Aggregates Manager

October 2014

Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine

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AGGREGATES MANAGER October 2014 3 by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com EARLY THIS YEAR T he process of buying property and developing a greenfield site can be daunting. Testing must be conducted to ensure the presence of economically viable reserves. Environmental impact studies must be performed to ensure the well-being of people, flora, and fauna near the proposed site. Meetings before planning commissions and zoning boards must be addressed. Environmental groups that protest the pillaging of nature must be countered with scientific research. These steps are a common part of the process. While operators might hope for a less contentious, more fact-based decision-making process, most can work through the crucial communication issues and appeal to the rational side of local decision-makers. Honesty and a sincere desire to create solutions that meet the needs of all are often met with open minds and good outcomes, at least eventually. At Aggregates Manager's press time, the University of South Carolina and Vulcan Materials Co. were both about to bid on a 298-acre parcel going to auction due to a bankruptcy case. The land is located behind USC's Gamecock Park, and Vulcan's interest drew the attention of environmentalists and neighbors from the outset. Just over a week before the auction, The State reported that the director of the local environmental group declared that if Vulcan won the auction, the group would oppose rezoning for the land. That's not particularly surprising. What was a little more unexpected, and aggravating, was the decision of two County Council members to issue statements saying they would oppose the mine before the auction had even taken place. At a meeting of the environmental group and concerned neighbors, County Council Member Seth Rose went so far as to say, "That football program and this university has a huge economic impact on the Midlands, and I don't want to see what the university's invested down there being tainted by a rock quarry next door." Rose's term expires this year, so his statements may have been political grandstanding to garner attention and votes. It's an interesting gambit in a county that is home to five surface aggregates operations. No matter what his intent, the comment indicates an unwillingness to seek an outcome that benefits both the community and the company. Rose also failed to note that he is a USC graduate and may not be an impartial party in any future decision- making process. Whether or not Vulcan wins the bid for the land remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: When it comes to Rose, the former Gamecock is a turkey. October 2014 Vol. 19, No. 10 aggman.com /AggregatesManager @AggMan_editor Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Therese Dunphy Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Online Managing Editor: Brian Ethridge editorial@aggman.com Design & Production Art Director: Sandy Turner, Jr. Production Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@aggman.com Construction Media Senior VP, Construction Media: Dan Tidwell 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/CEO: Mike Reilly President: Brent Reilly Chief Process Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Administration Officer: David Wright 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 Publishing Company copyright 2014. 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. Turkey Comes 3 takeaways from this issue: 1 2 3 A super-elevated curve will allow haul trucks to maintain their downhill speed throughout a curve without applying the brake, page 17. A simple evaluation of a manager's emails can highlight the importance of safety within the company, page 26. With the simple change of "will" to "could," MSHA's proposed penalty changes would lessen its burden to establish S&S criteria, page 32.

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