DOT Announces $1.5 Billion in "Build" Grants
The US DOT recently announced the availability of $1.5 billion in discretionary grants from the newly named “Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development” (BUILD) Transportation program which replaces the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, TIGER grant program.

House Panel Passes $2.8 Billion Highway Funding Boost
On May 16, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee approved legislation that would provide a record $49.5 billion in federal highway investment and exceed authorized funding levels for the transit and airport construction programs

State Budget
Last week, the General Assembly approved adjustments to the second year of the biennial budget. The Governor vetoed the state budget bill, yesterday, for a second year in a row. Today, the Senate has voted 34-13 to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto of the $23.9 billion state budget. A House vote is expected next Tuesday.
 
The only changes in the transportation portion of the budget were...

EPA Announces Proposed Changes to Research Guidelines
U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the agency will now rely only on scientific research that is publicly available and independently verifiable to formulate its regulations. This is a major change for EPA, one that could have significant impacts...

ARTBA Meets with EPA’s Pruitt
as Agency Changes Air Regulations
Last month, ARTBA attended a discussion of regulatory issues with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and senior agency officials. Pruitt focused on the EPA’s continuing efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens without sacrificing environmental goals. 

Legislative Update
Build NC
The House bill for Build NC (H1010) has been working its way through the different committees this week. It was approved by Transportation on Tuesday, Appropriations on Wednesday, and Finance on Thursday. The bill now moves to the House floor and will be on their Monday calendar.

MSHA Adding Time to Comply
with Workplace Exams Rule
MSHA will not issue citations related to the  new Workplace Exams Rule until Oct. 1, 2018, even though the new Rule will go into effect on June 2. This move will give operators time to understand the rule and the agency time to provide additional compliance assistance. However, the agency may issue citations in the case of extremely dangerous hazards.
Brian Thompson, MSHA SE Assistant District Manager, will be attending our July 18 Safety & Health Committee meeting to answer questions about the new rule.    
Source - NSSGA

NCAA Meeting
with the Assistant Secretary
Mark your calendars – NCAA will be hosting a meeting with Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety David Zatezalo on Wednesday, August 22.
 
The Secretary’s visit will begin that morning with a tour of two local quarries – Martin Marietta’s Pomona Quarry and Vulcan’s East Forsyth Quarry. For attendees that would like to be part of the tour, NCAA will have a 30-seat bus.
  
Following lunch at the hotel, the Secretary will speak to the NCAA members. Also speaking will be the NCDOL Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry and Ed Elliott, MSHA Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary.  
       
The meeting will be held in Greensboro at the Embassy Suites Hotel – Airport.
       
See the registration brochure for more details.   

Meeting with Senator John Alexander

2018 Quarry Summits
NCAA held three very successful Quarry Summits last month. Thanks to Vulcan’s North Quarry, Martin Marietta’s Benson Quarry, and Harrison’s Dillsboro Quarry for hosting the Summits.

New Phoenix Center Analysis
Finds
No Negative Effect On Housing Prices From Quarry Operation
Sand, rock and gravel are literally the foundation of economic development, but their extraction process can generate dust, noise, vibration, and truck traffic. While modern technologies and methods have greatly reduced quarries’ impact, the environmental and economic consequences of quarry operations receive considerable attention, often in the form of adversarial “not in my backyard” (or “NIMBY”) campaigns.