By Mark S. Kuhar Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and the Middle Earth will find this news utterly fascinating. An ambitious group of architects have launched a crowdfunding campaign in the hope of building a life-size replica of the city of Minas Tirith, the heavily-fortified capital of Gondor that is built into the rocks on the side of a mountain in…
Read MoreDay: September 16, 2015
Small Operator Wins Legal Fees in MSHA Case
A small, six-employee gravel operation in Bozeman, Mont., was awarded $65, 217 in legal fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act, after a judge ruled that the Secretary was not substantially justified in bringing a case against the company where it was accused of impeding an MSHA inspection.
Read MoreBackyard Safety
By Randy K. Logsdon
Read MoreHanson Quarry Key to Chicagoland Flood Control
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has reached an agreement that will allow space for an additional 4.5 billion gal. of storage capacity for combined sewage and stormwater, reducing flooding in the south suburbs. The MWRD was granted an extension to its easement with Hanson Material Service Corp., which is mining the quarry. The $750,000 annual investment will allow…
Read MoreNew Construction Starts Show Ups and Downs in July
Market Paced by Residential, Nonresidental Construction; Highway and Bridge Construction Down. By Mark S. Kuhar
Read MoreMSHA’s Renewed Enforcement Effort: Is the Third Time a Charm?
If Adopted, The New PPL Could Amend The MSHA Program Policy Manual, Dramatically Changing Workplace Exam Practices. By Ross Watzman, Jackson Lewis P.C.
Read MorePermitting – September 2015
Cemex Granted Permit Approval in Ohio The Fairborn, Ohio, city council overruled an earlier city planning board decision and granted Cemex rezoning of two Xenia Twp., Ohio, parcels. The decision allows the company to use the land located 250 feet from residential properties on West Enon and West Hyde Roads as quarries. Mining operations are estimated to begin in 2019.…
Read MoreWhich Side Are You On?
Is Incivility the New Normal in Public Discourse? By Thomas J. Roach
Read MoreMeeting Agendas: A Must-Have For Leaders
A Simple Tool That Makes the Best Use of Everyone’s Time. By Steve Schumacker
Read MoreUniversal Flow Monitors’ Variable Area Flowmeters Upgraded
Universal Flow Monitors Inc. now offers a HART protocol option on all of its variable area and piston style flowmeters designed to perform in challenging lubrication environments. These meters are optimized for specific lubrication fluids. There is an additional option of a mechanical switch to back up the transmitted signal. HART is a digital communication signal superimposed on top of…
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