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

Alabama

Baker’s Sand and Gravel deposited about 400 tons of sand around Fountain Circle in Huntsville as part of the preparations of the Rocket City Beach Bash, sponsored by the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. Al.com reports that the sand was spread over a 200-yard section of Fountain Circle for a party that included beach-style activities, concessions, and music.

Arizona

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued warnings to seven Phoenix-area sand and gravel firms stating that they need to control dust or they could be barred from bidding on federal road projects or face fines. According to The Arizona Republic, the EPA sent violation notices to companies in July after conducting several inspections and has offered to talk about the violations before determining penalties. John Brock, an EPA enforcement officer, said the inspections took place after the agency adopted a Maricopa County environmental rule (Rule 316) for cement, asphalt, sand, and gravel operations as a federally enforceable regulation. The rule was adopted by the county in 1993 and has been revised three times since then. Brock told the newspaper that, based on his experience, it is unlikely that the EPA will declare any of the companies ineligible for federal highway projects as a penalty. Steve Trussell, executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association, told the newspaper that state operators take the violations very seriously and have been meeting to discuss enforcement and compliance issues.

California