The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – the federal mechanism for funding the building and rebuilding of our roads and bridges – is now heading into its fourth year of funding. IIJA will provide $62 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025, an increase of $18.8 billion in formula programs compared to Fiscal Year 2021, the last fiscal year…
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First Look – March 2025
TOP NEWS CemexCemex reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 results, with net income of $939 million, a record in the company’s recent history. Net sales decreased by 1% to $16,200 million in 2024 and remained flat at $3,811 million in the fourth quarter. Cemex’s operations in the United States reported sales of $5,194 million in 2024, a decrease of…
Read MorePermitting Update: North Carolina
After receiving feedback at a public hearing and during the comment period, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has approved the renewal of the permit regulating wastewater discharge from Martin Marietta Materials Inc.’s Vanceboro Quarry.
Read MoreU.S. DOT Announces $45 Million in Infrastructure Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced $44.5 million in grant awards for communities in 13 states and Puerto Rico under its Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). Authorized through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the grants will be used to plan, design and construct projects for connected networks that lead to destinations and make communities safer for…
Read MoreManitowoc to Pay $42.6M for Sale of Noncompliant Diesel Engines
The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice announced a settlement agreement with Manitowoc Company Inc., and two of its subsidiaries, Grove U.S. L.L.C., and Manitowoc Crane Group Germany GmbH (collectively, Manitowoc) for violations of the Clean Air Act’s mobile source emission standards regulations. The settlement agreement requires Manitowoc to pay a civil penalty of $42.6 million and resolves allegations…
Read MoreNew Law: Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act
Sen. Martin Heinrich’s (D-N.M.) Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden in December. Co-led with Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this legislation will make it easier for “Good Samaritans,” such as state agencies, nonprofits and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines. Heinrich applauded…
Read MoreInvesting in Tomorrow’s Workforce
Over More Than A Decade, Martin Stone Quarries Has Been Investing In Education. Its Latest Investments Support Career Technical Training. By Therese Dunphy The U.S. Department of Labor released the results of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) second Pattern of Violations screening in 2024 and announced that for the first time since 2021, none of the nation’s mines…
Read MoreGranite Named One of Newsweek’s America’sMost Responsible Companies
For the third consecutive year, Granite has been listed by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies. Newsweek and Statista Inc., the statistics portal and industry ranking provider, present this award to recognize companies for their commitment to doing the right thing for people, the planet and their communities. This list highlights companies that excel in corporate responsibility, sustainability…
Read MoreWorld’s First Independently Driven Battery-Electric Railcar
Carmeuse and Intramotev have successfully launched what they are calling “the world’s first independently driven battery-electric railcar in revenue service.” By electrifying the Bush Bay rail line at its Cedarville, Mich., operations site, Carmeuse has eliminated the need for a second diesel locomotive to transport materials. This initiative aligns with Carmeuse’s sustainability goals, reducing diesel consumption by 55,000 gal. and…
Read MoreSingle-Family Starts Post Solid Gain in November
Ongoing lean levels of single-family existing home inventory helped to boost single-family production last month, while overall housing production fell because of a double-digit percentage drop in multifamily output. Overall housing starts decreased 1.8% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.29 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and…
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