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NEWS State & Province by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief ARIZONA Maricopa County air-quality offi cials told Sun City activists there is little the agency can do to block the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community from opening a new sand and gravel mine along the Agua Fria River. The Arizona Republic reports that the activists have been vocal since the tribe released plans to mine a 240-acre county island that straddles the Agua Fria between Youngtown and El Mirage. No timeline has been released, but the tribe says it wants to be prepared for when the sand and gravel market picks back up. The permitting manager for the county told activists that, if the applicant can comply with regulations, the agency is required to issue a permit. The activist group, led by Youngtown Mayor Mike LeVault, has hired an environmental attorney to fi ght the mine. "We're going to do everything we can to delay and derail this project," Levault told the newspaper. Steve Trus- sell, executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association, noted that there is great demand for materials, and materials in the Agua Fria are a "world class resource." He also underscored the tribe's record for responsible mining. CALIFORNIA In a recent column, Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters lamented the condition of To keep up to date with this breakdown of news in the United States and Canada, visit www.AggMan.com for daily updates. MAINE An agreement between the city of Westbrook and Pike Indus- tries allowing the company to blast was partially rejected by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. According to the Portland Press Herald, the decision calls into question whether the company can continue to operate at the site until the legal matt ers are re- solved. Th e arguments center on a consent agreement between Pike, the city, and a neighboring business. Two other businesses appealed the consent agreement. Th e opinion noted that the city had the authority to enter into a consent agreement that declared Pike's property grandfathered, but said it could not en- force the "performance standard" placed on its operation unless they were adopted in a contract zone or the city's zoning ordi- nances. Th e agreement was sent back to business court. the state's infrastructure and its spending priorities. "While the bullet train debate rages in the Capitol and in the media, everyone is ignoring a far more pressing transportation issue — the deterioration of highways and roads that most Californians use every day and that were once considered to be the fi nest such network in the world," he wrote. A report issued by the California Transportation Commission said the state needs to spend $538.1 billion over the next decade, but can count on less than half that amount. "It's a negative factor in California's economic competitiveness, and it's a headache for millions of motorists," he wrote of the road system that ranks as worst in the nation for conges- tion and second worst for pavement conditions. "Why do we tolerate it?" he asked. ILLINOIS MINNESOTA Th e Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry Division ran a gravel-crushing project at Pillager Pit in Cass County to produce material for upgrading the Pillsbury State Forest Road. "Th is project is the fi rst step in an investment that will improve the future quality, longev- ity, and safety of the road," said Paul Lundgren, Backus area forest supervisor, in a DNR press release. "Th is investment will also improve state forest accessibility, which benefi ts citizens and local economies." During the crushing process and subsequent pit rehabilitation, the site was signed and closed to all public use and access to ensure public and con- struction worker safety. Th e project includes reclamation specifi cations such as proper sloping of the pit perimeter, and mulching and seeding of the impacted areas. NEW YORK Fairmount Materials' Wedron Silica sand operation earned the Community Relations Award from the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) for its outstanding community involvement in the region. According to IAAP, Wedron's employees took part in regular activities that represent the company's sustainable development mission of people, planet, and prosperity. "We are grate- ful to be part of such a great community, so we give back to the residents and organizations in the Wedron area whenever we can," said Becky Andrews, Illinois Regional Sustainable Development Coordinator for Fairmount Materials. "Th e entire team at the Wedron facility makes giving back an everyday priority." The Cuomo administration is considering allowing hydraulic fracturing in portions of Broome, Chenango, Steuben, and Tioga counties, The New York Times quoted a senior offi cial at the state Department of Environmental Conservation as saying. The region, which borders Pennsylvania, is consid- ered most likely to yield signifi cant quantities of natural gas in the state. The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, which is seeking to lease land for drilling, has persuaded dozens of towns to pass resolutions supporting drilling. A coalition of scientists, physicians, environmentalists, and elected offi cials has gathered more than 2,300 signatures on a letter to Gov. Cuomo opposing plans for any project to allow shale gas development. AGGREGATES MANAGER August 2012 9