Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/531447
AGGREGATES MANAGER July 2015 3 by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com WORTH SHARING E arlier this year, I announced Aggregates Manager's reclamation photo contest on this very page. The contest, which was also promoted on our website, drew more than a dozen entries from operators across North America and created stiff competition for those featured in this issue. The entries were striking because so many operators go above and beyond what is legally required for reclamation. For example, Vulcan Materials Co.'s River Rock operation voluntarily revised its mining and reclamation plan to preserve some of the last remaining, old growth stands of mixed riparian forest along its portion of the San Joaquin River. It even went so far as to develop a nursery on the site for the more than 20 species of native plants used for reclamation. At Graniterock's Santa Cruz Sand Plant, the company worked with local biologists and the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop Santa Cruz County's first Habitat Conservation Plan for the California red-legged frog — which is listed as a threatened species. Its plan focuses on how to operate the facility with minimal impact and to provide a habitat conservation area to be held in perpetuity. The site has been used to train local, state, and federal biologists on handling and maintaining red-legged frogs. In addition to protecting the red-legged frog, the operation uses holistic management techniques for its reclamation areas. As part of this practice, it used a seed mix in the late 1990s that contained non-native invasive grasses. To encourage the growth of native plants, Graniterock allowed 90 goats to graze the property. As the goats fed, native plant seed was spread over the property and fertilized by the goats. A year later, more native plants, including purple lupine (pictured on page 21), are growing on the property. And, featured on this month's cover, RCP Block and Brick transformed channels created through sand mining into part of a river walk trail that is a segment of a larger community project. By working cooperatively with local government officials, the operator reclaimed the site into an attractive setting, and the city followed up by creating the public trail along the site. Even though this operator is in California, land of the NIMBY, the city went so far as to install placards along the trail that explain how the river provided sand for many local projects. Sweet! After you read more about these projects in Operations Illustrated, be sure to visit www.aggman.com to see a photo gallery of all the projects. But don't stop there. These projects showcase how an aggregates operation can be an excellent member of any community. Use these materials to educate local officials when you kick off your next permitting project. July 2015 Vol. 20, No. 7 aggman.com /AggregatesManager @AggMan_editor Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Therese Dunphy Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Online Managing Editor: Bobby Atkinson editorial@aggman.com Design & Production Art Director: Sandy Turner, Jr. Production Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@aggman.com Construction Media VP of Sales, Construction Media: Joe Donald sales@randallreillyconstruction.com 3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com Corporate Chairman: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Russell McEwen Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Vice President of Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Audience Development: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: aggregatesmanager@halldata.com. Aggregates Manager TM magazine (ISSN 1552-3071) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly, LLC copyright 2015. Executive and Administrative offices, 3200 Rice Mine Rd. N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Subscription rates: $24 annually, Non-domestic $125 annually. Single copies: $7. We assume no responsibility for the validity of claims of manufacturers in any advertisement or editorial product information or literature offered by them. Publisher reserves the right to refuse non-qualified subscriptions. Periodical circulation postage paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama and additional entries. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Aggregates Manager, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Stories