March 21, 2022 – Industrial hemp has been used in construction since Roman times. But in the mid-twentieth century, it got lumped in with its psychoactive relative, marijuana, and innovation fell on hard times. Now, in the wake of the 2018 Farm Bill’s legalization of production, it has bounced back into the limelight—this time with a distinctive twenty-first-century twist: carbon…
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RIP, Don Young
March 21, 2021 – Alaska Rep. Don Young (R) died last Friday while returning home from Capitol Hill. He led the House Transportation Committee from 2001 to 2007 and famously named a $286 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, SAFETEA-LU, after his late wife, Lu Young. He is also famous for making the phrase “bridge to nowhere” popular after his use of earmarks…
Read MoreWorking Within the System
CRH’s Ericka Baxter Focuses On Environmental Leadership Within Her Company, Industry Associations and State Government. By Therese Dunphy For most, adapting to change is one of life’s more difficult challenges. For Ericka Baxer, MScEM, senior environmental director at CRH Americas – Central Western Division, it is simply a way of life. Baxter joined the aggregates industry right out of high…
Read MoreVaccination Pilot Program Targets Miners in Kentucky, Arizona
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new program designed to encourage and help America’s miners to get the COVID-19 protections that vaccinations offer. The department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will pilot the Mine Vaccine Outreach Program to deliver free vaccinations in mining communities and provide educational outreach to mining communities in Kentucky and Arizona on the safety…
Read MoreLafarge Canada Spearheads Conservation Effort
Lafarge Canada announced its key role in the massive conservation effort undertaken in the sensitive Great Lakes region as a partner with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The NCC’s Manitoulin Island acquisition is one of its largest-ever in Ontario. With a $16-million price tag, the initiative relied heavily on the support of many partners. Lafarge Canada provided a donation…
Read MoreReports from Arizona and California
The Town of Prescott Valley, Ariz., has expressed opposition to a proposed sand and gravel operation in two parcels immediately adjacent to Fain Park and StoneRidge Drive. Both parcels, owned by the Fain Family Limited Partnership, are in unincorporated Yavapai County. The town will not reissue a prior right-of-way permit that would have allowed transporting materials mined from the parcels…
Read MoreRAM Offers Blasting and Explosives Safety Training Course
Developed specifically for explosives engineers, drillers, field crews, safety personnel, D&B engineers and others working with explosives, RAM Inc.’s 2022 Blasting and Explosives Safety Training (BEST) Course will be held from Sept. 20–22. This year’s sessions will be conducted at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, S.D., and the Crazy Horse Memorial. The BEST Course…
Read MoreTotal Construction Starts Increase in January
Total construction starts increased 4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $923.4 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Regionally, total construction starts in January rose in the Northeast, South Central and West, but fell in the Midwest and South Atlantic. Compared to one year ago, total construction was 8% higher in January 2022 than in January 2021.…
Read MoreMetso Outotec Feed System Maximizes Thickener and Clarifier Performance
Metso Outotec is launching the Metso Outotec Reactorwell, a new generation feedwell for maximizing thickener and clarifier performance while minimizing flocculant consumption and bringing significant operational cost efficiencies. The first-class feed system features high solids retention and mixing efficiency. It eliminates feed short-circuiting and offers low shear for ideal floccule growth and even discharge symmetry. The new feed system provides…
Read MoreConn-Weld Offers Extreme Duty Screens
Conn-Weld’s Extreme Duty Scalping screens stand up to the most severe applications and large tonnages. Durable suspension is specifically designed to tolerate surge loads. The location of the mechanism is custom crafted to allow for clearance while still supporting powerful performance. Heavy duty decks withstand the unforgiving impact of top size material that can reach the size of a compact…
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