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ARM Joins Industry Stormwater Task Force
TERRA Innovation Series
RMC Foundation Executive Director to Participate at TERRA Innovation Series
Martin Marietta's Rainbow Quarry Site of Merce Dance Company Production
MN Aggregate & Concrete Industry Safety Council to Meet July 24th
Homebuilding Remains Slow but Steady
1st Annual Rock Open Scheduled for July 16th
Concrete Chronicles
ARM has joined with the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota (AGC) and the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA) to work on proposed rules changes to stormwater rules for construction sites and industrial sites including aggregate operations, ready mix plants and asphalt plants. The Task Force has retained ARM member Wenke and Associates, to advise the Task Force on MPCA procedures and rules making, as well as to assist the task Force in preparing comments and responses to the MPCA staff. ARM members and staff met with MPCA officials working on new rules to discuss best management practices (MBP) for concrete washout containment facilities at construction sites and aggregate and ready mix concrete industrial sites. This discussion included possible changes to MNG49 and MNG61 rules and a proposed Schedule of Compliance (SOC) to allow an interim plan for discharges until MNG49 is reissued in 2011.
The Industry Stormwater Task Force met twice with MPCA officials to comment on proposed language for these permits and the SOC. The Industry task Force also prepared and submitted Technical Memo outlining information on recycling asphalt and concrete. July Memo to MPCA.doc The Task Force continues to be concerned about possible monitoring requirements and new restriction on infiltration of stormwater on industrial sites.
The Construction Site permit will is expected to be approved by the MPCA Citizens Board later on July 21-22 and go into effect in August. The Industrial Stormwater permit process has been delayed and will likely not go to public comment until later in the year.
The ARM Ready Mix and Aggregate Divisions will continue to work with the Task Force and ARM staff as these permits are finalized and/or go to public comment. Please contact Fred Corrigan at ARM if you need additional information.
On July 30th, get a behind-the-scenes look at how materials and pavement engineering innovations are developed, tested, and implemented on Minnesota roads at this one-of-a-kind, live transportation laboratory. Representatives from TERRA, Mn/DOT, local government, and industry will be on-hand to discuss TERRA-initiated research underway as part of the MnROAD Phase Two Research Initiative as well as the latest innovations in transportation engineering. A tour bus will run a continuous loop through the MnROAD facility, making stops at various project locations. Researchers will be at project sites to discuss details. Potential featured projects include full-depth reclamation, pervious pavement, fly ash, warm-mix asphalt, and whitetopping. Posters sessions and equipment demonstrations will share the latest innovations in the industry. In addition, forum discussions and presentations will focus on topics relevant to construction, local government, and researchers, consultants, and practitioners. Visitors may participate as their schedules allow, either for a brief stay or for the entire day. During lunch, which will be provided, various TERRA, Mn/DOT, and industry leaders will speak and a TERRA appreciation award will be presented.
Click Here for Detailed Schedule and Registration Information
Julie Garbini, Executive Director of the RMC Research and Education Foundation, will join ARM members to present local and national research results on pervious concrete pavements at the July 30 TERRA Innovation Series event at MnROAD in Albertville.
Mrs. Garbini will present a summary of the research resources that the RMC Foundation has available related to pervious concrete, and a listing of some of the other general resources available to those attending the presentation including the pervious concrete website maintained by NRMCA - www.perviouspavement.org. The pervious presentation will follow an ARM Technical Committee meeting to be held in conjunction with this Innovation Series event. ARM is a founding member of the Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance (TERRA).
Experience Merce Cunningham and John Cage’s monumental “Ocean” like never before – inside a granite quarry 100 feet below the earth’s surface. This once-in-a-lifetime production of Cunningham’s most ambitious work, produced in such an audacious and breathtaking manner, involves the full 14-member dance company, an electronic score by David Tudor, and Andrew Culver’s orchestral score inspired by John Cage, performed by 150 classical instrumentalists from the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, along with other guest players from across Minnesota who will encircle the audience at the bottom of the quarry.
For ticket information, call the BAC Box Office at the College of St. Benedict at 320-363-5777
This past April, ARM coordinated the first meeting of the MN Aggregate & Concrete Industry Safety Council. Approximately 30 people attended that meeting and there was a lot of enthusiasm then about moving forward with the council.
The second meeting of the MN Aggregate & Concrete Industry Safety Council is scheduled for Thursday, July 24th and will be held at the Holiday Inn Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am and conclude no later than 1:00 pm. Cost to attend is $25 which includes lunch.
If you would like to attend the meeting, know someone who should receive meeting notices, or would like more information, please contact the ARM office at 952-707-1250 no later than July 17th.
Residential builders throughout the Twin Cities continue to wait out the housing market correction before beginning new work. While building activity remains at a slower pace than the past several years, a steadiness is showing through the first months of 2008.
According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 293 units permitted during the month of April 2008, up from 229 units permitted in March 2008. Year-to-date activity in 2008 trails 2007, with 1,104 units permitted thus far, compared to 2,883 units permitted through the same point last year.
Since 2005, downward movement in the housing market has challenged the entire industry but local trends have remained flat throughout the past several months. While building activity is not at levels comparable to past years, there is steadiness in recent months says 2008 BATC President KC Chermak.
“For builders in the Twin Cities, our market peak was over two years ago – a lot of people don’t realize how long it’s been,” says Chermak. “During that time, we've all adjusted output and reduced inventory. So while we're steady beginning this year, it’s still going to be a slower pace back toward recovery.”
The slower pace is causing many builders to search for resources to improve their business, which is where a trade association such as BATC is valuable says Chermak. “No one is working like it’s the boom-days anymore,” says Chermak. “It takes more diligence in finding business leads, networking, and improving your business. That’s really where an association like BATC is an asset to our industry.”
Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 81 units permitted in April. Blaine followed with 16 units permitted, Eden Prairie with 15 units permitted, and Chanhassen and Maple Grove with 14 each.
Source: Volume 4, Issue 5 of BATC’s “HOTSHEET”
As a direct response to the interest each year in the Concrete Open, ARM has added another golf event titled the Rock Open – in honor of ARM’s Aggregate Producer Members. The 1st Annual Rock Open will be held July 16th in conjunction with a Board of Directors Meeting. The event will be held at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell.
ARM has been working on putting together profiles of exceptional concrete-related projects. The profiles have been dubbed the “Concrete Chronicles.” The first projects profiled are the 2007 ARM Building Excellence Award winners. “Concrete Chronicles” will be posted to the www.chooseconcrete.com website soon.
Click Here to View Another Concrete Chronicle
(952) 707-1250