California Asphalt Pavement Association
Vol. 15, Issue 27 || July 4, 2022
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Greetings!
This weekly report contains news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry, customers and agency partners in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. To provide feedback or story ideas click HERE. Having difficulty viewing this newsletter? View as Webpage
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Recordings of CalAPA 'plants' and 'fleets' webinars now available on-line |
Judging by the robust attendance and high marks from participants, CalAPA's webinar series on the future of powering asphalt plants and fleets in California brought much-needed clarity and context to a maddeningly complex topic.
In keeping with CalAPA's educational mission, the association is making recordings of the webinars freely available as a public service to members, non-members and agency personnel via the CalAPA Knowledge Center.
The CalAPA Environmental Committee is sponsoring the webinar series, which featured an impressive lineup of subject-matter experts who look at the complex topic from many different angles, including examining current and expected regulations, changes in technology, equipment, best practices and more. The series is meant to complement "The Road Forward," an ambitious asphalt industry climate initiative. More information about "The Road Forward" can be found HERE.
A recording of "The Future of Powering Asphalt Plants in California" webinar, which was held June 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., can be accessed on-line HERE. A recording of "The Future of Powering Construction Fleets in California" webinar, which was held June 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., can be accessed on-line HERE. Contact CalAPA HERE if you would like copies of the presentations delivered at the webinars. The presentations are compiled in a single PDF document for all the "Plants" presentations, and a separate PDF document for all the "Fleets" presentations. Please specify which program you are seeking in your request.
The presenters, which included representatives from the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, utilities, plant and equipment manufacturers, consultants and other subject-matter experts, received high marks from webinar attendees.
Said one attendee, a representative of the California Air Resources Board: "The polls you conducted at the beginning of the June 27 session were extremely helpful in identifying the audience and their comfort level with the upcoming regulations. The session I listened in on was very professionally facilitated with a slight bit of humor to keep participants engaged."
For more information on these or other CalAPA educational opportunities, contact CalAPA at (916) 791-5044 or drop us a line HERE. |
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Respected asphalt binder expert Brenda Mooney retires from Valero Energy |
Noted binder expert and "Women of Asphalt" pioneer Brenda Mooney retired from CalAPA member Valero Energy last week, capping an impressive 33-year career that earned her well-deserved praise and admiration from all corners of the industry.
"Brenda has been a steadfast base of knowledge and reason throughout the years," said CalAPA Vice Chair Toni Carroll, who is Director of Quality for CalAPA member Graniterock. "She brought a great attitude to every meeting she attended and always partnered with grace and intelligence. Her departure from the industry will leave a hole for some time, especially as we gear up the Women of Asphalt California Branch. Brenda has been a great ally and mentor to me personally over the years and I'll truly miss her."
Added longtime industry colleague Adam Hand, Ph.D., who is now Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, "What more is there it share than Brenda's perpetual smile and positive words!"
Mooney started her career at the Huntway Refinery in Benicia (later acquired by Valero) as a laboratory technician. She was promoted to lab supervisor and eventually to manager of product technical services. She was active in several professional associations, including CalAPA, AAPT and the Asphalt Institute. She holds numerous certifications and degrees in chemistry and business management.
"Brenda has been such a tremendous asset for me and the company," said CalAPA Board Secretary Jeff Benedict, one of Mooney's co-workers at Valero. "She answers every question, she returns every cry for help. She never has shied away from tough questions or situations. I am going to miss her 'get it done' attitude. I sincerely wish her the very best in life."
Another co-worker, Gary Houston, added, "Brenda has created a phenomenal technical system in Valero’s asphalt producing facilities in California and, to her credit, it is very sustainable and will be easy to continue on even as she goes on to her next endeavors, and that is really a credit to her. It is a rock-solid, bullet-proof system that she created, and all the credit goes to her."
A former co-worker, Don Goss, who recently retired from Valero, observed of Mooney: "Brenda Mooney is a 'Super Woman' of asphalt! Her great career at Huntway and Valero is the result of relentless, daily application of her exceptional character and formidable skills to the broad spectrum of challenges which she confronted. Day after day, year after year, she gave generously of herself to her employers, her workmates, her industry colleagues and friends.
"Throughout her career," Goss added, "Brenda grew in both the theoretical and practical aspects of asphalt technology, becoming highly skilled in asphalt production, product formulation, and quality control, so that today she is considered one of Valero’s 'subject matter experts' in those areas. But she extended her expertise beyond the refinery and terminal gates by participating in numerous technical committee meetings with CalAPA, the Asphalt Institute, and the Pacific Coast Conference on Asphalt Specifications. There she shared her expertise with warmth, honesty, and humor and gained many friends among her colleagues in the asphalt industry."
In an interview with Asphalt Insider, Mooney said she will devote more of her time post-retirement with her husband, Bill, and one of her passions, animal welfare. She is currently the present of the local chapter of the Humane Society in Vallejo.
"I'm very lucky to have had this career that I am going to miss," she said. "It's a great career for women and I'm happy to be a member of Women of Asphalt -- that was a long time in coming. I have seen an increase in women represented in different phases of our industry. The people in this industry are great."
Another professional colleague, Sallie Houston with Road Science-ArrMaz, said of Mooney, "She’s very loyal to the industry. She cares about the quality of the work that we all do, and has always kept her eyes on the specifications, and participated from a technical perspective and helped a lot of us learn more about the asphalt industry in the way she has contributed."
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Brenda Mooney (back to camera) participating in a CalAPA Regional Technical Committee meeting April 3, 2019 that was held on line and broadcast from the CalAPA offices in West Sacramento to more than 100 industry and agency representatives. |
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Brenda Mooney (right) with Valero co-worker Jeff Benedict attending the CalAPA Fall Conference Oct. 13, 2021 in Sacramento. |
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Brenda Mooney (far right) attending a CalAPA Technical Advisory Committee meeting July 8, 2018 in West Sacramento. |
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Only a few tickets remain for July 23 'Day at the Races' social event at Del Mar |
Tickets are going faster than a thoroughbred heading down the home stretch for one of CalAPA's most popular social events of the year, our annual "Day at the Races" to be held Saturday, July 23 at Del Mar Race Track in Del Mar. Details and on-line registration can be found HERE.
Ever since an 8-1 long-shot, the aptly-named "Rich Strike," pulled off one of the biggest upset wins in Kentucky Derby history back in May, the thoroughbred racing world has been buzzing. There's still time to see for yourself what all the excitement is about. The association has once again reserved a luxury suite overlooking the finish line at the seaside track for the opening weekend of the thoroughbred racing season at Del Mar, complete with gourmet lunch, beverages, private bar and private betting windows. Much like last year, this year's event is on track to sell out so early registration is strongly recommended.
As longtime "Day at the Races" attendees know, many horses that have gone on to Triple Crown fame and fortune have also raced at Del Mar, not to mention Hall of Fame jockeys and trainers. Del Mar, "Where the Turf Meets the Surf," first opened in 1937 and is known as much for celebrity sightings as it is for thoroughbred racing excitement. The family-friendly event, which is also a networking bonanza, keeps CalAPA members returning year after year. Tickets must be purchased in advance on line HERE for this exclusive member-only event no later than July 14 or until the event is sold out, which ever comes first.
Last year's festive hat contest, sponsored by the California branch of Women of Asphalt, was a huge hit and will return again this year. Prize sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044.
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Last year's festive hat contest, organized by the California Branch of Women of Asphalt, was a huge hit and will be back again this year. |
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CalAPA has once again secured a luxury skybox for this year's "Day at the Races" at Del Mar, featuring a gourmet lunch, private bar and betting windows. |
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The annual "Day at the Races" is a family-friendly event with special pricing for younger race fans. |
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New study helps bring much-needed context to asphalt industry's GHG impact (0.03%) |
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), a CalAPA partner, has just released a new report about Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the asphalt industry. The report, titled “GHG Emissions Inventory for Asphalt Mix Production in the United States,” found that “cradle to gate” emissions associated with asphalt mix production in the United States represented approximately 0.03% of total GHG emissions in the country in 2019. To put this in some context, NAPA noted, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data indicate that transportation emissions from fossil fuel combustion represented 27.8% of total emissions in 2019, while industrial emissions represented 25.3%. You can download the full report HERE.
In related news, CalAPA has included a reference to the NAPA-released study, as well as other new information, in an update to the CalAPA fact sheet about asphalt plants in California that dispels many popular myths that frequently make the rounds on social media and on neighborhood bulletin boards. The updated fact sheet also includes a reference to a report issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and City of Irvine last year that concluded air quality near a local asphalt plant was at background levels. The updated CalAPA fact sheet is HERE. Other resources can be found on the “Asphalt in Your Community” page on our website HERE.
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CalAPA offices will be closed on Monday, July 4 in observance of the national Independence Day Holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5 during regular business hours. |
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Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.
ASPHALT BINDER COURSE: An intermediate course between a base course and an asphalt surface course. The binder course is usually a coarse-graded aggregate Asphalt Concrete containing little or no mineral matter passing through a No. 200 sieve.
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Paving Pointer of the Week |
Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.
TONNAGE CALCULATION: Are there enough trucks on the run to haul the mix needed to complete the job? If you have five trucks on the round each carrying 25 tons = 125 tons per round. If each round takes one hour to make, then the production rate is 125 tons per hour. If the job requires 1,000 tons at 125 tons per hour = eight hours to get the mix to the job.
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Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE.
FLEET MANAGEMENT: Strategies for managing commercial vehicles.
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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
-- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
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CALAPA CALENDAR:
View all CalAPA events HERE.
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Women of Asphalt California Branch meeting (Virtual)
Thursday, July 14, Noon to 1 p.m.
Details & registration HERE.
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Welcome back!
"Day at the Races" at Del Mar Race Track, Del Mar
Saturday, July 23
Details and registration HERE.
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Registration open!
Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference
Oct. 26-28, 2022
Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento.
For exhibitor and sponsor information, contact Sophie You at (916) 791-5044.
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There's never been a better time to join the California Asphalt Pavement Association! Members receive insight and advanced notice on critical issues that impact every company's bottom line. CalAPA members also receive invitations to exclusive member-only events, in-depth "Member Alerts," our comprehensive asphalt market forecast for California, discounts and industry-specific networking opportunities not available anywhere else. CalAPA's new searchable on-line membership directory helps connect potential customers with member companies. Click HERE to download our Member Service brochure. Click HERE to view Vol. 1 of recent testimonials. Not convinced? Click HERE to view Vol. 2 of recent testimonials. With so much changing in the asphalt pavement industry, what you don't know can cost you! Click HERE to send us an e-mail inquiry, or contact Russell Snyder with CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. |
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We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. Click HERE to contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Russell W. Snyder, CAE
Executive Director
California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®
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The "Asphalt Insider" is an official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. For more information or to inquire about membership, call (916) 791-5044, or click HERE to contact us. Copyright © 2022 California Asphalt Pavement Association -- All Rights Reserved. The CalAPA name (No. 5,621,794) and logo (No. 5,621,795) are registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
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P.O. Box 981300, West Sacramento, CA 95798
1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 211, West Sacramento, CA 95691
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