Rebar suppliers see slow recovery from 40 percent shipment drop

Source: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Schaumburg, Ill.

Prior to the Transportation Construction Coalition’s 2011 Legislative Fly-In and (separately organized) Rally for Roads, May 24–25 in Washington, D.C. (companion item), CRSI surveyed rebar producers on near-term market conditions, the results supporting a TCC-targeted six-year, $500 billion highway and transit bill

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EPA: Review continues on 450,000-plus coal ash disposal rule comments

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

EPA staff is poring over reams of responses submitted during the June–November 2010 public comment period for a proposed rule on coal ash disposal and handling. “The target date for release of a final rule will be determined, pending a full evaluation of all the information and comments received on the proposal,” the agency notes in mid-May update.

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Duke researchers confirm cement industry’s energy thrift

Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.

An Environmental Protection Agency-commissioned survey finds energy intensity in cement production dropped 13 percent from 1997–2007. Duke University researchers compared producer-collected energy usage data against Department of Commerce figures, confirming a 1 percent-plus improvement trend per year to factor into EPA’s cement industry energy curve. The power savings equate to a reduction of almost 1.5 million metric tons of energy-related carbon.

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