CalPortland Hosts Rep. Martha McSally on Plant Tour

CalPortland hosted Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), who visited a cement plant and the Twin Peaks aggregate plant in Rillito, Ariz., on Nov. 28.

“Having our members of Congress tour our operations shows them the importance of quarries and aggregates to our infrastructure and construction industries,” said CalPortland Senior Vice President of Corporate Services Steven Regis. “We were able to have good conversations about the overwhelming number of regulations facing our industry and the need to revitalize the economy, both nationwide and here in Arizona.” He added that staff and McSally also discussed specific issues with OSHA’s rule on permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica, regional haze and air quality and the many good-paying jobs available in quarries.

They also educated the congresswoman on the history of MSHA, how the agency regulates safety across the country and the incredible improvements in safety statistics over the last 40 years. Regis said they talked with McSally about how operations value safety above all else, and that the last year was the safest in the industry’s history.

Earlier in the month, Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.), toured a CalPortland plant in Oro Grande, Calif. Ten members of Cook’s staff went through the aggregates and specialty mineral operations and the cement plant, according to Regis. They even yelled “Fire in the hole!” before a blast in the quarry. It was another opportunity to have valuable discussions about complying with tough regulations with people who work closely with Cook.

“Now is the time to build new and cultivate existing relationships with members of Congress – after the election and before the new Congress convenes,” said Jim Riley, NSSGA senior director of government affairs.

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