by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief

California

Lake Forest-based Primoris Services Corp. announced its purchase of an 88-acre quarry in Riverside County. According to the Orange County Register, the purchase of the Juniper Flats Quarry — for about $2.3 million — allowed the company to create Juniper Rock Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary. Company officials estimate a 10-year life cycle for the operation with production of approximately 6 million tons of construction materials.

California

A draft version of an environmental impact report commissioned by Vulcan Materials Co. indicates that a plan to mine a ridge adjacent to Azusa’s Fish Canyon would have limited impact on surrounding communities. Whittier Daily News reports that Vulcan has a permit to mine 190 acres near Fish Canyon. It wants to exchange 80 acres of unmined land on its eastern property line for the ability to mine 80 acres on its western property line. If approved, the site would be developed using 1- to 2-foot micro benches rather than the 30-foot benches currently used on the eastern side of the quarry. “I think you will see, based on the micro benching reclamation, the ridge will look far more natural than it would if it were not reclaimed using micro benching,” Azusa Assistant Community Development Director Conal McNamara told the newspaper. “At the end of 30 years, hopefully, you will be hard pressed to tell it was a mining operation.”

Kentucky

Ronald H. Gray, executive director of the Kentucky Crushed Stone Association (KCSA), has been named NSSGA’s 2009 State Aggregates Association Executive of the Year. “The KCSA is a strong partner of NSSGA. We are impressed by Ron’s advocacy of transportation reauthorization through attending fly-ins and personally visiting members of Congress, as well as encouraging the participation of so many KCSA members,” said NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson in making the announcement. “We value all he is doing in the state of Kentucky, as well as nationally, by contributing meaningful insights from Kentucky aggregates producers to the development of industry positions on federal policy.” KCSA’s Board of Directors adopted NSSGA’s Safety Pledge and obtained signatures from virtually all of the aggregates companies in Kentucky. The association also supported NSSGA’s efforts to secure significant changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s visible air emissions dust rule, New Source Performance Standards, by obtaining the state’s Environmental Protection Division’s support. Gray has led KCSA since January 2005.

Massachusetts

Members of the Lunenburg Planning Board reviewed the subdivision of a parcel that would allow Powell Stone & Gravel Co. to expand its operation, but failed to move on the issue. According to the Sentinel & Enterprise, owner Steve Powell wants to purchase 10 acres of a 20-acre parcel adjacent to his site to house his company’s trucks and maintenance facility. Prior to the purchase, however, he wants the lot subdivided along a zoning district line. Planning Director Marion Benson supported the move. “I think the Powell’s business is financially very important for the town,” she said. “They do a good job. I never hear any complaints.” The board is waiting for feedback from other town boards prior to taking action.

Michigan

Aggregate Industries (AI) would give more than 320 acres in Waterloo Township to the state in exchange for the rights to mine sand and gravel for an additional 10 years, mlive.com reports. The acreage would go to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), while the company would reserve mining rights on state-owned land west of the parcel. It would pay royalties on the estimated 8 to 9 million tons that could be excavated. At Aggregates Manager press time, state DNR officials were scheduled to appear at a Waterloo Township meeting. Township officials had tried to stop another AI mine in Circuit Court, but the judge ruled in favor of AI and refused the township’s request to hear the case again.

Nevada

A federal judge has ruled that a disputed Las Vegas highway project should be awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the decision was issued despite a county commission vote to start the bidding process over again. In early January, U.S. District Court Judge Clive Jones granted the company a $112 million contract to widen a section of the Las Vegas Beltway north of the city. A Clark County spokesman said commissioners will decide within 30 days whether to appeal.

New York

An old quarry and adjacent farmland will likely become a town park in Lancaster, featuring several athletic fields, Buffalo News reports. Town officials have worked out a deal to provide the town with 134 acres, along with approximately $5 million to help offset development costs for the park. Landowner Lafarge Corp. donated the adjacent 45 acres of undeveloped land to the town. In addition to the donation, Lafarge is in the process of selling 89 acres of the former quarry to EnSol Inc., a Niagara Falls company that plans to close the quarry over the next decade or so.