. “One important thing to note is that the aggregate industry did want this bill. We want these unlicensed operators out.”

Washington

A South Kitsap homeowner filed a complaint about the proposed extension of a gravel mine near his home, claiming excessive dirt and traffic congestion in the area are the major problems, the Kitsap Sun reports. Steve Taylor filed the complaint with the Department of Natural Resources in response to a request from Miles Sand & Gravel for an extension of its permit for an operation on Bethel-Burley Road in Port Orchard. The company mined about 3 acres of the site during the summer of 2009 and has not operated there since. It now seeks to work the site until 2022 or until the reserves are depleted. A spokesperson for the Kitsap County Department of Community Development noted that the area is zoned as a mineral resource overlay site to let residents know there “may be a possibility of mining in that area in the future.”

Province News

A 2,300-acre limestone quarry proposed for a site in Dufferin County will not affect local drinking water, according to a report from the Guelph city staff. According to the Guelph Mercury, the city’s water supply program manager told council, “Based on the staff’s technical review, the proposed quarry operation falls outside of the Speed River Subwatershed and is not considered to be a concern with respect to either the quality or sustainability of Guelph’s water supply.” The city council ordered the review after residents voiced concerns about its impact on the water supply.

By Aggregates Manager Staff

Connecticut

The Bridgeport Airport Commission is expected to approve the sale of 6.7 acres to Mark IV Construction Co. The Connecticut Post reports that the operator has already put down 10 percent of the $350,000 purchase price. The site is zoned for light industrial use, and a gravel operation, operated by Burns Construction, is already along the same stretch of road. In late May, Mark IV signed an agreement with the city of Bridgeport to end its rock crushing operation on Seaview Ave., to remove its heavy equipment, and to clean up the site by Dec. 1. No permits have yet been filed for operations at the new site.

Florida

Martin Marietta’s plan to develop a facility in Deland is likely to be debated in circuit court, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Previously, the Volusia County Council voted 3-3 to overturn the county staff’s decision in favor of Martin Marietta’s request to build a storage and distribution facility. The council’s split vote was considered a denial of an appeal by neighboring landowner Glenwood Properties LLC. Martin Marietta originally sought approval to build an aggregates plant and batch plant, but scaled back its request due to resistance from Glenwood Properties and other neighbors. The company has filed two suits against the county arguing that the appeal and rehearing should never have been heard by the council and requesting a court order to issue permits for the company to start construction.

Iowa

In mid-May, the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission approved the new General Permit #5, which allows discharges of surface waters of Iowa from quarries and sand and gravel operations. According to Rockbuster News, a publication produced by the Iowa Limestone Producers Association (ILPA), ILPA worked closely with regulators and supports the new permit, which became necessary when previous Total Dissolved Solids limits were replaced by a formula that includes sulfate, chloride, and hardness. The new permit maintains previous regulatory limits regarding discharges of suspended solids and pH. Total suspended solids limits are 45 mg/l per day or a 30-day average of 30 mg/l. The pH must stay between 6.5 and 9.0. Any discharge with a sulfate concentration greater than 1,514 mg/l will push the applicant to an individual permit. In addition, the definition of storm water discharge associated with industrial activity was reduced from 4 acres to 1 acre, reflecting current federal and state regulations.

Massachusetts

State Attorney General George Jepsen has joined the battle over a proposal by Century Acquistions to add hot-mix asphalt to its operations in Ashley Falls. According to the Waterbury Republican American, Jepsen wrote a letter to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection attorney Christine LeBel urging the agency to address the concerns of neighboring property owners who “expect to be directly, significantly, and adversely affected by its operations.”

Missouri

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) allowed heavy loads of sand and gravel on certain highways to help with battling floods on the Missouri River and other waterways, The Independent reports. Truck drivers were allowed to carry up to 10 percent more than their licensed weight, but the loads were not allowed on interstate highways and other roadways that have been designated national defense routes. MoDOT did not require permits for the overweight loads. The waiver was in effect until June 30.

Montana

As rising waters and flood threats grew in early June, Lewis & Clark County officials diverted water from Prickly Pear Crick into Helena Sand and Gravel’s sand pit. 9KXLH.com reports that the creek peaked the week of June 5 when an earthen dam broke and sent massive amounts of water into East Helena. An irrigation ditch became a small waterway, and it was that water that was diverted to the Helena Sand and Gravel pit. Water levels in the pit were being monitored on a daily basis.

Ohio

The Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) was selected to receive the 2011 Gary Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award. In a letter he wrote to OAIMA President Pat Jacomet, Robert Hartzell, executive director of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, noted the award recognizes OAIMA’s educational programs and efforts to promote an awareness and appreciation of the mining and minerals industry, which provide “outstanding examples of how to provide the general public with a greater understanding of the industry’s role in our everyday lives.” The award will be presented at the museum’s annual induction banquet on Sept. 10 in Leadville, Colo.

North Dakota

Knife River employees from seven states helped their associates in central North Dakota and western Iowa in early June as flooding impacted homes, businesses, and neighborhoods in those locations. According to a Knife River press release, the company hauled materials to construct massive clay dikes and provided sand for thousands of volunteers who were sandbagging day and night. Employees from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, eastern North Dakota, and northern Michigan came to the aid of their peers in Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., and drove equipment 24 hours a day during the crisis. In Sioux City, Iowa, employees at Knife River worked around the clock to surround the company’s Jebro facility and hauled clay and sand for neighborhoods in danger of flooding. “This is a very tragic time for North Dakota and Iowa as families are being evacuated and homes abandoned. However, the spirit and strength of the residents in these areas is tremendous. To see strangers becoming friends over sandbagging efforts is a common occurrence. Knife River employees are a huge part of this massive work, and I am proud of their efforts and to call them co-workers,” said Bill Schneider, president and CEO. “Knife River and its employees will be a part of this flood fight until the last home isn’t in danger any more in our communities. I am glad that we can be there for our friends, neighbors, and our own employees who are impacted by this unprecedented flooding.”

Utah

The Utah Best of State Organization presented Staker Parsons Companies with a medal recognizing the company as the “Best of State” in the Manufacturing-Mineral Mining/Stone Quarrying category at an awards ceremony held June 4. According to the company, the medal is awarded annually to businesses that contribute to a better quality of life in Utah. Scott Parson, Staker Parson CEO, told the judges, “Despite a challenging construction economy in 2010, we succeeded in achieving significant milestones during the year. Our team is committed to safely building the preferred source for our customers, employees, shareholders, and neighbors.”

Wyoming

Last year was a good one for the mineral industry throughout the state, the Sublette Examiner reports. According to final results issued in early June by the state Department of Revenue’s Mineral Tax Division, its mineral valuation came in at $15.5 billion, up 23 percent from 2009 revenues of $12.6 billion. In sand and gravel mining, Campbell County led the state in terms of revenues. “The money from this mineral production is a shot in the arm for our counties that are still coming out of the recession,” said Gov. Matt Mead. “I will continue to push for the state to share its portion of the revenues with cities and counties so they can invest now, when the cost of construction is down and the prospects for economic development are high.”

By Therese Dunphy, Editor in Chief

California

At press time, a judge seemed unlikely to accept Duarte’s legal efforts to prevent plans for Vulcan’s 80-acre mine development along its border with Azusa. Norwalk Superior Court Judge Thomas McKnew tentatively ruled against Duarte’s argument to nullify an environmental review document prepared for the mining project by Azusa. Whittier Daily News reports that McKnew said Duarte’s argument that Azusa failed to correctly review alternative mine plans was worth exploring. He specifically noted that there isn’t much case law regarding how alternative plans had to be compared and said he could use some clarity on the topic. The judge also concluded that Azusa made an honest effort to account for the impacts of moving the mining operation. Azusa’s city attorney said she was happy with the judge’s tentative ruling.

Connecticut

Neighbors of a sand and gravel pit are threatening legal action against the town of Simsbury over increased activity at a Sand Hill Road sand and gravel pit following its purchase by a new owner. The town’s director of community planning told The Hartford Courant that the pit has been in operation since before the town’s zoning regulations were adopted in 1933, and it is considered “pre-existing” — although non-conforming — with current regulations. Neighbors say that dirt and materials are being trucked into the site, and they want all activity stopped until the site’s usage is reviewed. A town selectman described the town as “stuck in the middle between neighbors who want to live there and an owner who has a legal right to use his property.”

Idaho

In a report published in the Idaho Business Review, the Idaho Mining Association said its members employed more than 2,800 people and generated nearly $96 million in tax, license, and royalty revenues for state and local governments last year. Its members had a payroll of $251 million and paid $216 million to purchase goods and services from Idaho vendors.

Kentucky

Bray Marine and Greater Cincinnati Marine (GCM) merged to form C&B Marine. According to the SNL Daily Coal Report, Bray specialized in fleeting and coal-cleaning operations, while GCM had sand and gravel operations and hopper and deck barges. Assets for the new company include 16 towboats, 50 barges, multiple deck floats for clamshell unloading, and several port and dock facilities.

New York

A proposed asphalt plant is causing debate among residents in Gravesville, according to a report from WKTV.com. Material Sand and Gravel wants to locate the plant at its sand and gravel site. While some residents voiced concerns about a negative impact on health and the bucolic character of the hamlet, current Material Sand and Gravel employees marched in support of the plant and noted that it would bring jobs and economic growth to the area.

New York

Holcim (US) Inc. told state officials that it will end production at its plant in Catskill. The Business Review reports that the plant’s terminal will stay open to continue to ship products to customers. “The mothballing of Catskill is a direct result of continuing economic challenges in the region,” Holcim President and CEO Bernard Terver told the journal. He said the shutdown would proceed in a manner that kept its operating permits and equipment available for potential future use, but there is no timeline for reopening the facility. The company reports that 103 salaried and hourly positions will be eliminated as a result of the plant closure.

Ohio

A new TRIP report, “Future Mobility in Ohio: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” shows that 9 percent of Ohio’s major roads are rated in poor condition and an additional 17 percent are in mediocre condition. In addition, 10 percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient and 14 percent are functionally obsolete. The research group estimates that Ohio roadways that lack some desirable safety features, have inadequate capacity to meet travel demands, or have poor pavement conditions cost the state’s drivers approximately $6.5 billion annually in the form of the financial cost of traffic crashes, additional vehicle operating costs due to driving on deteriorated roads, and time and fuel lost due to congestion-related delays. The full report is available at www.tripnet.org

South Carolina

Approximately 140 Sumter County residents signed a petition against a mine plan submitted by Bill Carter to the Sumter City-County Board of Zoning. According to The Item, Carter is seeking approval to mine 4.99 acres of his property along Frierson Road in Dalzell. Despite criticism from residents who voiced concerns about safety and property values, the mine was given unanimous approval by the Sumter City-County Board of Zoning Appeals. The path is now clear for the mine to be built.

Tennessee

Shelby County Commissioners rejected a proposed sand and gravel mining project in the county’s northeast corner following testimony from residents concerned about heavy trucks on the area’s narrow roads. The Commercial Appeal reports that three commissioners voted against Memphis Stone & Gravel Co.’s application, while another six abstained. “We are a 100-year-old local business, and this is our last major resource available in Shelby County,” said Alan Parks, the company’s vice president. “In our view, we think that we can make this project safe and be in compliance with the land-use ordinance just like we have for almost four decades at our existing site nearby.” Previously, one commissioner suggested several measures to make the company responsible for road widening and other safety improvements in the area (in addition to improvements the company had already agreed to), but commissioners voted against his amendments.

Washington

At press time, Miles Sand and Gravel was one of three finalists in the corporate business category for annual awards given by the Thurston County Economic Development Council. “We are thrilled to be a finalist,” Lisa Kittilsby, co-owner of the company, told the Nisqually Valley News. “Our company is family-owned and is currently operated by fourth-generation owners. We love being part of the community. It’s quite an honor to be nominated.”

Province News

A controversial plan to develop a gravel mine in southwest Edmonton could reach city council this spring. The Edmonton Journal reports that Kanata Metis Cultural Enterprises Ltd. is seeking permission to mine gravel on a 79-acre portion of its property along the North Saskatchewan River. Qualico, the previous property owner, also sought permission to mine the site and faced intense public opposition, including a meeting attended by approximately 800 opponents. On a positive note, the manager of the city’s current planning branch told the newspaper that city councilors might want to hear about the plans for jobs and housing the mine is intended to create. He also noted that there are two sides to the environmental issue because the operation would reduce or eliminate the need for hundreds or thousands of loads of gravel being hauled great distances.

Province News

Rocky View County councilors, in the province of Alberta, voted unanimously to hire a gravel company — Copper Stone Crushing Ltd. — for a bid of $764,000. According to the Cochrane Times, the company will provide contract crushing and stockpiling of more than 240,000 tons of gravel in the county’s five gravel pits. That material will be used for road maintenance and construction programs.

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United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates.

Alabama

Although a Limestone County woman has voiced concerns that a new gravel mine will lower her property value, the Huntsville natural resources director told the Huntsville Times that there is no reason to deny the operation’s application for an air permit. A developer is opening the mine to supply material for the development of a subdivision, the Preserve at Limestone Creek. The developer said that gravel extraction at the site will keep the 750 truckloads of gravel needed for the first phase of the subdivision’s development off surrounding roads.

Arkansas

The House of Representatives is considering legislation that would allow the state to recover any profits earned by open-cut mining operations — including sand and gravel sites — that are found to be operating without a permit. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is limited to issuing a fine of $1,000 for a first violation with higher fines for repeat offenders. The deputy director of that department estimated that a company recently found to be operating a gravel mine without a permit made $1,000 each day and was in operation for nine months. He told the newspaper that companies operating without a permit were able to provide a competitive advantage over those that conducted their mining operations within the legal guidelines.

California

Teichert Aggregates is applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for $250,000 toward the construction of a biomass plant that would burn plant waste and create electricity. The Appeal-Democrat reports that the company plans to build the plant on its property near Linda, in Yuba County. If built, it would generate up to 20 megawatts of electricity, or enough power for 20,000 homes. Mike Ray, a project manager for Teichert, told the newspaper that the company became interested in biomass after it began investigating ways to reduce the electrical bill for gravel mining and related operations. The company expects to hear about its grant application within three to six months. From then, it anticipates a two-year timeframe to secure financing, gain necessary approvals, and build the plant.

Maryland

York Building Products faces challenges on its request to have the county rezone 706 acres in the Carpenters Point peninsula as mineral extraction area (MEA). In an online report, www.mydailybiz.com reports that the zoning is being considered as two separate parcels. One parcel was proposed to be zoned as industrial, with York Building Products requesting a change to MEA. The county’s planning and zoning staff is recommending approval of that request, but the planning commission is recommending disapproval. The second parcel is proposed to be zoned as northern agriculture residential with an overlay that would allow mining if the owner gets a special-use permit. The company is seeking a MEA designation on that property as well. Both the planning staff and planning commission have recommended against that request.

Nevada

In early March, Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign reintroduced a federal bill that would declare mining off limits on 800 acres of land in Sloan Hills that are overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rep. Dean Heller submitted a companion bill in the House. “The Sloan Hills gravel pit not only disturbs an otherwise peaceful community, but poses serious health risks to thousands of Nevada residents,” Reid told the newspaper. A previous attempt to pass such legislation died in last year’s session of Congress when it was made part of a package of approximately 100 public lands and wilderness initiatives. Republicans blocked the bill, saying that some portions were too controversial and that it was an overreach.

New Hampshire

A drilling and blasting contractor working in a Pembroke quarry fell 30 to 40 feet into the quarry, the Concord Monitor reports. The contractor suffered a broken leg and head injuries and was transported to the local hospital. The Pembroke police chief said his department contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which was expected to contact the Mine Safety and Health Administration about the incident. The worker was wearing a hard hat and safety harness, but the harness may have been unhooked because he was in an area that did not require it.

New York

Patrick DiLucia, vice president of sales for the Dolomite Group Inc., told the Rochester Business Journal that costs of construction materials are starting to inch up as crude oil prices climb. The 100-year-old company, purchased by Oldcastle Inc. in 2000, sells crushed stone, sand, gravel, asphalt, and concrete. DiLucia said that rising oil prices increase delivery costs for aggregates, as well as asphalt costs. He told the journal that his company and other local construction companies are cutting costs by instituting longer seasonal layoffs and cutting employee hours in addition to shortening production runs at the company’s quarries.

Texas

Aggregate Industries U.S., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holcim Ltd., announced that Lattimore Materials Corp. (LMC), a Texas-based aggregates and ready-mixed concrete producer, has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aggregate Industries. Prior to the transaction, Holcim owned a minority interest in LMC. “Until now, Aggregate Industries U.S. did not have a presence in Texas,” said Bernard Terver, Holcim Ltd. United States area manager. “The acquisition of LMC firmly establishes Aggregate Industries U.S. operations in this important area of the United States and allows (it) to fully leverage the very strong positions and reputation of LMC.” The new subsidiary operates seven aggregate operations, 26 ready-mix sites with 35 concrete plants, four rail terminals, and a fleet of more than 400 mixer and haul trucks.

Utah

In late February, an equipment operator was found dead at a facility on the Great Salt Lake’s Stansbury Island. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the victim was found face down on a conveyor that had stopped operating. When paramedics arrived on the scene, he was not breathing or responsive. The newspaper reports that Mine Safety and Health Administration investigators did not release any information on the victim’s injuries, but had not ruled out the possibility that his death may have resulted from natural causes.

Vermont

The Putney Town Board wants to borrow up to $75,000 to continue its partnership with the town of Dummerston on a shared gravel pit. The Brattleboro Reformer reports that the two towns share another pit that has saved Putney $125,000 in sand and gravel costs by operating its own pit. That site is nearing the end of its life, and the two towns want to open a new pit. The town manager told the board that all future sand will be free and clear of any costs other than their lease price per yard, approximately half of the going price of purchased sand.

Virginia

Luck Stone Corp. is credited with keeping the Xterra East Championship, a mountain bike triathlon race, in Richmond. Richmond BizSense reports that the company has committed at least $25,000 to sponsor the event. A previous sponsor had pulled its support, and the event’s future with the city was in doubt. An Old Dominion University professor estimated last year’s economic impact for the two-day event to be slightly more than $1 million. “Had we not been able to find Luck Stone like we did, this certainly would have gone to Charlotte, N.C.,” Councilman Doug Conner told the journal.

Virginia

At Aggregates Manager’s press time, a public hearing was scheduled before the Caroline Planning Commission regarding Vulcan Material Co.’s proposal for a sand and gravel mine on a 541-acre property in Caroline County. According to the Free Lance-Star, the company hopes to have the mine operational by summer of 2012. The site is expected to create 14 full-time jobs and generate annual tax revenues of about $100,000, with material being barged along the Rappahannock River. More than 100 people turned out for an early March meeting, with many opposing the project.

Washington

In March, Thurston County Commissioners ruled that further environmental review is necessary before a Maytown gravel mine project can move forward. The Olympian reports commissioners sent the case back to a county hearing examiner who previously ruled the mine’s special-use permit to be valid, noting that some of the prairie habitat protected under the county critical-areas ordinance is included within the boundaries of the 287-acre mine. The county planning director said that from 5 to 75 acres might need to be removed from the mine to comply with county regulations that were in effect when the mine permit was issued in 2005. Maytown Sand and Gravel bought the property from the Port of Tacoma in 2010 for $17 million. If the permit is rejected, the sale could fall through and the land could revert back to the port.

Province News

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is being asked to consider certain reclamation activities of aggregates sites as a potential threat to drinking water. According to the Guelph Mercury, the agency’s source protection program manager, Martin Keller, said the ministry has identified a series of “prescribed drinking water threats” related to water quality issues including the storage of fuel, the use of agricultural fertilizers and chemicals, pesticide application, waste disposal, and septic systems. He also noted that water ponds on these sites can allow the introduction of contaminants into the groundwater system. The ministry’s manager of source protection planning said it is “currently evaluating the activity to determine whether or not we can assign what we call a hazard rating.” If post-extraction aggregate sites are added to a list of drinking water threats, it could “open the door to look at potential policies that would mitigate the risks,” Keller said.

United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates.

Alabama

Limestone Creek Sand and Gravel, LLC, applied to the Huntsville Natural Resources Department for an air permit for a proposed plant on Newby Road. According to al.com, the Natural Resources Department’s preliminary report is that the plant’s proposed controls would meet all applicable city air pollution control regulations. The deadline for public comment had not expired at Aggregates Manager press time, but a public hearing was to be scheduled if enough comments related to air pollution and its effects were received.

Arizona

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department agreed to a $1 million settlement with Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. with part of the fine being invested into the community. KPHO.com reports that the department charged the operator with violating multiple air pollution laws over a 2.5-year period. The settlement agreement stipulates a portion of the enforcement fines will fund air quality outreach and education in the community. “Fisher Sand and Gravel is relieved to finalize this settlement and to move forward with a clean slate,” company spokesman Karl Gentles told the television station. “Fisher is a different company today than it was two to three years ago. We have made great strides with our environmental compliance and significant operational improvements.”

California

Azusa residents overwhelmingly voted in support of Vulcan Material Co.’s mining plan, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. In a special election, the measure passed by a more than 2-to-1 margin. “We have always been…committed to working with the community, and these election results are an example of what can be accomplished when a community works together,” Vulcan spokesman Peg Casey told the newspaper. “Clearly, the voters have spoken.” Opponents of the plan successfully placed a referendum item on the ballot for the special election after the city council approved the plan in a 4-1 vote last July.

Indiana

The Union County Zoning Appeals Board tabled action on a permit application for a portable asphalt plant. The Palladium-Item reports that Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. purchased a 22-acre site from Tri County Sand and Gravel to serve as a local site for its asphalt plant, but the company’s permit request drew a standing-room-only crowd when it went before the zoning appeals board. The property is zoned for agricultural use and would require a variance for the plant. Amy O’Mara Boswell, vice president of the company, told the newspaper that she would sell the property if the company did not receive a variance for it.

Kentucky

When he campaigned for office, Smithfield Sheriff Bobby Davidson announced plans to get a canine to help the six-man department detect drugs in its 360-square-mile county, WPSD reports. Once elected, he found out the county didn’t have the funds to purchase the $2,000 dog or the ancillary equipment. He secured community donations to fund the purchase, with the largest donation — $3,000 — coming from Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Co. Sales Manager Jeff Thomas told the sheriff his company was glad to partner in keeping the community safe.

Maryland

A new report, Future Mobility in Maryland: Meeting the State’s Needs for Safe and Efficient Mobility, finds that state roads that are congested, deteriorated, and not as safe as they could be cost the average Baltimore area motorist $2,226 each year, while Washington, D.C., drivers lose $2,296 annually — a total of $7 billion statewide. The report, released Feb. 1 by TRIP, finds that 44 percent of Maryland’s major roads are in need of repair, more than a quarter of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, more than half of the state’s urban roads are congested, and Maryland’s rural traffic fatality rate is more than double that of all other roads in the state. According to the TRIP report, 26 percent of Maryland’s major roads are rated in poor condition and an additional 18 percent are in mediocre condition. Seven percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient and 19 percent are functionally obsolete.

New York

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) determined that an environmental impact study is not needed as part of Elam Sand and Gravel’s special use permit application. According to 13wham.com, the company has already taken steps to reduce noise by agreeing to build berms on the property close to neighboring houses, as well as to limit truck traffic to four to 20 vehicles per hour. The matter will go before the West Bloomfield Zoning Board before the DEC has the final say on the project. The television station reports that the DEC could issue a special use permit for the sand and gravel mine as early as April.

New York

Wyoming Construction Materials’ application for a permit to mine sand and gravel, as well as to operate a hot-mix asphalt plant and a concrete batch plant, raised air quality concerns for residents in the greater Buffalo area. The Buffalo Bulletin reports that resident concerns center largely on dust issues, as well as the proximity of neighbors. The company requested a permit to mine up to 400,000 tons per year. Chuck Falkenstein, the operation manager, told the newspaper that the company would like to mine 800 acres of the 1,100-acre property. Wetlands and hilly areas of the property would not be mined, but boundaries between active operations and neighbors would be larger than some neighbors anticipate.

North Carolina

The state’s mining business has declined by nearly half since 2006, Jasper Stem, executive director of the North Carolina Aggregates Association, told The Mecklenburg Times. From November 2009 to November 2010, the industry lost 5,000 jobs, or 13 percent of its workforce. “We’re at near-Depression Era levels of performance for this country, and for Charlotte in particular,” Martin Marietta Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Anne Lloyd told the newspaper. “We have had to adjust to match the demand in the construction sector.” Stem noted that, while he thought the area was recession-proof, companies with multiple operations were only running a single site and moving crews around. Lloyd emphasized the importance of SAFETEA-LU reauthorization: “I’m not sure people fully appreciate the importance of getting the construction industry back to work,” she said. “Until you get that sector back to work, you are not going to get the country back to work.”

Ohio

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) hopes to reclaim 20 acres of Alley Park as a campground by 2014, according to the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. The parcel was mined for sand and gravel by two companies, the now-defunct Blazer Materials Corp. and Shelly Materials Inc. The latter producer reclaimed the land, added a retention pond, and planted trees, but the former company did not reclaim the land. An ODNR representative told the newspaper that only about 2 to 3 percent of mining permits result in forfeiture, and that number continues to decline. The state agency hopes to complete its reclamation efforts through grant funding.

Utah

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is suing his own city’s Board of Adjustment for reversing a ban on sand and gravel mining by Ralph Smith Trucking Co. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the suit names the board, the trucking company, and the owner of the mine property. It calls for a reversal on the board’s Dec. 23, 2010, ruling and asks that the trucking company be denied the right to mine sand and gravel. The city contends that it sent the trucking company notification of a zoning violation in 2005, and the company didn’t appeal it. In 2008, the city’s zoning administrator ruled that the property didn’t “enjoy a legal non-conforming mining and excavation use.” After that notice, the trucking company appealed. A hearing had not been scheduled at press time.

West Virginia

In late January, several truck drivers parked their semis in front of the Parkways Authority headquarters in Charleston as a sign of their opposition to tolls on U.S. 35. According to The Charleston Gazette, the drivers and area business owners told the Parkways Authority board that a toll road would hurt commerce and force truckers to bypass the tolls by using separate routes. John Thompson, who owns a sand and gravel company in Mason County, told the newspaper that if his truckers were forced to pay $8.50 each time they stopped at one of the two proposed tollbooths on U.S. 35, he’d have no choice but to lay off workers.

Province News

A regional aggregate study in British Columbia has stalled due to lack of funding, the Kelowna Capital News reports. The Regional District of Central Okanagan is now looking for other ways to prioritize gravel pit applications that have been repeatedly denied. The most recent mapping of geologic resources in the area took place in 2001. Regional partners contributed approximately $60,000 toward the study with the expectation that industry and senior government would also contribute, but neither group wanted to fund the study. A similar study in Fraser Valley also stalled when regulators realized how long it would take to receive nearly $250,000 from individual mining permits. One regional official noted that an interim policy was necessary to address the permitting issue until federal gas tax funding is available. He noted that the region could not put applications on hold for another 18 months to two years.