Sept. 28, 2021 – The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s legislative team, in a morning panel discussion at its Legislative & Policy Forum, emphasized that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package before Congress is more than 80% devoted to traditional infrastructure, contrary to the talking points of many Republican legislators. In an ironic twist, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) spoke to the group right…
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NSSGA Takes on D.C.
Sept. 27, 2021 – The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) kicked off its Legislative and Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., with a Keynote Address from Anna Palmer, a New York Times best-selling author who has been writing about congressional leadership, the lobbying industry, presidential campaigns, and the politics of governing for more than 15 years. She is the co-founder and CEO of…
Read MoreInfrastructure Infighting
Sept. 24, 2021 – According to ABC News, Democratic House and Senate leaders announced they and the White House have reached agreement on a “framework” that will pay for most, if not all, of the massive $3.5 trillion human infrastructure bill – a move meant to mitigate concerns from moderate and centrist Democrats opposed to the hefty price tag. But the…
Read MoreMINExpo a Success
Sept. 16, 2021 – MINExpo 2021, held in Las Vegas this past week, was a reboot of the event that was supposed to happen last year. COVID put a stop to that. This time, the show went on and it was a good one. More than 20,0000 people attended, and while that is certainly down from previous shows, the attendees…
Read MoreProposed MSHA Rule
Sept. 8, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced a proposed rule requiring mine operators that employ six or more miners to develop a written safety program for mobile equipment and powered haulage equipment (except belt conveyors) used at surface mines and surface areas of underground mines. Under this proposal, mines would have flexibility…
Read MoreThe Rise on the Horizon
Sept. 7, 2021 – The overwhelmingly positive second-quarter reports recently released by publicly traded aggregates companies were good news. Now, that news is complemented by just-released aggregates-production numbers from the U.S. Geological Survey. An estimated 694 million metric tons (Mt) of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of…
Read MoreMaterials Prices Still Rising
Aug. 31, 2021 – According to Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors’ chief economist, materials prices continue to rise for a variety of inputs. Vulcan Materials Co. notified customers it “will implement 2022 price increases at or near 11% across our markets, with less flexibility than you may have been accustomed to in the past.” On Aug. 13, USG notified customers it would increase prices effective…
Read MoreMartin Marietta Buys SCC
Aug. 31, 2021 – According to media reports, Spanish conglomerate Ferrovial has agreed to sell its U.S. unit Southern Crushed Concrete (SSC), The Woodlands, Texas, to Martin Marietta Materials for about $140 million. Ferrovial, which also operates airports and toll roads, said last month it had agreed to sell certain non-strategic assets, including SCC, but did not give details. The deal…
Read MoreBring on the Marshmallows
Aug. 26, 2021 – Over the years, we have seen former quarry operations become many things. But an urban campground is a new one. For years, the Dumbarton Quarry in Fremont, Calif., was a giant hole in the ground, a 320-ft.-deep gravel pit that produced rock used for half a century to build up San Francisco and Oakland’s airports, freeways, bridges…
Read MoreAssociations Meet With Galanis
Aug. 25, 2021 – The Georgia Construction Aggregates Association (GCAA), along with its partners at the South Carolina Aggregate Association and the North Carolina Aggregates Association co-hosted a webinar with Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor/MSHA Jeannette Galanis. Approximately 45 aggregate producers and associates from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina participated in this MSHA update. Safety continues to be…
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