By Don Bleiwas, Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey An aerial view of a frac sand operation in Chippewa County, Wis., circa 2012 (Photograph provided courtesy of Jim Tittle at www.thepriceofsand.com) Background The practice of fracturing reservoir rock in the United States as a method to increase the flow of oil and gas from wells has a relatively long history and…
Read MoreDay: May 26, 2015
Congress Passes Two-Month Highway Extension
Congress has voted to extend authorizations for federal highway and transit programs through July 31. Both the House and Senate passed the measure. The new stopgap is the 33rd extension in six years. President Obama is expected to sign the bill before the May 31 deadline.
Read MoreHydroLoc Hydrocarbon Remediation Process a Hit
Green Earth started in Milliken, Colo., as a fairly routine reclamation business – seeding, commercial landscaping, soil and water management. But when the bottom dropped out of the real estate development market in 2009, owners Bruce Sandau and Jim Daulton turned to the oil and gas fields for new opportunities. “We did storm water management, reseeding and general reclamation work…
Read MoreChasing The Elusive ‘Zero Incidents’
A Study Of OMG Midwest Employees Shows They Prefer Face-To-Face Communication and Safety Training Where Small Group Discussion Can Take Place. By Joe McGuire
Read MoreAmerica’s Rural Roads In Critical Need of Repair
America’s rural transportation system is in need of repairs and modernization to support economic growth in the nation’s Heartland, which is a critical source of energy, food and fiber and home to an aging and increasingly diverse population that is heavily reliant on the quality of its transportation system. A new report released by The Road Information program (TRIP) evaluates the safety…
Read MoreConstruction Industry Unemployment at Nine-Year Low
Construction firms added 45,000 jobs in April and 280,000 over 12 months, as the sector’s unemployment rate fell to a nine-year April low of 7.5 percent, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that even as the industry continues to expand, growth has been erratic and inconsistent.
Read MoreRocking the Right Load
MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM KEEPS PALM BEACH AGGREGATES ROLLING. By Mark S. Kuhar Palm Beach Aggregates in West Palm Beach, Fla., mines and processes approximately 2 million tpy of material. There is nothing worse in the aggregate business than loading the wrong materials into the wrong truck. The time and money lost from wrong loads, overloaded trucks and wasted material during…
Read MoreJust Keep Truckin’ On
GLENN O. HAWBAKER INC. KEEPS ITS TRUCKS MOVING TO SERVE MULTIPLE PROJECTS. By Mark S. Kuhar You’re on a Pennsylvania highway, wheel-to-wheel with muddy, salt-crusted trucks. And then, a pristine, gleaming red Mack dump truck bursts into view. If you’re from the Keystone State, then you know you’ve just spotted one of the Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. (GOH) trucks. The…
Read MoreAn Interview With Charles Luck IV
THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF NSSGA TALKS TO ROCK PRODUCTS ABOUT HIS GOALS, INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG LEADERS. By Mark S. Kuhar At its convention in Baltimore earlier this year, the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) elected Charles Luck IV of Luck Stone as its chairman for the year. He spoke to Rock Products about where…
Read MoreApp of the Month – May 2015
VOLVO CE APP: INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS The Volvo CE Insider app allows mobile device users to easily access the latest information, resources and customer support solutions from Volvo Construction Equipment – 24/7 without an Internet connection or cell phone reception. “The new Volvo CE Insider app puts helpful information and important functions right at your fingertips,” said John Johnston,…
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