Tarmac America good for Levy County

Special to the Ocala Star-Banner – August 17, 2008


By ALBERT TOWNSEND

In Levy County, a strong economy and the land are intricately connected in industries that range from recreation to agriculture to aggregate.

Tarmac America has plans to become one of those partners, bringing clean new industry that would mean jobs for residents and millions in local tax revenues.

In southern Levy, along King Road, there's a type of limestone that can only be found in a few places in Florida. That's where Tarmac America is seeking a permit to open a mine.

At the King Road Mine, Tarmac would produce the high-quality aggregate needed to build roads, bridges and schools — maintaining a steady supply to help keep construction costs down for local projects.

Even though housing construction has temporarily slowed in the region, in Levy County aggregate will be needed for vital public projects that range from a hospital in Chiefland to expansion of Central Florida Community College to maintaining local roads and state highways.

Tarmac's plans for King Road Mine go beyond mining limerock and delivering aggregate for state and regional projects.

Our business model includes these other priorities: conserving natural resources and preserving sensitive land.

The company has a long-standing history of environmental stewardship in Florida.

In recent months, I've visited with hundreds of citizens throughout Levy County: residents in Inglis and Yankeetown, business associations in Chiefland and Williston, school groups, chambers of commerce, civic groups and at festivals, sharing details about our plans to invest in Levy County.

Some who oppose new projects in Levy County have been sharing their views but overlooking many of the facts about the King Road Mine. Here's an update on the specifics of the proposed King Road Mine.

Conserving resources: We often get asked about how much water we'll need to run King Road Mine, and where it will come from. The truth is, the King Road Mine will use less water than many other agriculture and industrial uses in the region.

The mine is what water district managers consider a "self-supplied" operation. Here's how that works: About 22 million gallons of fresh water would circulate from a quarry-side lake to a processing center and then back to the lake. Almost all of the water, 21.88 million gallons a day, filters back to the lake. Only about 120,000 gallons per day leaves the site in the finished product.

By needing just 120,000 gallons a day to replenish the lake, there will be no noticeable change in water levels at local wells — 2 inches at most near the property line and less than an inch at Yankeetown and Inglis wells.

Some residents also have asked about the possibility that mining activity could produce sinkholes. That is unlikely, as sinkholes typically result from a drastic reduction in the water table.

We also have conducted extensive testing to determine whether mining could affect water quality. There is no indication that it will. Test wells have been constructed to a depth of 370 feet — 250 feet deeper than any mining lakes and 140 feet deeper than the deepest public water supply well in the area — and encountered nothing but fresh water.

Once mining gets under way, Tarmac America will continuously monitor water quality and water levels as required by local, regional, state and federal regulations. Preserving Land: The company is proposing significant acreage be placed under perpetual conservation, ensuring that land be left untouched.

Within the 4,800-acre mining tract, we would preserve about 800 acres and provide for natural buffers around the entire property. From the western boundary of the property, we would preserve another 4,600 adjacent acres. This land, on the edge of the Waccasassa Bay Preserve, could offer residents and tourists greater access to the state park.

Contributing to the economy: If approved, more than $1 billion in new revenue will flow into Levy County in the first 10 years of operations. That's the combined economic impact of Tarmac investments in construction, employee spending on goods and services and job growth in other sectors.

Since the 1980s, Tarmac America has been a leading supplier of Florida construction materials. Today we employ about 1,200 people in quarries, concrete-block, ready-mix concrete, sand and transportation facilities across the state.

This project will create a number of good-paying jobs. In the building phase, we'll need construction workers and crew managers, up to about 60 employees. Once operations begin, Tarmac plans to employ 35 full-time workers — plant mechanics, electricians and heavy machinery operators, along with managers to oversee those teams and administrative staffers for the offices.

From boosting the economy to protecting natural resources, our project makes sense for Florida and for the region.

As we advance in this process, we're eager to continue working with Levy residents on shaping the blueprint for King Road Mine. We welcome any questions and we are happy to provide guest speakers to any community group.

To schedule a presentation or for more information, please contact us at 352-447-2074.

Al Townsend is the director of Real Estate and Environmental Services for Tarmac America.



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