Dec. 4, 2015 – Congress finally got it right – almost. Last night’s passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, sets America’s transportation industry on the fast-track to success. The five-year, $300+ billion bill goes a long way in sending a signal of confidence to construction markets. Make no mistake, this will be an economic shot…
Read MoreMonth: December 2015
House, Senate Pass Five-Year Highway Bill
In a major victory for the aggregates industry, both chambers of Congress have voted to approve The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation, or FAST Act. The $305 billion, five-year bill passed the House by a vote of 359 to 65 and the Senate by a vote of 83 to 16. President Obama has signaled that he will sign the bill. The…
Read MoreMSHA Highlights Compliance at Stakeholder Meeting
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph Main said that operator compliance is up, stating that the percentage of inspections resulting in zero citations rose to 25 percent in 2015 from an average of 20 percent.
Read MoreThis Week’s Market Buzz
Comprehensive data compiled by a respected air-monitoring scientist demonstrates that people living near frac sand facilities are safe from exposure to hazardous levels of crystalline silica. A study conducted by Dr. John Richards of Air Control Techniques used 657 daily average PM4 crystalline silica measurements, almost two years’ worth of data, and it found the long-term average concentrations measured at…
Read MoreAir-Quality Monitoring May Be Required in Wisconsin
According to Wisconsin Public Radio, a western Wisconsin lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require all frac sand mining operations to install air monitors that measure dust leaving the site.
Read MoreCanadian Frac Sand Mine Takes Another Step
An Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based company that wants to establish a frac sand business just west of Marlboro will have to address concerns of local residents before it can get a development permit to proceed, according to the Edson Leader.
Read MoreFracking Bill Moves Forward In Florida
According to Channel 10 News, Tampa Bay, Fla., a bill that would create regulations for fracking was approved by a Florida House committee despite strong opposition from environmentalists who said the method of oil and gas drilling could contaminate drinking water and cause health problems.
Read MorePrecision Pulley and Idler Acquires Clark
Precision Pulley and Idler (PPI) has acquired Clark Ingenieria Y Desarrollo S.A. (Clark) a Chilean-based conveyor-component manufacturer. Located in Santiago, Chile, Clark has developed an outstanding reputation of producing high-performance conveyor components combined with exceptional customer service.
Read MoreARTBA Forecasts Modest Growth in Transportation; Construction Markets
The likely passage of a five-year federal surface transportation bill, increased investment from state and local governments, and continued strengthening in the U.S. economy are the key factors driving an expected 4 percent growth in the 2016 U.S. transportation construction market, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) chief economist.
Read MoreBoxley to Sell W.Va Assets; Weighs Selling Company
According to a report in the Roanoke Times, Boxley Materials will sell its West Virginia cluster of facilities and is considering the sale of the company as well.
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