The House Appropriations Committee released the text of its draft appropriations bill for the U.S. DOT for fiscal year 2016, according to the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). This legislation authorizes the highway program at $40.3 billion, the same amount as the last three years. Without more revenue going into the Highway Trust Fund, spending is limited to…
Read MoreMonth: April 2015
Three Hurt From Underground Mine Air Blast
Three workers were hurt after ground apparently shifted at an underground limestone mine in western Pennsylvania causing a rush of air through the mine’s entrance, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Read MoreMartin Marietta Registers Huge Gains
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. reported its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. The company is reporting:
Read MoreThe Most Amazing Hotel Ever
By Mark S. Kuhar A quarry is a rather unusual destination for a five-star hotel. Perhaps that’s what makes the concept of the Songjiang Quarry Hotel in Tianmashan, Songjiang, Shanghai, China, so awe-inspiring. Atkins, one of the world’s most innovative design, engineering and project-management consultancies in the world, won an international design competition for this hotel and resort in August…
Read MorePenalties Cut Where Contractor Was Responsible for Housekeeping
By Ellen Smith ALJ David Barbour upheld eight citations issued against Northshore Mining Co.’s mine in Silver Bay, Minn., and vacated one guarding citation for lack of fair notice. The Secretary and company settled 25 additional violations stemming from multiple inspections that occurred between January 2013 and August 2013 for fines totaling $27,626, down from MSHA’s $79,023 in proposed penalties.…
Read MoreFull Court Press on Fatals
By Randy K. Logsdon Just in case you’ve been locked up in a cave for the last nine months or so, MSHA has responded to an increase in the number of fatal injury incidents that have been occurring in the metal/non-metal segment of the mining industry.
Read MoreCemex Steps Up Environmental Responsibility
By Mark S. Kuhar For the third consecutive year, Cemex has been recognized in the CDP Latin America Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) as one of the top eight companies in data disclosure related to environmental and CO2 emissions performance. CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to…
Read MoreFebruary Construction Starts Jump 16 Percent
Three New Projects Valued In Excess Of $1 Billion Each; Highway And Bridge Work Advances 12 Percent. By Mark S. Kuhar
Read MoreYou Can’t Inspect Here! How Far Reaching is MSHA’s Jurisdiction?
By Donna Vetrano Pryor Have you noticed a recent trend of MSHA inspectors issuing citations to delivery truck drivers at the mine office or the shop? These citations range from alleged training violations (for the drivers) to allegations of failure to chock tires while in the mine’s parking lot. This begs the question, who and what is covered under the…
Read MorePermitting – April 2015
McCook Subject to Seismic Monitoring Northwestern University researchers will continue monitoring blasting operations at Hanson Material Service’s quarry in McCook, Ill. Scientists have been recording seismic activity since last year in two locations, but data is insufficient so far to present a report, according to the Chicago Tribune. Village officials wanted to make residents aware blasting will resume after it…
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