The U.S. Department of Labor has won a lawsuit against American Industries in which the DOL argued the company’s Jewett City operation violated the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which authorizes the department to sue operators who ignore or refuse to pay civil penalties for safety and health violations that have become final orders under the act.

The department sued American Industries in June 2012, seeking payment of penalties owed since 2007.

In its judgement, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ordered the Jewett City, Connecticut, sand and gravel operation to pay $34,061, plus interest, in delinquent civil money penalties for violations of the act. American Industries was also ordered to pay a cash performance bond of $30,000–which includes payment of civil money penalties–with the department to ensure future compliance with the law.

Komatsu’s 28,836-pound WA270-7 wheel loader achieves 10-percent lower fuel consumption compared to its predecessor, the WA250-6, our sister site, Equipment World, reported.

Powered by a Tier 4 Interim SAA6D107E-2 engine, the loader delivers 149 net horsepower and features Parallel Z-bar loader linkage with an offering of both a parallel lift linkage and high tilt forces; a 10-percent increase in lift force allows for quick and easy bucket loading.

For improved precision and air management and longer component life, Komatsu has included Komatsu Variable Geometry Turbocharger and an Exhaust Gas Recirculation. Plus, the diesel particulate filter allows for a high percentage of passive regeneration.

Other machine features include SmartLoader Logic, which adjusts engine torque to meet application needs; hydrostatic drive train that increases pump capacity, improves efficiency, boosts responsiveness and eliminates brake wear; traction control for performance on soft or slippery terrain; and a variable speed control system that allows the operator to set specific speeds.

The loader’s cab features lower glass than previous models, a redesigned seat-mounted right hand console with a multi-function mono-lever, an auxiliary input, two 12-volt ports and a 7-inch high-res LCD monitor.

Komatsu has simplified maintenance of the WA270-7 with the inclusion of convenient service access, increased cooling capacity, wider cooler fin spacing, an auto-reversing fan and Komatsu’s Equipment Management Monitoring System for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Komatsu | komatsu.com

Following a month of high housing starts, the start of home construction fell in April, while an increase in building permits suggests continued recovery, according to our sister site, Equipment World.

Housing starts dropped 16.5 percent from March’s revised rate of 1.02 million to a seasonally adjusted rate of 853,000 in April. Despite the decrease month-over-month, the start of home construction is still 13.3 percent higher than the rate of 754,000 in April 2012.

In April 2013, multi-family starts fell 37 percent from March to an annual rate of 234,000, and single-family housing starts decreased by 2.1 percent from March to an annual rate of 610,000.

However, the increased number of building permits issued suggests the housing recovery is still in full swing. In April, building permits were issued at an annual rate of 1.02 million– up 14.3 percent from March and 35.8 percent from April 2012. It is also the highest rate in which building permits have been issued since June 2008.

Housing completions dropped 14.3 percent from March to an annual rate of 689,000 in April, but are still 3.3 percent higher than the April 2012 rate.

U.S. District Judge Harry S. Mattice has ordered the city of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and Wright Paving/Custom Stone LLC to file a status report no later than June 7 on the case of a $10 million lawsuit over a proposed rock quarry, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette reported.

Mattice ordered both parties to update him on any proceedings in state court and whether the federal court should move forward with the suit.

The lawsuit has been ongoing for about two years.

About a month ago, State Appellate Judge Patricia J. Cottrell ordered Shelbyville’s Board of Zoning Appeals to consider at the earliest possible date an application Wright Paving submitted in 2004 for a property on L. Fisher Road. City officials met on April 25 to consider the application and rejected the conditional use of the industrial property for Wright Paving’s proposed rock quarry.

A former gravel quarry site that was used as a landfill (top) has been turned into a nature reserve (bottom). (Photo: The Independent)

The Wildlife Trust and Cory Environment have teamed up to transform an old gravel quarry used as a landfill in Essex, England, into a nature reserve, The Independent reported.

The 50-year-old Mucking Landfill previously took 15 percent of London’s waste and at the start of the project was about 93 feet deep in garbage. The landfill-turned-reserve, now named Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, is near wetland and wooded areas and is now more inviting to hundreds of rare species including mammals, reptiles,  birds, insects and plants.

The transformation took about 20 years to complete and began with covering the landfill with clay to turn it into grassland. Soon after, wetlands were also created nearby. Thurrock Thameside Nature Park sits on 120 acres and will eventually expand to 845 acres.

Since the nature reserve is built on top of a landfill, the creators installed hydraulic jacks at 24 points to lift or lower the space and allow for settlement of the garbage beneath.

The reserve is now home to such wildlife as skylarks, owls, orchids, bees, lizards, mice, rabbits, spiders, butterflies and more.

The North Carolina Division of Water Quality on Wednesday approved the water quality certification for a proposed rock quarry in Beaufort County, North Carolina, WITN reported.

Martin Marietta has proposed the 1,600-acre limestone quarry be located off Welbourn Road near Vanceboro.

Some residents have expressed concerns about possible pollution, noting that wastewater from the quarry would end up in Blounts Creek, where many residents like to fish.

In addition to the water quality certification, Martin Marietta is seeking a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit. The permit would address a proposed discharge to streams leading to Blounts Creek.

Ditmore Ford Road (highlighted in red) is one of two roads affected by the Franklin County ordinance. (Photo: Google Maps)

The Franklin City Commission in Kentucky on Monday unanimously adopted an ordinance restricting the type of vehicle traffic that can travel on Kenneth Utley Drive/Ditmore Ford Road, which may prevent Charles Deweese Construction from constructing a rock quarry nearby, Bowling Green Daily News reported.

The ordinance allows only residential traffic, recreational traffic on Ditmore Ford Road to and from the community park and noncommercial traffic to use the road. The ordinance grants exceptions for licensed waste haulers, school buses and other heavy vehicles exempted through certain state laws.

Penalties for violators will include up to $500 fines or up to 90 days in jail.

Deweese last year proposed a quarry on Ditmore Ford Road, where the company owns 87.67 acres of land. The quarry would be used to mine rock for use in road and agricultural projects.

Shortly after proposing the quarry, the Franklin-Simpson Zoning Board of Adjustment granted the company a conditional-use permit.

However, Deweese has since been unable to obtain state state permits from the Department of Natural Resources due to efforts, such as last week’s ordinance, to limit traffic on the road.

The ordinance follows the formation of “Neighbors Against the Quarry,” a group of residents near the proposed quarry site who argue Ditmore Ford Road cannot handle heavy trucks such as those that would regularly enter and exit the quarry site. The group has also expressed concern about how blasting and quarry dust will affect Drakes Creek, located nearby.

American Engineers in Glasgow has evaluated the road and last year concluded that current conditions–like pavement conditions, narrow width and inadequate support for crossing Drakes creek–on Ditmore Ford Road will prevent the road from supporting commercial traffic.

Deweese officials said the quarry is necessary for the company to compete for highway construction projects and help the local economy.

For the second consecutive week, U.S. diesel fuel prices increased in nearly every region. The New England region experienced the only decline in the United States, with a $0.004 per gallon decrease. All other regions experienced increases, with the West Coast less California experiencing the largest jump at $0.049 per gallon more than last week but $0.220 less than a year ago.

Despite the weekly increase in prices, national diesel costs are generally continuing to decline year-over-year. Diesel prices in the U.S. are $0.024 per gallon more than a week ago but $0.066 per gallon less than a year ago.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (dollars per gallon, prices include all taxes).

Takeuchi-US has finalized an agreement with Lew Hudson Sales to represent the full line of Takeuchi products for the equipment rental industry.

Lew Hudson Sales will focus on the Southeastern and Southwestern United States.

Lew Hudson Sales has been in the rental industry for 35 years and has 13 representatives serving 17 states.

To contact Lew Hudson Sales, call 800-394-6443 or visit lewhudson.com.

(Photo: Ronny Richert / Flickr)

Some residents living near a granite quarry in the village of Hall Quarry in Mount Desert, Maine, are appealing a decision by the town’s code enforcement officer to not order an end to quarrying at the site, Fenceviewer reported.

Harold MacQuinn, Inc., owns the six-acre quarry site and leases it to Freshwater Stone & Brick, Inc.

Nearby residents Peter and Judy Aylen and Gerald and Laurie Shencavitz said quarrying did not take place for more than 20 years until 2011, and the company only extracted small amounts of stone on occasion.

The two couples argue the company’s sporadic quarrying does not constitute continuous use and violates the section of the town’s land use zoning ordinance that states property “on which a non-conforming use is discontinued for a period exceeding one year…may not again be devoted to a non-conforming use…”

The town’s zoning board of appeals is scheduled to hear the appeal on May 30.

The proposed L-shaped quarry site would be bordered by Telegraph, Armstrong, Dauncey and Carleton-Rockwood Roads. (Photo: Google Maps)

Two township planning commissions in Michigan will meet this week to consider site plans for U.S. Silica’s proposed new sand quarry off Telegraph Road near the towns of Ash and Berlin, Monroe News reported.

The Berlin Township Planning Commission will meet today at 7:30 p.m. at Jefferson North Elementary School. The Ash commission will meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the township hall.

Following the meetings, the commissions’ recommendations will go to their respective township boards, which will make the final decision.

The proposed quarry would be located on a 120-acre L-shaped site bordered by Telegraph, Armstrong, Dauncey and Carleton-Rockwood Roads. U.S. Silica would mine about 90 acres.

The quarry is expected to affect about 150 nearby homes.

If approved, the earliest open date for the quarry would be in 2014, with hours of operation 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays.

Both commissions have previously postponed two earlier meetings about the quarry due to a request from company officials who wanted more time to prepare the plan to show to neighbors.

The United States’ equipment rental industry is expected to generate $33.6 billion in revenue in 2013, according to an updated forecast from the American Rental Association (ARA).

The forecast, the ARA Rental Market Monitor, predicts revenue growth will reach 7.9 percent in the fourth quarter. Total rental revenue in 2013 is expected to be 7.9 percent higher than in 2012, and the rental market is expected to continue to show significant growth through 2017.

Real residential construction is expected to show strong growth through 2015. This growth should fuel the construction and industrial equipment segment, which is projected to grow 9.8 percent in 2014 and 11.8 percent in 2015.

ARA has forecast Canada’s equipment rental industry to generate nearly $4.6 billion in revenue in 2013–a 3.1 percent increase over 2012.

Total North American equipment rental revenues in 2013 are projected to reach $38.2 billion.

By the end of 2017, North American equipment rental revenue is expected to reach $51.6 billion, with U.S. rental revenue at $46.3 billion and Canada’s at $5.3 billion.

Alabama House of Representatives (Photo: Exothermic / Flickr)

Alabama lawmakers this week rejected a Madison County, Alabama, bill intended to stop quarry expansions near Gurley, according to AL.com.

The bill was not passed before the Alabama legislature’s session ended Tuesday.

The legislation would have halted Vulcan Materials blasting on Gurley Mountain by preventing quarry operations within 2.5 miles of any existing Madison County school.

The two trucks belonging to Jack’s Mountain Quarry (point A) were discovered on Jack’s Mountain Road (highlighted in red). (Photo: Google Maps)

Two men have been charged with two counts of arson following the April 27 discovery of two burned trucks belonging Jack’s Mountain Quarry near Union Hall, Virginia, The Franklin News Post reported.

Roger Lee Brown, 28, and Joseph Edward James, 34, are suspected of burning a 1999 Ford truck and a 2002 Ford truck that belonged to Jack’s Mountain Quarry.

The two men have been charged with damaging private property and entering the quarry property unlawfully.

Authorities said they found the two trucks about a half mile from the quarry on April 27 at 6 p.m. after responding to a vehicle fire call.

Lieutenant Justin Sigmon from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said the men likely drove the vehicles around a locked gate at the quarry onto Jack’s Mountain Road. He said the trucks got stuck about half a mile away, at which point it is believed that the suspects pulled over and set fire to the vehicles.

Investigators said the men may have also driven a skid loader within the quarry before leaving with the trucks.

The proposed alternate route would have redirected trucks that travel in and out of a quarry near Holston Mountain. (Photo: Ryan Rice / Wikimedia)

The Carter County, Tennessee, planning director has retracted a proposal for an alternate route for trucks entering and leaving a rock quarry and sand mine by Holston Mountain, Johnson City Press reported.

Chris Schuettler, Carter County’s planning director, had proposed routing trucks that would usually use Judge Ben Allen Road instead to a portion of the Carter County Landfill and onto Minton Hollow Road. Carter pointed to costs as the reason for his retraction, noting the estimate cost as approximately $625,000.

Jim McGill, manager for Aggregates USA, previously said the company would consider paying for the route. However, McGill has since said the cost was too high for the company.

Several nearby residents opposed the road, arguing that the road would encourage more trucks. Some residents have expressed concerns about the quarry’s operation, such as its effects on property value.

However, Chairman Joel Street said it is not the county’s  decision whether the quarry should be open.

Hyundai HL770-9A wheel loader

Hyundai Construction Equipment has added its HL770-9A and HL780-9A wheel loaders to its 9A product line. The new machines feature upgrades horsepower, fuel efficiency, durability, serviceability and operator comfort.

A Cummins QSL9 Tier 4 Interim engine provides 297 horsepower to the HL770-9A, which has an operating weight of 51,810 pounds, a bucket capacity of 5.5 cubic yards and a bucket breakout force of 47,930 pounds. The HL780-9A, which boasts 351 horsepower, is powered by a Cummins QSX11.9 Tier 4 Interim engine and has an operating weight of 66,800 pounds, a bucket capacity of 7.1 cubic yards and a bucket breakout force of 52,360 pounds.

Both loaders are available in extended reach (XTD) models for applications needing a higher dump height.

Both machines have fuel-saving features. The three engine modes–Power, Standard and Economy–allow the operator to adjust fuel consumption to the task at hand, while the machines’ fully automatic transmissions are designed for minimum power loss, improved travel speed and low noise.

Hyundai HL780-9A wheel loader

Keeping durability in mind, Hyundai equipped both loaders with a long-life cooling system with relocated cooling fan and radiator designed to resist thermal shock, impulse and vibration.

Other durability-enhancing features include a redesigned steering cylinder lug and bucket link, a new load sensing hydraulic system with a variable displacement piston pump and closed center main control valve, an enhanced axle and self-adjusting brakes.

The redesigned operator cabs in HL770-9A and HL780-9A wheel loaders include several features focused on operator comfort. Improvements over previous models include a rounded front glass and larger door glass, as well as an increased heating and cooling capacity.

Cab features a tilting and telescopic steering column, adjustable wrist rest for reduced operating stress, roller-type sunshades, heated side mirrors, multiple storage compartments, an AM/FM radio with MP3 interface, USB output, hands-free Bluetooth capabilities and a 5.7-inch touch screen, color monitor.

Also included for improved operator comfort is a ladder with 20 degree incline, large deep tread and aluminum cast steps, intended to make entering and exiting the cab easy and safe.

Hyundai also kept service in mind when designing the loaders. Each machine features a tilting transmission, swing-open hydraulic oil coolers, conveniently located oil site gauges and ground line access to fuel and oil filters, grease fitting, fuses, machine computer components and wide open compartments.

The machines are also equipped with the company’s Hi-mate Remote Management System, which allows operators and dealer service personnel to locate the machine, set work boundaries, identify working hours and fuel consumption and receive maintenance reports.

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Inc. | hceamericas.com

United Contractors (UCON) has chosen Graniterock as one of the recipients of the 2012 UCON R.E.A.L. Safety Award; Recognizing Excellence, Awareness, and Leadership in safety.

The awards program is designed to recognize the safest UCON contractors as well as companies who make safety a priority.

UCON chose the winners within six different categories based on man-hours worked in 2012.

Graniterock received the UCON R.E.A.L. Safety Award under the category ’250,001-500,000 Man-Hours.’ The company will be honored with other R.E.A.L. Safety Award winners on June 28 and will be featured in the June issue of UCON’s magazine.

The International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) Board of Directors is searching for a student director to add to the board.

The unanimous decision to select a student to fill the director at large position came at the 2013 Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique held in Fort Worth, Texas.

According to the ISEE website, the “appointment will run concurrently with the presiding ISEE President’s term but for a one-year period and will consist of a selected member of an active student chapter of the ISEE.”

The website also states that the society wants to add a student to the ISEE Board to represent “the needs of young explosive engineers” and to allow student chapters involvement on the ISEE Board.

The student will hold the position for one year and will attend two scheduled meetings: the Annual Meeting and the Midyear Board Meeting.

The position will not guarantee the selected student a future position on the board, and an appointed student can only fill the position once. ISEE adds that the “student director will have all rights, privileges and benefits of an elected board member with the exception of voting rights as per the ISEE constitution regarding appointed directors and student members.”

To be eligible for the position, a student “must has approval and support from his or her student chapter and institution,” which may include travel expenses. ISEE will pay for or reimburse the the student, chapter or institution for lodging and meals during scheduled meetings.

Other qualifications include communication skills, membership or officership of an ISEE student chapter for a minimum of one year and an understanding of the ISEE mission, policies, procedures, goals and objectives. The student must be at least 21 years old.

ISEE says of the application process:
“To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter and signed letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor to isee@isee.org by May 31, 2013. Upon receipt of your submitted documents, your faculty advisor will be contacted to discuss your abilities to fulfill the needs of the position.”

For more information about the student director position on the ISEE Board, visit isee.org.

(Photo: Matt H. Wade / Wikipedia)

President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum on May 17 that will likely decrease review and approval times for major infrastructure projects, our sister site, Better Roads, reported.

The memorandum, “Modernizing Federal Infrastructure Review and Permitting Regulations, Policies, and Procedures,” follows an Executive Order, signed on March 22, that launched a government-wide initiative aimed at expediting the federal review and permitting of infrastructure projects.

The memorandum and executive order are part of the president’s “modernization effort,” meant to grow the economy, accelerate job creation and improve U.S. competitiveness through the nation’s infrastructure.

To read the full memorandum, click here.

For more information about the modernization effort, check out the full story at BetterRoads.com.

An aerial view of Explo Systems’ facility in Louisiana shows the improperly stored explosives outside the building. (Photo: AP Photo/Louisiana State Police via The Shreveport Times)

Louisiana authorities stripped Explo Systems of its state explosives licenses on May 20, ABC News reported.

Authorities said they suspended the explosives recycling company’s license because it improperly stored millions of pounds of a military propellant. An explosion in October 2012 led authorities to investigate the facility and evacuate the nearby town of Doyline, Louisiana.

During the initial investigation, authorities found a M6, a propellant chemical, stored improperly. The chemical was stored in boxes in long corridors connecting several buildings, though it should have been stored in certified magazines. Authorities said some of the containers had spilled open.

Authorities put Doyline residents under a voluntary evacuation order in December due to the possibility of ignition of the propellant, which could have blown up multiple buildings.

Louisiana police have since monitored the proper storage of more than 10 million pounds of M6–a process which took several months.

Explo Systems has given up its keys to magazines at the facility.

The company was cited in 2007 for violations in West Virginia for its use of an old military explosive for coal mining.

The company has not been charged with any crimes. The investigation is still ongoing.