IAAP Update Newsletter

April 2013

Make Miner Safety and Health a Priority – Support the MSHA State Grants Program
Section 503 of the Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977 (Act) authorizes up to $10 million in annual appropriations for grants to states, with much of this money set aside for safety and health training for mine workers. According to MSHA’s recent budget proposal, the State Grants program helped train 180,000 miners in 47 states and the Navajo Nation during FY12. Yet despite the importance of mine safety and health training, MSHA's proposed FY14 Budget eliminates the State Grants program. In Illinois, this would result in a $219,000 reduction to the State mine safety and training program. . . . more



2013 Convention Highlights
Where were you on April 23rd? If you were not in Springfield, Illinois for the IAAP’s 45th Annual Convention then you missed seeing nearly 400 friends working in the aggregates industry and learning about the goods and services offered by 75 associate member companies. Some even attended educational workshops the day before and enjoyed themselves at the Sustainability Reception in the evening. . . . more



“Rock Solid” Safety Awards
For the past ten years, the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) Safety Committee has encouraged companies to adopt systems and practices that prevent injuries or illnesses by recognizing members with its “Rock Solid” safety award program. For calendar year 2012, the IAAP Safety Committee granted 117 awards to 36 IAAP member companies at its Annual Convention on in Springfield, Illinois. . . . more



Innovative Safety & Health Leadership Award: Peer Review Check
Shawn Meier, the Safety Director for IAAP Member Conmat, Inc. instituted a concept and practice they call “Peer Review Check”. It was first approved by the company’s president Eric Helm and implemented at the beginning of the season in 2012. Conmat is based in Freeport, Illinois and operates limestone quarries in the Northwestern part of the state.
The goal of the Peer Review Check process is to bring miners together as a crew inspecting and checking operations prior to new start-up, resumption of operations, or after a major change, thus reducing the chance for errors. The concept is simple and Shawn credits the nuclear industry for developing the practice which he adapted to Conmat’s mining operations. Superintendent Jeff Bussan worked with Shawn to implement the process whereby they and all miners involved in the setup or change to the operation assemble for a Safety Planning Meeting and Pre-Start Peer Review including a walking visual inspection looking for hazards to persons, equipment, and production. . . . more



Science Fair Helps Students Learn About the Earth and Its Resources
Eileen DeJong and Karen Swacker, teachers at Rickover Junior High in Sauk Village, Illinois, attended the 2011 IAAP Teachers Workshop learning about the importance of rocks, minerals, and mining in everyday life. Now filled with knowledge and enthusiasm they are conducting a yearly science fair where students learn about earth processes, rocks, minerals, mining and interesting careers. . . . more



Wedron Silica Receives IAAP Community Relations Award
IAAP PIE Committee members Jim Bastian (Hanson Material Service), Linda Hiltabrand
(IDNR, retired) and IAAP Outreach Manager Shawn McKinney presented a Community Relations award to Fairmount Minerals’ Wedron Silica plant during a recent employee luncheon. In his award presentation, McKinney noted that some people in the community may notice the large yellow stovepipe hat depicting the company’s sustainability journey near the mine’s entrance or the trucks filled with valuable silica sand. However, others community members, such as students from Serena, Sheridan, Harding and St. Louis schools, know so much more about the geological formation, mining, and end uses for the unique materials under their feet thanks to the mine fieldtrips sponsored by this company. . . . more



Lafarge's Chicago Aggregates Gives Back to its Community
For the third year in a row, Lafarge North America's Chicago Aggregates team gave back to its community by volunteering at the local Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). The team assembled boxes of food which will be delivered to various distribution centers in the Northern Illinois area. . . . more

 

Mining New Members
Everyone knows word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers brings more business to your company. As an IAAP member, you have experienced valuable benefits from membership in this Association and along the way maybe you have talked with others in the industry about joining the IAAP. Your efforts are now being rewarded through a new member recruitment program we call “Mining New Members”. . . . more

Aggregate Mining Tax Exemption Update
Since 1997, the purchase of machinery and equipment primarily used to produce crushed stone, sand and gravel, including replacement parts, has been exempt from sales and use tax. When the tax exemption specific to the aggregates mining industry was repealed by Governor Blagojevich in 2003, aggregate producers were able to begin using the “manufacturing machinery and equipment tax exemption” pursuant to an agreement the IAAP worked out with Director Brian Hamer, Illinois Department of Revenue (Revenue). Although this agreement provided the aggregates industry as a whole with critical tax relief, a few of our members have encountered problems with Revenue auditors who were not aware of this agreement — who did not understand that aggregate producers “manufacture” crushed stone, sand and gravel. To resolve this ongoing issue, as well as to address a long-term concern the coal industry was experiencing regarding a tax exemption for roof bolts, the IAAP partnered with the Illinois Coal Association (ICA) to restore the mining industry sales and use tax exemption. . . . more

2013 Illinois Voluntary Aglime Program – A Reminder
The sampling period runs from April 1 to May 31, 2013. Producers are responsible for contacting their aggregate inspectors when they are ready to have their aglime sampled. All aglime stockpiles present at the source must be sampled in order to have their test results published in the 2013 Illinois Voluntary Limestone Program Booklet. . . . more


 

Help Support the 2013 IAAP Teachers Workshop
The IAAP will hold its annual Illinois Teachers Workshop: Rocks, Minerals & Mining in Today’s Society at the Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois on July 15th to 17th. The goal of this workshop is to inform teachers in grades K-12 about the importance of rocks, minerals, and mining in everyday life so they can teach this message to students. We accomplish this goal by allowing participants to tour active mining operations and by providing information, teaching aids, and hands-on activities they can take back to their classrooms. Teachers also take away a new appreciation of how important aggregate producers are to this State’s economy. You can help support this important IAAP program in two ways. . . . more

 

June 4-5, 2013 TCC Washington, DC Fly-In
The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) scored a major victory last year when
the, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21) became law. The legislation provided a two year authorization through the end of Fiscal Year 2014 and sufficient revenue to support current funding levels. MAP-21 also accomplished significant reforms in the federal-aid highway and transit programs that will give states more say over what projects are to be built and expediting the environmental review and planning process to speed up delivery of necessary transportation infrastructure projects. Senators and Representatives have told us that hearing from the folks back home about the need for transportation investment was an important factor in getting MAP-21 enacted. . . . more


 

New IAAP Associate Members

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
8100 N. Austin Ave.
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 967-6666 / FAX: (847) 967-6735
Website: www.emt.com
Justin Brown, Director of Field Services
(847) 967-6666 / jbrown@emt.com
Joe Pavilonis, Project Manager
(847) 324-3338 / jpavilonis@emt.com
Greg Denny, Vice President
(847) 324-3306 / gdenny@emt.com
Products/Services: EMT is a full service environmental
testing firm and internationally certified
laboratory. EMT has a full staff of field
sample collection specialists and operates one of
the largest independent environmental laboratories
in the Midwest. EMT can perform on-site
worker safety monitoring, field screening of materials,
field sample collection and certified laboratory
analysis to support consultants and contractors
on any project requiring environmental
testing to meet project specifications.
 

SAULS SEISMIC, INC.
3710 4TH Ave. South
Birmingham, Alabama 35222
(205) 592-2466 / FAX: (205) 592-2477
Website: www.saulsseismic.com
Andrew McNichols, Chicago Office Manager
(704) 641-4649 / andrew@saulsseismic.com
Keith Best, Central Region Manager
(614) 374-9247 / kbest@saulsseismic.com
Products/Services: Blast vibration consultants,
pre blast inspections, blasting public relations.
New Associate Members
 

ROHR-IDRECO DREDGE SYSTEMS
1750 Madison Avenue
New Richmond, Wisconsin 54017
(513) 202-0800 / FAX: (513) 202-0888
Website: www.rohrdredge.com
Heiko Osterchrist, Managing Director
(410) 545-0211
Chris Reynolds, Director, Sales & Field Operations
(513) 233-1950 / creynolds@rohrdredge.com
Allan Martin, Director of Technology
(513) 324-7651 / amartin@rohrdredge.com
Bernie L’Allier, Office Assistant
(513) 202-0800 / blallier@rohrdredge.com
Products/Services: ROHR-IDRECO Dredge
Systems designs and manufactures energy efficient
dredges for application in the mining and
dam maintenance industries. Our products include
Floating Clamshell and Bucket ladder
dredges, Land-based Bucket ladders, Jet Assist
Suction and Cutter Suction Dredges with digging
depths up to 150m (490 ft). Additionally, we
design and manufacture Booster Pumps and
Floating Conveyor Systems. We offer both electric
and diesel-electric models and have sold
over 500 dredge systems worldwide.

IAAP Calendar. . . . more