Transportation Coalition sets D.C. Fly-In, May 24–25

Source: Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), Washington, D.C.

“Transportation Moves America’s Economy” is the theme of the 2011 TCC Legislative Fly-In, based at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event will kick off May 24 with a 2 p.m. Legislative Briefing, followed by a 6 p.m. Capitol Hill reception. A breakfast session on May 25 will lead into participants’ meetings with their representatives on Capitol Hill. A group of TCC sponsors have planned a separate “Rally for Roads” on the National Mall, scheduled in between the second day’s morning and afternoon sessions.

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NRMCA, NSSGA to bring ‘Rally for Roads’ to foot of Capitol Hill

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Alexandria, Va.

NRMCA Chairman Karl Watson Jr. (Cemex USA) and NSSGA Chairman Dave Thomey (Maryland Materials) are among scheduled speakers at “Rally for Roads, Roads = American Jobs,” May 25 in Washington, D.C. The associations and allied groups will assemble at 11 a.m. in East Seaton Park on the National Mall, just across from the U.S. Capitol. Invited guests will include Congressional representatives who advocate strong transportation infrastructure policy.

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Vulcan again tops USGS Top 100 crushed stone rankings

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va.

Using 2009 statistics, USGS has produced its yearly Top 100 list of crushed stone producers in the nation, and Birmingham, Ala.-based Vulcan Materials Co. retaining the top spot. Rock Products published an enhancement of the list in its May issue, which included contact information for each major producer. USGS obtains its data from production and sales reports provided by the crushed stone operations. When an operation does not report any data to the USGS, their total production is estimated by using employment data provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

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AEP contract equips FlyAshDirect for broad Eastern seaboard reach

Source: FlyAshDirect, Cincinnati; CP staff

Regional marketer FlyAshDirect stands to greatly expand its Class F fly ash delivery footprint following installation of railcar- and pneumatic tanker-loading equipment at American Electric Power’s John E. Amos Generating Station near Charleston, W.V. It has secured exclusive rights to market ash from the CSX rail-served, three-unit station—the fourth AEP operation in the FlyAshDirect portfolio. More than half of the 2,900MW facility’s approximately 1 million tons/year of ash is concrete-grade, with a carbon content below 2 percent.

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Concrete block optimization drives NCMA-proposed ASTM C90 revision

Source: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.

By Don Marsh

A change in ASTM C90-prescribed web configuration for concrete block has the potential to lower products’ material use and transportation costs; increase masons’ productivity through lighter units, while reducing fatigue and injury associated with heavier block handling; ease rebar congestion and grout placement in reinforced wall assemblies; and, boost R-values by a factor of 3 to 4, owing to improved thermal properties.

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Block plant certification draft opened to comment

Source: National Concrete Masonry Association NCMA is soliciting feedback on a beta version of a draft plant certification program, available for review here. A voluntary compliance option for concrete masonry and hardscape unit producers, the certification program outlines the minimum quality control process requirements for plants serving markets where customers or specifiers seek documentation beyond the QA/QC embodied in ASTM…

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New NRMCA plant certification check list effective mid-May

Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

The NRMCA Board and Research, Engineering & Standards Committee has approved the 11th revision to the QC3 Plant Certification Check List for certifying ready concrete production facilities. The document reflects revised standards, new technology and provisions to clarify intent of inspectors’ feedback, and applies to requests for plant certification May 15 and beyond.

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