T41 Automation 101: Automating the Plant
Jay Ducharme, Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc. & Steve Disney, Brozelco, Inc.

This session provides an overview of plant design options and the general automation strategies that can improve plant performance.

T42 Minority Recruiting and Overcoming Language Barriers
Presenter: Alberto Camargo, Rogers Group

The influence of the Spanish-speaking workforce is growing. As companies seek to use diversity to strengthen their workforce, dealing with language barriers and other cultural differences becomes critical.

T43 Mineral Valuations or Appraisals: Why all the Fuss?
Presenter: Mark Zdunczyk, Continental Placer Inc

The value of minerals in-place, such as sand, gravel or quarry deposits used for aggregate vary greatly. All the methodologies used by appraisers have merit but vary in many ways thus varying the final number. Value is an abstract term; that is to say, what is valuable to one person may not be as valuable to another. In this presentation a few of the many methods will be discussed with advantages and disadvantages of each and why a geologist should be involved in these procedures.

T44 Fuel Management: How Producers Can Lower Fuel Costs
Presenters: Roger Arnett, Caterpillar, Inc.

Manufacturers spend billions in research and development to meet toughening emissions standards and improve fuel consumption. Producers, though, play an important part of utilizing these designs to manage fuel costs. Understanding these designs and ensuring machine operators are trained in the most effective operation can make a significant difference in the management of lowering your fuel costs. In this discussion, Caterpillar will share with you specific training developed to significantly lower your fuel costs. In training performed in Europe, customers and experienced operators were surprised to find out what the potential savings could be. The discussion will challenge traditional concepts of machine operation; an exa.m.ple is that by simply reducing engine speed by 10% in some applications, users are able to save up to 26% of diesel fuel—and this with a loss in machine performance of only 5%, which can hardly be felt in many non-mining or quarry applications.

T45 MSHA Investigation Case Studies
Presenter: Adele L. Abrams, Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC

There are various types of investigations that are contained in The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Discrimination against a miner (as opposed to EEOC Title VII discrimination) for exercising individual rights is but one type of investigation. The agency also is required to investigate when a miner complains of an unsafe workplace. This presentation will outline the distinctions between these types of investigations, potential penalties and development of affirmative defenses during the investigative phase that can eliminate the need for litigation.

T46 Measuring Sustainability: A Company Case Study in Performance
Presenter: Todd Swenson and Joyce Watson, Oldcastle Materials Inc.

In order to gauge your environmental performance, you need to establish a set of measurable goals and benchmarks. These metrics will help you measure your performance over time against others in the industry and against yourself. This presentation will discuss how one company has learned over time to develop and apply such metrics to improve their overall performance.

T51 Maximizing Profits by Understanding Hydraulic Dredge Efficiency
Presenters: Charles Johnson, Dredging Supply Company and Brooks Delaney, RLF Baldwin

This session focuses on understanding and then modifying dredge operation, the dredge/pipeline system, and the dredge power plant to reduce operating cost and downtime and to increase production.

T52 Pros and Cons of Contract Drilling and Blasting Services
Presenters: Ed Svec, Austin Powder Co. (moderator), Bill Zimmerman, Luck Stone, Matt Boatman, General Drilling, Nick Lewis, Vulcan Materials Company and Mike Osborne, Austin Powder Co.

The decision on whether or not to use a contractor for drilling or blasting involves many factors. This panel will cover the criteria that a company can use to determine whether or not to contract these services or handle them in-house. Also, the session will cover the best practices a company can use to choose a good contractor.

T53 Crushing plant process optimization: A method to the madness
Presenters: George Fox and Kevin Nelson, Luck Stone

The concept of building a new plant to satisfy all existing and future customers is a daunting task. A crystal ball may be considered the best method to accurately predict the future. This presentation will describe the chronological changes Luck Stone has made to a plant over the past 20 years to increase the efficiency, availability and overall utilization of this plant while attempting to establish a production/sales balance in a market demanding different products over time. A step by step documentation of all changes ranging from the mobile fleet to all physical upgrades made to the plant including advancements in technology will be discussed as well as the reasoning and logic behind each modification.

T54 How to Recession-Proof Your Business
Presenter: Brad Dawson, LTV Dynamics

It's no secret that the U.S. economy is on the brink of another recession. A faltering financial industry, escalating energy costs, and sky-high material costs all play into our economic insecurities. Not surprisingly, businesses are experiencing delayed project starts, slower paying customers, and tighter credit restrictions. The first reaction by many has been to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worst. But is that the right approach for your business? Does it make sense to downsize a business when another economic upswing could be right around the corner?

T55 Evaluation of Complex Sand & Gravel Deposits Using Geophysical Methods
Presenters: David Hanratty, Golder Associates, Inc.

This session delves into how geophysical methods can be used to evaluate sand and gravel deposits.

T56 Industrial Health: Industry Best Practices.
Presenters: Amy Daniell, Luck Stone Corporation, and panelists TBA

Management commitment is basic to employee health protection programs. Best practices include sampling the workplace for health hazards, in our case primarily dust and noise. Exposure control processes, medical testing, and even smoking cessation programs are all considered best practices in protecting employee health.

T61 Physics and Function of Vertical Shaft Iimpact Crushing
Presenter: Neil Hise, CEMCO, Inc.

Learn how to profit from a vertical shaft impact crusher and to improve the aggregate quality to enhance the material quality and add value to your product.

T62 Hydraulic Dredge Case Studies

• Presenter: Jerry Mock, Oldcastle
• This case study depicts the evolution of a sand and gravel cutter head dredge into a cutter head/digging jet dredge capable of mining stiff clays and compacted aggregates
• Presenter: Bill Smith, Vulcan Materials Co.
• This case study reveals some of the engineering and operational decisions that lead to the deepest mining hydraulic dredge in North A.m.erica.
• Presenter: Charles Jones, Custom Dredge Works
• This case study illustrates the benefits of a chain ladder dredge in sand and gravel deposits with large aggregate.

T63 Best Drilling Practices in Incompetent or Vuggy Rock
Presenter: Bill Hissem, Sandvik Mining & Construction, LLC

This session will cover drilling practices when a deposit is inconsistent with clay sea.m.s and less than ideal characteristics. It will cover the factors that should be considered so that drilling is accurate and appropriate for the blasting design.

T64 A Multi-Million Dollar Plant Cap Ex: Martin Marietta Materials Three Rivers Plant
Presenters: Jim Hines, Martin Marietta Materials

The Martin Marietta Three Rivers project in Kentucky consisted of the design and construction of a new automated, state-of-the-art processing plant and barge loadout system that replaced two existing plants (Three Rivers and Cave-in-Rock located 30 miles to the north in Illinois). The construction of this plant began in January 2005 and concluded in June of 2006. The new 54-74 gyratory primary plant has a design capacity of 2500 tph and is matched with a fractionated secondary plant containing nearly 6000 square feet of screening area with a design capacity of 2000 tph. The fractionated secondary plant feeds a 2000 tph barge loadout. This presentation will focus on the construction of the plant, but will also include a brief history of the plant, site overview, and the market concept for this location. Several members of the project tea.m. will entertain discussion/questions about the project. They will be prepared to discuss many of the challenges encountered during the project and facts regarding the actual construction activity and plant process.

T65 Developing Community Acceptance & Overcoming Community Opposition: Everything Is Political
Presenters: Jim West, Graniterock; and Christopher M. Hopkins, The Saint Group

This session will provide guidelines for gaining community acceptance through dialog, community relations programs, community involvement at various governmental and non-governmental levels, and the local media. The material is based on NSSGA's best-selling Community Relations Handbook: A Guide to Building Trust and Credibility in the Community. Overcoming community opposition is never easy, but can be done if you understand that it is an ongoing and political process. This session will concentrate on developing the relationships local and state elected officials to assist in developing the "reservoir of good will" essential when the road gets rocky.

T66 Implications of MSHA's Proposed Drug & Alcohol Policy
Presenters: Ann Kelhart, Martin Stone Quarries, Inc., panel TBD

MSHA is in the process of establishing a new drug and alcohol policy for employees at all mine sites. Among the changes to the rule, it would prevent employers from dismissing employees if they are first-time offenders; the employees would have job security during evaluation and treatment/counseling and would resume their safety-sensitive duties after all return-to-work rules were satisfied. This presentation will provide examples of how a company has developed a successful drug and alcohol policy program. It will also provide an overview of the laboratory testing process, from chain of custody to testing results.

W41 Automation 101: Aggregate Plant Automation 101
Presenters: Jay Wise, Kruse Controls, Inc. and Mike Sassano, Kruse Controls, Inc.

This seminar will provide an overview of prevailing automation technology and discuss how this technology could be applied to an existing aggregate plant. The merits of different implementation strategies will be discussed. Finally, benefits and justifications for various automation components will be reviewed.

W42 Aggregate Site Use of RFID & Wireless Ethernet for I/O Applications & Operator Remote Controls to Scale House & Loaders
Presenters: Scott Killough, JWS Command Alcon and Eddie Yi, CEMEX

This discussion will address the use of wireless I/O for operator remote controls for sand, gravel and stone operations. The presentation will present current operating sites and the pros and cons of using wireless remote controls. The second presentation will show existing sites using wireless Ethernet connectivity to keep the loader operator in the loop with the scale house without all the radio chatter. Using these devices along with some remote ticketing has reduced the time in plant for many plants. Following the presentations there will be a question and answer session.

W43 Clamshell Extraction to Load Out
Presenters: Chris Nelson, Rohr Corporation, Dennis Miller, Central Pre-Mix

This session focuses on ability of, and integrated technology involved in making a cla.m.shell dredge efficiently mine, process, convey and deliver aggregate as a turn-key system.

W44 Fine Sand Fraction Recovery & Utilization: CEMEX Style
Presenters: Travis Wellman and Ja.m.es R.D. Cox, CEMEX USA

The processing, handling and marketing of wet fines is an industry-wide struggle. This presentation will consist of actual case studies of how CEMEX USA has attempted to tackle this issue in Florida. A detailed description of the methodology involved and the plant design incorporated to retain the fine sand fractions to increase the overall product yield and marketable reserve base. A review and description of the CEMEX Davenport Sand Mine, Gator Sand Mine and Brooksville Quarry will be discussed.

W45 Blasting, Explosives and Community Relations.
Presenters: McRoy Sauls, NOMIS Seismographs, Doug Rudenko, Vibratech/Geosonics and Cathy Aimone-Martin, Aimone-Martin and Associates

Communities surrounding quarries express great concern about the impact of blasting and frequently exaggerate da.m.age caused by blast vibrations. This session will describe how vibrations propagate and how vibrations can be measured to address neighbor concerns. The panel will describe real steps that a company can take to prevent blast-associated complaints before they occur.

W46 Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasure Plans.
Presenter: Timothy W.Kipp, CHMM, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has updated its Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) regulations, and the current date for bringing your facility in compliance with these a.m.ended requirements is July 1, 2009. The SPCC regulation is applicable to all facilities having an aboveground oil storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons, including tanks, portable containers, and oil-filled equipment with individual capacity of 55 gallons or greater. The updated regulation adds additional secondary containment requirements as well as new facility security and tank integrity testing requirements. Learn what your responsibilities are under the new SPCC rule.

W51 Automation 101: Instrumentation 101
Presenters: Johnathan Keene, APEX Automation & Control and Sheldon Shepard, Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.

This session focuses on the basic tools used to automate. Greater understanding of the basic components used will lead to better use of such components.

W52 Mechanical Dredge Case Studies

• Presenter: Brad Barton, Miles Sand & Gravel
• This case study presents the use of two different mechanical dredge systems, the bucket ladder dredge and the clamshell dredge.
• Presenter: TBD
• This case study demonstrates the high production capabilities and throughput of one of the largest mining dredges in North America, a twin-twenty cubic yard clamshell.
• Presenter: TBD
• This case study compares the differences between owning and operating a Luffing jib dredge and a gantry-type clamshell dredge system from the vantage point of a family-owned producer.

W53 Drilling & Blasting 101
Presenter: John Lee Turner, ORICA

This presentation will address the basis of blast design with respect to the age-old controversy of science vs. art. The parameters developed years ago are still applicable today with some industry standards that have been developed and improved upon over time. Explosive product developments will be discussed with a comparison between the early 80's and current day products with emphasis of their impact or influence on blasting operations. The drill and blast system is still the most economical source of crushed materials, and proper design has a drastic impact on quarry efficiencies. Several considerations will be discussed with reference to the impact to or from the blast design, such as safety, environmental concerns, geological impact, equipment, weather, and proper reporting.

W54 Screening and Washing 101
Presenter: Joe Schlabaugh, Deister Machine

This session covers basic concepts for novice plant design personnel to understand screening options, washing options and the concerns associated with each. Screening is the critical "cashbox" of each operation. This overview will cover items like stratification, separation, bed depth, and the effects of stroke, amplitude, and speed. You will learn tidbits to help your existing screening operations while gaining an understanding for future plant expansions. Different types of media and their application will also be covered. The washing segment will overview the basics of this easily misunderstood portion of operations. Items will include washing techniques, classifying tanks, dewatering screws versus dewatering screens, cyclones and separators. With the ever-increasing need for sand, especially manufactured sand, gaining this insight will be invaluable.

W55 Storm Water Best Management Practices & Water Resource Issues
Presenters: Paul Glauser & Pat Clark, Staker & Parsons Companies

The long-term viability of the aggregates industry is dependent on a steady uninterrupted supply of fresh water. It is becoming harder to find adequate water sources, secure access to that water, and compete with other industrial users for that resource. Control of storm water runoff, pH, suspended solids and other potential contaminants is the focus of new federal enforcement initiatives for the aggregates industry.

W56 Basics of Hedging Energy Costs
Presenter: Ryan Coleman, Shell Trading Risk Marketing

This presentation will provide an overview of what hedging energy prices means, where it's appropriate, the benefits and drawbacks of hedging fuel costs, and the hedging alternatives available.

W61 Keeping Automation Simple while Maximizing Returns
Presenters: Jay Ducharme, Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc. and Steve Disney, Brozelco, Inc.

This presentation will provide a guide for keeping automation simple and effective. We will explore the most important aspects of automation including areas to avoid. We will dispel common myths and show how to keep automation user-friendly.

W62 Dredging Round Table Discussion
Presenters: All dredge manufacturers and suppliers (Rohr, Supreme, Dredging Supply, Custom Dredge Works, Twinkle, etc.)

This session will be an interactive session with the audience allowing specific dredge related questions to be posted to the panel for consideration, such as:

• What is the right type of dredge for my deposit?
• Is conveying more economical than pumping?
• How deep can I dredge?

W63 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Crushing But Were Afraid to Ask
Presenter: Mark Krause, Lafarge North America

This session provides an overview of crushing including the different types of primary and secondary crushers, pros and cons associated with the different types, what site conditions to consider when choosing crushers, and how to optimize the process given a particular crusher. Topics covered will be types of crushers available, the features and benefits of each along with expected production capabilities, end products and costs associated with using the various methods. This session will provide some understanding of the key cost drivers and how they can be managed for processing equipment (like mobile equipment), including factors involved in determining the optimal point of ownership and disposal.

W64 Strategic Energy Management at CalPortland
Presenter: Steve Coppinger, Calportland

The construction and industrial materials industries continue to experience tough challenges with respect to energy. Energy costs continue to rise, energy markets are volatile and environmental regulations due to climate change present unprecedented pressures on manufacturing. CalPortland has partnered with ENERGY STAR® to develop a long-term corporate energy strategy that attempts to mitigate many of the challenges we face. This presentation will cover CalPortland's commitment to energy management through its organization, employee involvement, energy efficiency initiatives and long term strategies. Representatives from CalPortland's Corporate Office and Aggregate, Ready Mix and Cement Divisions will provide practical examples of how CalPortland focuses on reducing energy costs. This group will also discuss CalPortland's renewable energy initiatives. CalPortland has won several local, state and national awards for its commitment to energy efficiency including the EPA's ENERGY STAR Award for the past four years.

W65 Wetlands and Waters of the U.S.A.
Presenter: David Ruetz, GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc.

Lack of agency rulemaking, inaction by Congress, and fractured court decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have muddied the waters of federal jurisdiction over waters and wetlands of the U.S. This program will use case studies to provide an overview of the multi-agency jurisdictional elements of projects involving wetlands and waters of the U.S. The program will also discuss how the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) make field jurisdictional determinations, an overview of how wetlands are delineated in light of the USACOE's wetland delineation manual, instances where wetland mitigation may be applicable and practical advice for working with regulatory agencies. Understand how to make sound business decisions for the future of your company in this complex world of federal jurisdiction.

W66 Drilling and Blasting Safety
Presenter: John Lee Turner, ORICA

This session covers basic safety practices associated with the use of explosives. The presenters will focus on how to avoid accidents and understand their root causes including emphasis on fly rock, misfires, site security during blasts, safety regulations, and the storage and handling of explosives and chemicals.

TH41 Remote Monitoring of Plants
Presenters: Bob Smith, Vulcan Materials Company, Derrick Bailey, Vulcan Materials Company, Mark Westerman, Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc., Corey Patersen, Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc.

This presentation will cover case studies showing how automation can be used to allow remote operation of plants and long range monitoring of activities. A panel of experts addresses the benefits and drawbacks of having remote access for troubleshooting and support.

TH42 Only in California? Are Further Regulations for Diesel Emissions Coming to Your State Soon? If so, Beware!
Presenters: Dave Sbaffi, Granite Construction, Inc. and Ronald Schultz, Caterpillar Inc.

California has long been known as a state for initiating, implementing and enforcing the toughest clean air standards in the world. What has happened in California with recent regulations for the reduction of particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) in both off-road and on-road applications may very well cost millions of dollars to fleet operators of off-road equipment such as loaders, dozers, paving equipment and portable crushing and screening plants as well as truck fleets for transportation of construction materials products to jobsites and any other on-road application. The intent of this session is to prepare producers and contactors alike to be aware of the cost and efforts required to meet new engine emission standards and requirements and to provide guidance as to proactive efforts you should be taking with your air enforcement agencies during any regulation proposals they are trying to enact.

TH43 Recruiting and Retaining Quality People
Presenter: Richard Flint, Personal Development Consultant

If you are willing to recruit just anyone, you will get people who make your business environment unhealthy. If you are particular and recruit quality people, you design a healthy environment that retains its healthy quality people and creates an environment that is attractive to the quality people you want to recruit. This program examines the environment necessary for retaining your quality people in order to attract the people who can make your company better. The emphasis is on retaining in order to recruit. Without this understanding, recruiting will be a challenge most companies can't handle. Richard will show you the process for creating a company environment that is designed to retain the quality people and recruit people who will strengthen the company.

TH44 Mine Planning for Efficient Operations.
Presenters: Steve Kirk, Martin Marietta Materials, Jay Kaczmarowski, Continental Placer and Darryl Lanker, Mid-Ohio Resources Inc.

The phrase "fail to plan, and you can plan to fail" especially applies to mining aggregates. A panel of aggregate producers will discuss their approach to mine planning and provide case studies to demonstrate how good mine planning can maximize yield and profit. Mine planning in complex deposits such as variable sand and gravel is of particular importance for operations due to the inherent desire to high grade reserves for immediate gain. Using available techniques for investigating geological conditions of a property help provide long term extraction planning and operational efficiency.

TH45 Climate Change
Moderator: C. J. Spainhour, Vulcan Materials Company
Panel Members: Dr. John Richards, Air Control Techniques, Allan Bedwell, Industrial Services Group, CDM Inc., Malcolm C. Weiss, Hunton and Williams, LLP, Josh Margolis, CantorCO2e

The aggregates industry is not a major emitter of greenhouse gases. However, a baseline emissions inventory for the industry needs to be established in order to defend this supposition and answer the growing public call for transparency in GHG reporting from all industrial sectors.

TH46 MSHA 101 for Supervisors
Presenter: Margo Lopez, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C

Plant and quarry managers and supervisors often are the management employees who accompany MSHA inspectors during inspections. It is imperative that they understand the enforcement actions that can come out of MSHA inspections and that they know how to respond. This presentation provides details about the types of citations and orders that MSHA's field inspectors can issue. The presentation also gives best practices for accompanying MSHA inspectors during inspections and discusses immediate follow-up actions to take after citations and orders are issued.

TH51 Automation Best Practices

These sessions will concentrate on best practices utilized in automating plant components common to most aggregate operations. Each session will be a panel discussion focusing on automation strategies, advantages, pitfalls, and cost options to ensure that automation produces a real return on investment.

TH52 Fleet Production Cost
Presenters: Dave Littlepage, Caterpillar, & John Deere representative TBD

This session will look at tools that can be used to quantify fleet production costs over time. Products such as the Caterpillar FPC calculator will be considered.

TH53 Embracing Change
Presenter: Richard Flint, Personal Development Consultant

Change creates an agenda of improvement and stops repeats of the past. It is impossible for people to stay in their "Circle of Sameness" when they are changing and improving. When your business is stuck in "what is" that means it's missing "what could be." In this seminar, you'll explore why people fear change, understanding the purpose of change, learn the three-step process to implementing change, and the nine quality results that happen when change is viewed as improvement.

TH54 Putting the Pieces Together
Presenter: Bill Hissem, Sandvik Mining & Construction, LLC

Everyone desires improvement in their operations and organizations. Safety, productivity, and profitability are the targets that we all shoot for. For many years we have all been trying harder, working longer hours, pinching pennies, stretching resources in ways we traditionally thought impractical. Yet the breakthrough that many want and need eludes them. When any one of us gets under the gun to produce, the first thing to go is our creativity and flexibility. We also tend to get tunnel or tube vision on the things that are chasing us. This presentation proposes to take a step back and look at the complete picture of unit operations, demonstrate the step relationships and the effect of unit operation steps as one effects the next, starting from drilling through to crushing. Additionally, we will take a look at traditional operational behavior and discuss whether it helps or hurts the cause of industry evolution in reaching for improvement.

TH55 Environmental Management Systems
Presenter: Geoff Boraston, Granite Construction Inc. and Paul Glauser, Staker & Parsons Company

It has been over 5 years since NSSGA developed the EMS Template for Aggregate Operations. Since that time, a multitude of member companies have either implemented NSSGA's EMS or developed their own using company-specific EMS. Learn the good, the bad and the ugly of EMSs through case studies of companies that have been down this EMS path before.

TH56 Innovations in Rail / Truck Unloading and Transloading
Presenters: Jeff Steiner, Superior Industries & Dan Slavin, Graniterock

Transportation of aggregates is a growing concern. Producers are shipping aggregates longer distances. There is more demand for offloading and loading material in short time fra.m.es as well as storing as much material on as little space as possible. This presentation discusses equipment available to shippers for the loading and unloading of aggregate moved by truck and rail. These innovations yield maximum material transfer capacity, reduces onsite set up time, improves safety for equipment operators, and provides increased throughput of material to the stockpile or to other shipping methods. Current methods available to rail shippers using mobile transloading equipment will also be identified and analyzed.