Permitting process delays King Road Mine by one year

Press Release – December 10, 2009


Tarmac America officials have announced plans to delay the start date of construction for the King Road Mine until 2011 in response to a longer than anticipated permitting and review schedule. Company officials had planned on a four-year permitting process but now expect the schedule may take five years; delaying the start date for construction by one year.

“The list of mandatory permits, along with the many studies and reports we’ve completed on our own, is extremely lengthy and involved,” said Jeff Harris, Plant Manager for the King Road Mine site. “Much of the review is conducted by a third party reviewer so once the documents are submitted by Tarmac, the schedule for review and approval is outside our control. We now realize our initial schedule may have been a bit ambitious.”

The King Road Mine, located in southern Levy County, had been scheduled to begin construction in 2010, with plant operations beginning in 2012. Plans are now to begin construction in 2011 with the mine opening in 2013.

Tarmac is currently pursuing a number of environmental permits required for the King Road Mine project. An Environmental Impact Study (EIS), which examines the environmental sustainability of the project, is now being prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The USACE 404(b) permit is the only federal permit required for the King Road Mine project, and involves review from several other federal agencies.

Other environmental permits currently in the application process include those from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The project will also need a Special Exception and Operating Permit from Levy County. The Levy County application, according to Harris, will be submitted once Tarmac is further along with state and federal environmental permitting.

Extensive studies of site already completed by Tarmac

In addition to the mandatory permits from state and federal agencies, Tarmac has also completed a number of studies designed to show the viability of the King Road Mine. Completed studies — all of which are available for public review — include a Traffic Study, Accident Analysis (Levy County), Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Appraisal of Mitigation Lands, Blasting/Vibrations Study, Wetlands delineation (FDEP & USACE), Karst Report, Historical & Archeological Study, Vegetation Survey, Wildlife Survey, and Surface Water Quality Monitoring Report.

Harris noted Tarmac has been evaluating and studying the King Road Mine site for more than five years in an effort to ensure the company has adequately addressed any potential environmental issues prior to the mine’s opening.

“Not only have we conducted initial studies to confirm the suitability of the site, but we have corroborated these findings with secondary studies,” said Harris. “The bottom line is that we are moving through the process in a very deliberate way to ensure we’ve answered every question and concern.”

King Road Mine to bring economic benefits to region

Once open, the King Road Mine will produce about three million tons a year of construction-grade limestone aggregate; a vital building resource used to build roads, bridges and other infrastructure in Florida. The mine site covers 4,800 acres, with plans to mine about 25 acres a year. About 800 acres consisting of streams and flowways will be protected. An additional 4,500 adjacent acres next to Waccasassa Bay State Preserve are proposed for preservation.

The King Road Mine expects to employ 60 people in the construction phase and 35 full-time positions once mining operations begin. An economic report indicated up to 200 spin-off jobs could be created throughout the region as a direct result of the King Road Mine. Tarmac will spend more than $100 million through permitting and construction, and will contribute millions of dollars more each year through taxes and other financial contributions to the community.

To stay informed about the King Road Mine project, visit the company’s website at www.kingroadmine.com.


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