To keep up to date with this breakdown of news in the United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates.

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.