Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/420189
TIONS ILLUSTRATED OUR EXPERTS Community relations 101 December 2014 Joel Nickel is general manager of Environmental and Land Services at Aggregate Industries Management Inc. He is responsible for environmental compliance, permitting, biodiversity, sustainability, corporate social respon- sibility, real estate, mine planning, and geology. Nickel has a bachelor of science in environmental engineering from the Montana School of Mines. Vedat Ulugtekin is general manager for Lafarge Aggregates in the Greater Calgary area in Alberta, Canada. He has 20 years of experience in the construction materials industry and has worked in three different countries. Ulugtekin has a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Jason Conner is the corporate environ- mental director for Hedrick Industries. He manages all of the environmental affairs for eight quarries in North Carolina and one in South Carolina. Conner has 16 years of experience in the environmental and construction industry and has a geology degree from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Laura Stiverson is general manager of Dust Control Technology, serving the company since 2008. Responsibilities include new product development, business growth, and customer service. She holds a degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois/Urbana and is active in a number of industry organizations serving aggregates, min- ing, and other market segments. Quarries naturally create dust, but it must be controlled. Using water trucks to spray roadways in the operation can help to keep dust in check. Probably the most important roadway to keep dust free is the one leading from the scalehouse to the exit gate. Trucks can easily track dust onto neighborhood streets unless precautions are taken. Extended roadways inside the quarry allow loose dust to fall off, but sweeping neighborhood streets affected by dust can also go a long way toward keeping neighbors happy. Transfer points in the processing plant, such as conveyors, screens, and crushers, can be some of the worst areas for creating dust. There are a variety of ways to control dust in these areas, includ- ing dust-suppression systems that spray a fi ne mist of water and dry systems that act as a vacuum. Other options include completely enclosing transfer points and conveyor systems, as well as conveyors. Whatever option is employed, the important thing is to keep dust from becoming an issue for the surrounding community. One way to make sure dust and noise aren't escaping the boundaries of the operation is to set up a monitoring station on the perimeter of the property. Readings from the monitor will provide evidence as to whether too much dust and/or noise is escaping into the surrounding community. If levels are too high, a heads up from the monitor will allow the operation to address the issue before neighbors complain. If readings are below the allowable level, neighborhood concerns can be put to rest. Truck traffi c can be an issue for many neighborhoods around aggregate operations. This can be addressed by simply hav- ing all truck drivers leaving the operation, whether they are employees or customers, follow the Golden Rule. Instruct them to treat the surrounding community with the respect they would expect if the tables were turned. Some operations have placed signs at the scalehouse and in strategic areas on neighborhood streets reminding drivers to be courteous and to follow all traffi c laws. Control dust on quarry roadways 2 3 Control dust at transfer points 5 Monitor noise and dust 6 Keep truck traffi c under control