July 30, 2013 – There is an interesting development in road-construction financing in Illinois. According to the Illinois Association of Aggregates Producers, in order to maintain the state’s commitment to infrastructure investment, and support continued private sector economic growth, the Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) proposed an $800 million annual increase in user fees to be used solely for on-going maintenance of transportation…
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McCarthy Confirmed
July 19, 2013 – Environmental Protection Agency official Gina McCarthy won Senate confirmation to head the agency in a 59 to 40 vote.
Read MoreBoy Scout Mining Merit Badge in Development
July 15, 2013 – Mining and the Boy Scouts would not normally go together, but pretty soon, the two will have a great working relationship. The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration announced that it has obtained approval to be the lead organization for the development of a new Boy Scout Merit Badge.
Read MoreSwitching Sides
July 8, 2013 – Rock Products’ legal editors are moving to a new firm! Attorneys Henry Chajet, Mark Savit, Brian Hendrix, Robert Horn and Avi Meyerstein have moved to Jackson Lewis, one of the nation’s most prestigious workplace law firms. They have joined forces with Jackson Lewis’ 750+ attorneys practicing in 53 locations throughout the United States.
Read MoreBored with Wallboard
July 1, 2013 – In keeping with its previously announced strategy to focus on its core businesses: cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete, Lafarge announces the sale of its subsidiary’s North American Gypsum assets at an enterprise value of $700 million to an affiliate of Lone Star Funds.
Read MoreNonfuel Minerals Mining Stays Level
June 25, 2013 – According to USGS, total domestic mining and waste removal for nonfuel mineral materials production amounted to 5.04 billion metric tons (gt) in 2011, about the same level as the revised figure for 2010. These materials included about 3.75 gt of crude ore mined or quarried and 1.29 gt of mine ore and waste from development operations.…
Read MoreCement Production up in First Quarter
June 18, 2013 – It’s a case of down, but up. Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico for March 2013 were about 5.8 million metric tons (Mt), according to USGS. This was nearly 3 percent less than shipments in March 2012.
Read MoreEPA, Transportation Confirmations in Holding Pattern
June 10, 2013 – According to NSSGA, it does not appear that the nominations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx will be moving anytime soon – but for different reasons. McCarthy’s nomination has caused quite a bit of heartburn for many in the Senate’s GOP from the onset.
Read MoreFrac Sand Insider 2013
June 7, 2013 – I am blogging live this week from Pittsburgh, where Rock Products is hosting the first-ever Frac Sand Insider Conference and Exhibition.
Read MoreNew Cat Alliance Targets Driver Fatigue
May 27, 2013 – Are you tired of fatigue? Caterpillar Global Mining has entered into an alliance agreement with Seeing Machines Limited to deliver and support operator fatigue-monitoring technology through its Cat dealer network. Seeing Machines, headquartered in Canberra, Australia, has developed fatigue-monitoring systems using patented eye and head tracking technology to detect operator fatigue and distraction and to alert the mine controller…
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