Kenneth A. Gutschick, 90, passed away on June 25 in Rockville, Md., following a stroke. He was born in Chicago in 1924 and resided in Cicero, Ill., and the Chicago metropolitan area until 1956 when he and his wife Shirley relocated to Maryland. Gutschick served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943-46 as a corporal in the Headquarters 19th…
Read MoreDay: August 6, 2015
Stones to the Rescue
The drought in California has provided aggregates producers with a new market. Replacing front lawns with rocks. Since July 1, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California has paid just over $34 million in turf-removal rebates, according to the Los Angeles Times. It has given the go-ahead for an additional $120 million in turf-removal applications. The agency offers a…
Read MoreFatalities Decline in First Six Months of Year
In the first six months of 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recorded the deaths of 18 miners in mining industry accidents in its national mid-year summary. The toll represents a decrease of five metal and nonmetal deaths from the same period in 2014.
Read MoreNew MSHA Online Training Tool Helps Report Injuries
To assist mine operators and contractors in complying with federal regulations to report accidents, illnesses and injuries, MSHA has created a new interactive, online training tool.
Read MoreJudge Rejects Recent Settlements Between Secretary and Operators
By Ellen Smith If your company is looking to settle a case for MSHA citations that were initially contested, have all of the justifications in place for any significant penalty reduction, or be ready for protracted proceedings to get approval from a Commission judge.ALJ William Moran recently rejected two settlements where the attorney for the Secretary refused to voluntarily produce…
Read MoreSweat What Counts, Even If It Is ‘Small Stuff’
By Randy K. Logsdon A popular “big picture” management recommendation suggests that management focus should be on the highly critical issues that have potentially broad effect and if not addressed properly may have potentially catastrophic consequences. The descriptive phrase is “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Read MoreJune Construction Starts Retreat 15 Percent
Highway and Bridge Construction Advances 16 Percent; First Six Months of 2015 Up 23 Percent. By Mark S. Kuhar
Read MoreWOTUS Rule Goes into Effect This Month
The final Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS) was published in the Federal Register, which makes the effective date of the new rule Aug. 28. This rule significantly expands the federal government’s jurisdiction beyond legal limits and will make permitting and expanding aggregates facilities more costly and difficult, which in turn will drive up the cost of crucial infrastructure projects. Although…
Read MoreMSHA Releases Regulatory Agenda
Several Agencies Are Predicting A Very Active Summer And Fall On The Regulatory Front. By Bradford T. Hammock
Read MorePERMITTING – AUGUST 2015
Critical Minerals Bill Includes Aggregates A bill to ease permitting for domestic mines providing strategic and critical minerals, which includes aggregates used in infrastructure projects, advanced in Congress despite partisan objections, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015, H.R. 1937, introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) was…
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