The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule in response to a May Supreme Court ruling that curtailed which waters are subject to federal Clean Water Act protections. The revised WOTUS rule breaks from longstanding federal waters protections to require that protected wetlands have a clearer link to waterways like oceans and rivers.…
Read MoreTag: Environmental Protection Agency
Granite to Tackle Rock Tunnel Project in Akron, Ohio
Granite has been awarded an approximately $215 million contract by the city of Akron, Ohio to construct the Northside Interceptor Tunnel Project (NSIT) to aid in preventing combined sewer overflows from entering the Cuyahoga River during typical storms. Project funding will come from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) and is expected to be included…
Read MoreTargeting Carbon
Market forces rooted in the Buy Clean, Carbon Neutrality, LEED v4 and Net Zero movements have spawned an important new web portal, Construction Materials Carbon Management or (CM)2, at www.cmcarbonmanagement.com. The site was recently launched by SEMCO Publishing, parent company of Rock Products; and will be co-edited by me and Don Marsh, editor of Concrete Products. The portal follows cement,…
Read MoreEnvironmentally Friendly Bio-E.P. Gear Oils Perform Like Synthetics
Renewable Lubricants offers patented, ultimately biodegradable Bio-E.P. Gear Oils, which are ideal lubricating spur, helical, bevel and worm gears subject to heavy loading or shock loading in heavy-duty applications. These environmentally friendly formulations meet or exceed the U.S. Steel 224, AGMA 9005-E02, DIN 51517 Part 3, ISO 12925-1 CKD, David Brown DB S1.53.101 and Cincinnati Machine performance requirements. In addition…
Read MoreNSSGA, ARTBA Appeal to Supreme Court on Clean Water Act
Confusing rules promulgated by federal agencies under the Clean Water Act (CWA) are hurting the transportation construction sector’s ability to deliver infrastructure improvements that benefit all Americans, according to an amicus brief filed April 13 with the U.S. Supreme Court by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). In the brief,…
Read MoreStanding Tall
Hubacz-Kiley Flips The Script On Community Outreach, Noting Operators Should Be Proud Of What They Produce. By Therese Dunphy Historically speaking, aggregate producers have kept a low profile, operating under the philosophy that out of sight equals out of mind. But the time for such an outlook has long passed. “There’s no reason for us to hide because we’re not…
Read MoreNSSGA Warns EPA on Risk Assessment Process
The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) submitted preliminary comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning a forthcoming process that the agency will use to conduct chemical risk assessments. This process will determine if and how EPA will attempt to further regulate common rock dust.
Read MoreNSSGA Warns EPA on Risk Assessment Process
The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) submitted preliminary comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning a forthcoming process that the agency will use to conduct chemical risk assessments. This process will determine if and how EPA will attempt to further regulate common rock dust.
Read MoreFuel Management 101
By Ron Hadaway Improvements to Tier 4 engines have helped burn cleaner fuel and reduce air emissions in articulated dump trucks, excavators and wheel loaders, to name a few types of heavy equipment. To help meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel requirement standards for all off-road diesel engines in the United States, Tier 4-compliant engines – designed with high-pressure common…
Read MoreFuel Economy Gains Highlight Need for Highway Trust Fund Action
The Environmental Protection Agency just announced that new vehicles achieved all-time-high fuel economy in 2013. Model year 2013 vehicles achieved an average of 24.1 miles per gallon (mpg) – a 0.5 mpg increase over the previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. Fuel economy has now increased in eight of the last nine years. The average…
Read More