Luck Stone, Mellott Partner on New Quarry Project
Luck Stone announced that the company will open a new quarry in Prince Edward County, approximately five miles west of downtown Farmville, Va. Luck Stone anticipates that the site, which is located along U.S. Route 460, will be open for business in the summer of 2017.
Land development activities are planned to begin this year. The 93-year-old company that is widely known for innovative, industry-leading practices will be partnering with mobile rock crushing services provider Mellott Co. to produce the aggregate material at the Prince Edward location.
Jim Van Ness, vice president at Luck Stone, described this investment and community partnership as an approach that lines up with Luck Stone’s vision. “As a customer-inspired business, we believe it’s our responsibility to provide people with the products they need, when they need them most. We are excited to open the Prince Edward location to further serve our customers and communities in Southside Virginia,” said Van Ness. “Our partnership with Mellott enables us to maximize our resources and quickly open the gates at Prince Edward,” he added.
Luck Stone aims to contribute to the growth of Prince Edward County, the town of Farmville and greater Southside Virginia. Endeavoring to support the ongoing expansion at both area schools, Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, as well as related local projects and future infrastructure growth, Van Ness noted, “It’s been close to 10 years since Luck Stone has invested in a greenfield site and we are exceedingly confident that the Prince Edward site will enable us to positively impact the region while bringing new opportunities to our associates, customers and communities.”
“The Mellott and Luck families have a longstanding relationship with similar core values: Safety, Integrity, Creativity, Leadership, Commitment and Excellence,” said Paul Mellott, Mellott Co. chairman.
Rich Blake, Mellott Co. president and CEO, added, “This partnership is a good fit between our two companies. Each company has strengths that complements the other from the standpoint of synergetic cooperation.”
Vulcan Materials Approved for Major Aggregates Reserve
Vulcan Materials Co. announced that the Kern County, Calif., board of supervisors voted by unanimous consent to approve its San Emidio Quarry expansion. The project will provide resources necessary for maintenance of infrastructure, the company stated. “The aggregate produced at San Emidio will supply the materials that are vital to infrastructure projects for many generations,” said Brock Lodge, Vulcan’s Western Division president.
The San Emidio Quarry is in Vulcan’s Western Division, which includes 36 crushed stone, sand and gravel facilities as well as additional hot mix asphalt facilities – all in California. Currently, Vulcan’s Western Division employs more than 850 people throughout the state. According to the Kern County Planning and Community Development Department Notice of Preparation, the expansion will allow the plant to go from 1.9 million tpy of sales to 5 million tpy.
Hanson Operation in Pennsylvania Wants to Dig Deeper
Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania LLC applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection Moshannon District Mining Office in Philipsburg, Pa., to revise its permits. According to a public legal notice, the application included a request to increase the depth of mining at Oak Hall Quarry 200 ft. below the existing approved pit floor elevation, according to statecollege.com.
The proposed permit involves 315 of the current 331 acres.
A spokesman for Lehigh Hanson, the Irving, Texas-based parent company of the quarry operator, said the company has done “extensive hydrologic testing,” which focused on ensuring “there would not be depletion or adverse impacts on Spring Creek.
“There is not going to be any additional impact beyond what we’re doing now,” said Jeff Sieg, director of corporate communications for Lehigh Hanson.
State Senator Targets Cemex’s Soledad Canyon Project
Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Antelope Valley) introduced Senate Bill 57 that would compel Cemex to go through the state public appeals process if the federal government determines that the company can move forward with its 56-million-ton sand and gravel operation in Soledad Canyon, Calif., according to SCVnews.com. Wilk said this bill would allow those impacted to have a voice in whether to approve those water permits.
“The proposed Cemex mega-mine would be one of the largest aggregate mines in the nation. The mine would devastate our air and water quality and choke the 14 Freeway,” stated Wilk. “Despite the magnitude of the project the public has been without an opportunity for input in over 25 years. SB 57 will guarantee the public has an opportunity to weigh in with regulators on this ill-conceived proposal.”