Massachusetts 

Ed Persico, general manager of Aggregate Industries, presented three options for how the company could close its operation in Peabody. The Salem News reports the first option would allow the company to continue blasting its quarry from the existing 135-foot depth to 410 feet and keep an asphalt plant in its current location. The second option would extend the quarry’s rim, blast to 245 feet, and relocate the plant to a different location on the property. The third option is similar to the second, but would move the plant off site to another location in the city. Aggregate Industries is not obligated to close the quarry, but was required to submit a closure plan as a condition of its city-issued special permit.

Minnesota 

The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents unanimously approved the creation of a limited liability company to manage 5,000 acres of land known as UMore Park. According to the Star Tribune, the university is preparing for its possible development, including gravel mining on the site. The UMore Development LLC will be run by a nine-member board of governors. The news agency says the university hopes that mining income will help offset its $5.9 million investment in the project and another $2.6 million budgeted for this year. “My big fear is that we are going to start mining this gravel, and in 10 or 12 years we won’t have any gravel or any money left,” Regent Anthony Baraga told the Star Tribune.

Nevada

In the latest installment of the drama involving the Las Vegas Beltway project, Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins filed a lawsuit saying that he shouldn’t be barred from voting on a contested highway contract. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that legal battles have stalled the project. Las Vegas Paving won the contract twice on its bid of $116.8 million, which is higher than Fisher Sand and Gravel’s bid of $112.2 million. In September, a federal judge signed a writ stating that commissioners Collins and Steve Sisolak “by willing agreement” would not participate in future discussions of the disputed contract. Collins says he didn’t agree to such an agreement and opposing lawyers cut a “behind closed doors” deal and got the judge to impose it on him. Collins says the agreement defames him by calling him biased and unlawfully prevents him from performing his duties as an elected official. “Some combination of them cooperated and conspired to gerrymander the Clark County Commission,” the lawsuit claims.

New Hampshire 

Neighbors of a proposed asphalt plant in Weare are fighting its development. The Union Leader reports that community member Eric Rinehimer expects a group of approximately 150 neighbors to protest the asphalt plant at a planning board meeting. C.J. Bolton Inc. officials are expected to present their plans and solicit public input, but no action is expected to be taken by the board.

New York 

Wildlife pathologist Dr. Ward Stone told wten.com that he had found disturbing levels of mercury and other pollution in the Ravena-Coeymans area and blamed it on the Lafarge cement plant there. Stone works for the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC said that, although it is concerned about pollution, the levels of mercury cited by Stone “are in fact within the range of what’s already known about soil in New York State… mercury concentrations found in fish and wildlife in New York are attributable in part to emissions of dozens of sources outside New York State.” Lafarge told the news agency that its plant is safe now and will be even cleaner when it completes a modernization costing “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

South Carolina 

North Greenville University dedicated two houses for use by male students in late September. According to GreenvilleOnline.com, Hanson Aggregates Southeast Inc. formerly used the buildings for office space at its quarry and donated them to the university. “We are grateful to Hanson Aggregates for their partnership to recycle these houses for living space,” Alex Miller, vice president for University Advancement, told the news agency. “The easier thing would have been to tear them down. Our students will be able to enjoy a homelike atmosphere in a university setting because of this generous gift.”

Texas 

Texas Industries worked with the crew of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build a home for a Texas family. GlobeNewsire reports that the company’s North Texas Ready Mix, Aggregates, Cement, and Package Teams all helped tear down and build a new home in seven days. TXI’s concrete was used in the foundation, the biggest pour done to date on the television program. At Aggregates Manager press time, the episode was expected to air on Oct. 18.