August 27, 2014 – We need more mining engineers! The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME) has submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding its request for information about critical and strategic materials supply chains and their importance to American prosperity and national security. SME’s comments focused on the role of maintaining…
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MSHA Releases Mid-Year Mine Fatality Update
MSHA released a mid-year summary of mining deaths across the country. During the first half of 2014, 22 miners were killed in accidents in the mining industry. The toll represents an increase in the mid-year fatality count and reverses a decline in fatal accidents seen in recent years.
Read MoreNonmetallic Minerals Index Rises
August 22, 2014 – Good big-picture news on the production front. According to USGS, the nonmetallic mineral products leading index increased 1.2 percent to 241.6 in July from a revised 238.8 in June, and its six-month smoothed growth rate increased to 7.4 percent from a revised 5.9 percent in June. The six-month smoothed growth rate is a compound annual rate…
Read MoreCongressional Action Needed for Proper Water Safeguards
By Mark S. Kuhar Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) has introduced “Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act” (H.R. 5078). This bipartisan legislation establishes safeguards that preserve important federal-state partnerships in protecting our nation’s waterways.
Read MoreEPA Rescinding Valid Clean Water Permits
By Mark S. Kuhar A decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke a valid Clean Water Act (CWA) permit from a mining operation in West Virginia could have ripple effects on the ability of public agencies and private firms to deliver urgently-needed transportation-improvement projects for the nation, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) First Vice Chairman…
Read MoreJune Construction Jumps 6 Percent
Modest Gains Reported For Housing And Nonbuilding Construction; New Highway Construction Starts Improve 6 Percent. By Mark S. Kuhar
Read MorePermitting – August 2014
Cemex Requests Hearing DelayCemex has asked for a postponement before a controversial mining expansion at its Brooksville, Fla., site in Hernando County, was set to go before county commissioners at a public hearing. Cemex has asked for a postponement until Dec. 9. The action comes one week after planning and zoning board members shot down Cemex’s request to amend the…
Read MoreNonresidential Construction Index Dips
August 20, 2014 – The failure of Congress to act on a highway bill is weighing heavily on the construction industry. FMI, a leading provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, released its 2014 Third Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index report. The NRCI shows a decrease of 3.3 points from Q2, but is still above the…
Read MoreCarrying the Load
FRACKING BOOM HELPS ARCILLA MINING DOUBLE PRODUCTION, AND IT RELIES ON HEAVY IRON AND SMART FINANCING TO KEEP MATERIAL MOVING. By Mark S. Kuhar Under the surface of the southeastern portion of the United States is a 350-mile stretch of kaolin clay that pulses life into the mining industry with its versatility. The soft clay is used to manufacture a…
Read MoreGetting Out of the Sand Trap
NEW MODULAR WASH PLANT AT GS MATERIALS PRODUCES SPECIALTY SAND FOR PINEHURST GOLF CLUB. By Mark S. Kuhar In 2013, GS Materials investigated the possibility of a new wash plant that would solve the problems that the company was experiencing with their existing processing system. The plant was more than 40 years old and was not processing clay lumps…
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