July 2015 – Page 4 – Concrete Products

Road builders frame funding priorities in Midwest projects

July 28, 2015 Concrete News

Leading up to another extension (June-July) of the federal transportation funding program, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association circulated on Capitol Hill a publication spotlighting how innovative design and construction techniques, cutting-edge technologies, new materials, safety products, and advanced heavy equipment are being deployed by the public and private sectors to deliver critical and cost-effective highway, bridge and transit projects.

Lawmakers move to strengthen EPA position on fly ash designation

July 27, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; CP staff

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed “Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015,” (H.R. 1734) in a bipartisan 258-166 vote. Sponsored by Rep. David McKinley, (R-WV), it codifies the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to regulate fly ash and other coal combustion residuals (CCR) under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ‘solid’ versus ‘hazardous’ waste provisions.

Essroc triples slag cement capacity, assimilating strategic Holcim (US) mill

July 27, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: CP staff; Essroc Italcementi Group, Nazareth, Pa.

Essroc Cement has integrated a 500,000 metric ton/year capacity, Camden, N.J., slag cement grinding operation into its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic powder network. It closed on the former St. Lawrence Cement and Holcim (US) Inc. mill, located along the Delaware River directly across from Philadelphia, in a deal with the newly formed LafargeHolcim Ltd.

Construction life cycle assessment pioneer retools Pavement software

July 27, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, Ottawa; CP staff

The developer of a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool informing ready mixed and manufactured-concrete interests’ product category rules (PCR) and environmental product declarations (EPD) has released Pavement LCA Version 2.1, succeeding the Impact Estimator for Highways software. Athena Institute envisioned the charter program for major freeway and arterial roadway assessment, but notes the tool can now gauge the environmental footprint of any roadway cross-section along its length and over its service life.

EPA, DOT outline elevated fuel efficiency standards for trucks

July 23, 2015 Concrete News

Environmental Protection Agency– and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-proposed performance standards covering 2021–2027 model year heavy- and medium-duty trucks would achieve up to a 24 percent reduction of fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions when measured against a 2018 vehicle. The agencies address concrete mixers and dump trucks within a larger Vocational Vehicles category of heavy- and medium-duty models, representing what officials estimate is about 20 percent of fuel consumption in the transportation universe their proposal covers.

Feds set deadline for electronic stability control systems on Class 7-8 trucks

July 23, 2015 Concrete News

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule requires electronic stability control (ESC) systems on trucks exceeding 26,000 lb. in gross weight, and is to be implemented in three phases beginning August 2017. Agency officials estimate it will prevent nearly 50 fatalities and more than 1,700 crashes and 600 injuries annually. They also credit ESC systems’ potential to curtail more than half of untripped, rollover crashes—those caused by striking an obstacle or leaving the road.

¡Adios! author says hello to Pennsylvania producers

July 23, 2015 Concrete News

Author and provocateur Ann Coulter offered insight on U.S. immigration policy and the political climate as Pennsylvania Aggregates & Concrete Association members assembled last month for their 2015 Summer Summit at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, Pa. On immigration matters, platforms and policy, she called 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney “the best Republican since President Dwight Eisenhower;” expressed concern over 2016 GOP presidential contenders, save (yet declared) Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker; and, hopes Republicans realize that the unpopularity of massive immigration is on par with gun control measures, especially among “fly over” country voters.

A favorable mid-year outlook

July 23, 2015 Don Marsh

As we compiled our annual Buyers’ Guide Issue, complete with new listings and references in admixture, fleet, plant equipment and other categories, one market indicator after another painted construction activity favoring investment in concrete production and delivery. Industry economists and market observers view the first half of 2015 positively, and confirm a moderate to upbeat outlook for at least the next three years.

Summit Materials closes on $450 million Lafarge plant, terminal network deal

July 21, 2015 Concrete News

Sources: Summit Materials Inc., Denver; CP staff

In a July 17 transaction with LafargeHolcim Ltd., Summit Materials acquired Lafarge North America’s Davenport, Iowa cement plant, along with a West Des Moines, Iowa, and six Mississippi River terminals. The companies announced the deal just ahead of an early-May U.S. Federal Trade Commission order stipulating plant and terminal sale within 10 days of the Lafarge S.A. and Holcim Ltd. merger, consummated July 8.

Construction rebound raises St. Lawrence Seaway rock, powder volumes

July 21, 2015 Concrete News

Source: Chamber of Marine Commerce, Ottawa

A U.S. construction surge has boosted bulk material transfer through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway since the start of the 2015 season. Officials report dry bulk cargo volume of nearly 3 million metric tons, up 7.5 percent through the first part of the season, April–June, against figures for the same period in 2014. Materials leading the way in volume gains are stone, with 102,000 metric tons delivered through June, up 24 percent from last year, and cementitious materials, with 563,000 metric tons, a 9.5 percent jump.