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…
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New 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…
Read MorePermitting Update: Kansas
The limestone Bayer Construction mines out of the Crest Quarry, near 2400 Avenue and Vane Road, provides raw material for the concrete used in roads, sidewalks, and foundations around Fort Riley, Geary, Dickinson and surrounding counties. Bayer does the quarrying on property owned by Jim and Ranie McLaughlin and leased by David Walker. With the exception of a few years…
Read MorePermitting Update: Oregon
According to KVAL, after nearly a decade of pushback and debate, a controversial proposal for a rock quarry on TV Butte near Oakridge has just received the green light from the Lane County Board of Commissioners. On Tuesday, by a 3 to 2 vote, the commissioners tentatively approved the proposal, which would rezone 46 acres of forest land. This change will…
Read MoreFatality Assessment
Well, that didn’t take long. Just a few days into the new year, on Jan. 3, the industry suffered its first fatality, this one at Borger Pit in Hutchinson, Texas. MSHA classified the incident as “Falling, Rolling or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.” In 2024, MSHA reported 28 fatalities, 18 of those at non-metallic materials sites, but only…
Read MoreFirst Look – February 2025
TOP NEWSKnife River AcquisitionKnife River has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Strata Corp., a construction materials and contracting services provider in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Based on Strata’s projected 2025 Adj. EBITDA, the purchase price of $454 million reflects a multiple in the high single digits. Chaney Materials WebsiteMid-Atlantic and Southeastern Region construction materials supplier Chaney Enterprises…
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