by Therese Dunphy, Executive Editor

Arizona

The Arizona Republic reports that a research geologist with the Arizona Geological Survey confirmed that there is no asbestos associated with mining operations in the Agua Fria River bed. The geologist addressed concerns that sand and gravel mines may send asbestos into the air at a Maricopa County Mining District Recommendation Committee meeting. A former member of the advisory board, Lyle Tuttle, said that residents were concerned that mining companies would crush concrete that contained asbestos, but the board chairman, Frank Mendola of Cemex, pointed out that an asbestos survey has to be conducted prior to a building’s demolition. Any asbestos found, he noted, had to be removed from the building and sent to an asbestos landfill. Board member Tom Lowry of Vulcan Materials Co. added that Vulcan has a landfill for recycle work and inspects every load that comes in.

California

The California Climate Action Registry (The Registry) designated Vulcan Materials Co., Western Division, as a Climate Action Leader following verification of the company’s 2006 inventory report. During recent years, U.S. companies increasingly have begun to voluntarily track greenhouse gas emissions as part of their corporate sustainability programs. During the development of its greenhouse gas inventory, Vulcan began to explore opportunities to quantify its contributions to reducing greenhouse gases at its facilities.

California

A 12-year effort to permit a gravel mine on 200 acres of the 8,000-acre M&T Ranch, southwest of Chico, failed on a 3-2 vote of the Butte County supervisors in late January. According to the Chico Enterprise-Record, the vote came a day after a seven-hour marathon public hearing concerning the pros and cons of the project. Baldwin Contracting Co. has a lease on the land and had been trying to get permission to remove up to 5.5 million cubic yards of gravel from the site. In February 2007, the Butte County Planning Commission granted conditional approval of the project. That approval included 35 conditions. The decision was immediately appealed and 11 months of board of supervisors hearings ensued. During the final discussion, two members expressed concerns about the mine’s impact on traffic patterns, road wear, and air quality issues. Those two were joined by a third member in voting to affirm the appeal.

Florida