IAAP Update Newsletter

July 2010

Aggregate Operations Exempted From Proposed Federal Mine Safety Legislation
On Wednesday, July 21, the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to review and approve H.R. 5663, the "Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010". At the outset of this hearing, Congressman George Miller (CA-7), the Committee Chair, offered an amended bill including language totally exempting the aggregates industry from H.R. 5663. A stunning victory for the aggregates industry! . . . more



Aggregate Producers Meet with Joe Main
On June 24th, IAAP members and staff, along with their colleagues from Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, met with Joe Main, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health in Erlanger, Kentucky. Ron Gray (Kentucky Crushed Stone Association) and Pat Jacomet (Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Mineral Association) handled the logistical details for this event. Terry Browning (Vulcan Materials Company), John Head (Continental Placer, Inc.), Annick Maenhout (Prairie Aggregates), Jim Papenhausen (RiverStone Group, Inc.), Jim Van Briessen (William Charles Construction – Materials Division) and IAAP Executive Director John Henriksen represented Illinois producers. Joe Main’s group included acting Metal/Non-Metal Administrator Neal Merrifield as well as Mike Davis (MSHA Southeast District Manager), Ed Lopez (MSHA South Central District Manager) and Steve Richetta (MSHA North Central District Manager). . . . more



IAAP Golf Outing and Dinner -- Monday, August 9, 2010
The IAAP’s Annual Golf Outing and Dinner is set for Monday, August 9, 2010, at Panther Creek Country Club and Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield, Illinois. The scramble format utilized at both courses makes our Annual Outing a fun, relaxed event. . . . more



August is Meet and Greet Month at Your Pit, Quarry or Place of Business
The Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) has scheduled its first congressional visits for the 2010 August Congressional recess: August 9 through September 10.
IAAP Member Boughton Trucking & Materials, Inc. will be hosting a tour for Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-13) on August 4, at 9:30 a.m., at its quarry north of Plainfield, Illinois. After the quarry tour, our group will then head into Naperville for a luncheon hosted by the Naperville Chamber of Commerce.
On August 11, from 11:45 to 1:00, TFIC will be hosting a lunch for Congressman John Shimkus (R-19) at the Lake Pointe Grill in Springfield, Illinois. After lunch, interested participants will have an opportunity to visit a road project near Pawnee, Illinois, under construction by United Contractors Midwest, a member of the Associated General Contractors of Illinois. . . . more



Understanding MSHA’s Concerns: Open House or Mine Tour Events
An IAAP member mining company, having recently conducted an open house at their operation, was paid a visit by an MSHA field office supervisor. This courtesy call was meant to review mine safety procedures the company should follow when conducting an open house or mine tour. What this mine’s plant manager learned will be very helpful for any mining company to consider before staging an event where members of the general public will be invited onto the mine property and allowed to witness aggregate mining and processing activities. . . . more



2010 TFIC Annual Meeting
The 2010 Transportation for Illinois Coalition Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, September 13 at the Wojcik Conference Center, William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. As outlined in the following agenda, the meeting begins with an address by Congressman Jerry Costello and will continue throughout the day. The Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers is a Platinum Sponsor of this year's Annual Meeting. For that reason, the IAAP has been allocated 4 free registrations. If you would like to attend this year's event, and want to claim one of these free registrations, please give us a call at the IAAP. . . . more



IAAP Community Relations Award
You know that aggregate operations are an important asset to any community, but do members of your community know this? A company should continually strive to remind the community of its importance by enhancing its image while demonstrating good corporate citizenship. In short, aggregate operations must work to achieve solid community relations.
The IAAP Public Information and Education Committee (PIE) has developed the Community Relations Award to recognize Producer Member companies whose community involvement and support activities have enhanced the public’s perception of the member’s aggregate operation and the aggregate industry in general. By doing so, the IAAP hopes to encourage more and continued public outreach efforts by its members. . . . . more

Take a Look at the MSHA Alerts Site
The IAAP has partnered with other Midwestern aggregate associations to create a website dedicated to achieving highly effective safety programs. Its core function is to provide a forum where mine safety professionals can share and discuss current MSHA initiatives. Its primary goals are two-fold: 1) keep members aware of the latest MSHA actions; and, 2) provide the safest workplace possible through cost effective compliance. . . . more

IAAP Calendar. . . . more