Tarmac welcomes law defining aggregate mining as "critical industry"

Media Statement – June 1, 2009


Statement to the media from Albert Townsend, director of Real Estate and Environmental Services for Tarmac America, on the signing of House Bill 5013 by Gov. Charlie Crist.

We at Tarmac America are very pleased with Gov. Crist’s signing into law of House Bill 5013 which recognizes the vital need for construction aggregate materials obtained from Florida sources, and also designates the construction mining industry as one of critical importance to the state. The demand for construction grade aggregate—a vital building component—will be even greater in the coming years as Florida embarks on an ambitious building program under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Tarmac is currently seeking federal, state and local permits to open the King Road Mine in Levy County, with plans to begin producing construction grade limestone aggregate in 2012. Plans are to produce approximately three (3) million tons of aggregate each year to be used in the building of roads, schools, homes and commercial development throughout west central Florida. Having a local source of aggregate, which is the intent of House Bill 5013, will avoid a disruption of supply of this much-needed resource, as well as hold down the overall cost of construction projects in the region.

The limestone aggregate found in southern Levy County is one of the few remaining sources for this material in Florida, and the King Road Mine will be the only active construction grade aggregate mine in the county.

About Tarmac America: Since the 1980s, Tarmac has been a leading supplier of construction materials in Florida. The company employs approximately 1,000 people in its quarry, concrete-block, ready-mix concrete, sand and transportation facilities across the state. The Florida operations are based in Deerfield Beach.

Editor’s Note: Gov. Charlie Christ signed HB 5013 into law on Wednesday, May 27, with the following Legislative Intent: The Legislature finds that there is a strategic and critical need for an available supply of construction aggregate materials within the state and that a disruption of the supply would cause a significant detriment to the state’s construction industry, transportation system, and overall health, safety, and welfare. In addition, the Legislature recognizes that construction aggregate materials mining is an industry of critical importance to the state and that the mining of construction aggregate materials is in the public interest.



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