NSSGA gives OSHA additional info on proposed silica rule

NSSGA filed additional information and data with OSHA following the agency’s public hearings in March and April on a proposed respirable crystalline silica rule.

NSSGA says OSHA’s proposal is important to its members because a silica standard would directly affect ready-mix and asphalt concrete operations, many aggregate sales yards, and practically all members’ customers.

NSSGA: Proposed rule would cost producers immensely

NSSGA President and CEO Michael Johnson released a statement expressing concern over a proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule extending federal jurisdiction over large swaths of land that would be classified as “waters of the U.S.” According to NSSGA, this proposed rule would overstep Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court by removing the significance of “navigable” from the Clean Water Act. The association adds that the rule would impose “immense costs” on U.S. aggregates operations.

Read more in Pit & Quarry.

New NSSGA president delivers first message

Mike Johnson, who officially took over Aug. 1 as NSSGA president and CEO, made a special written announcement to the industry as part of his introduction.

Read more in Pit & Quarry.

U.S. Supreme Court limits agencies' ability to impose permit conditions on landowners

On June 25th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important Takings Clause decision with far-reaching implications for real estate developers and other who rely on federal or state permits. In Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District, the Court extended the doctrine of "unconstitutional conditions" established in the Court's Nolland and Dolan cases.

Read more in the e-newsletter of Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

NSSGA appoints Edwards as president, CEO

Gus Edwards, NSSGA's executive vice president since 2008, was elected by the board of directors to succeed Joy Pinniger as the association's president and CEO upon her retirement Nov. 2.

Read more in Pit & Quarry.

Knife River Corporation President and CEO Testifies before Congressional Committee

Bill Schneider, president and CEO of Knife River Corporation testified today in Washington, D.C., before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus money on his company and the industry. Schneider also urged the committee members to pass a long-term highway funding bill to provide safer transportation routes and put thousands of construction workers back on the job.

Schneider, who is also the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association's board chairman, credits ARRA stimulus funding for keeping dozens of Knife River employees at work.

"The construction industry currently has a 20 percent unemployment rate, the highest for any business sector nationally," Schneider said. "In early 2010, more than 27 percent of the construction workforce was on the unemployment lines."

America's deplorable road and bridge conditions are in desperate need of long-term funding bill. The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that one-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

"As an unbelievable example of road conditions and correlated lack of funding, Stutsman County, N.D., started turning nearly 50 miles of paved roads back to gravel surfaces this summer because it no longer has the money to maintain the existing asphalt surfaces," Schneider said. "This is equivalent to turning the clock back 75 years. Each of the other 49 states has a similar story to tell about road conditions and the dire need for long-term funding to coincide with long-term planning."

Read more at Market Watch.