Virginia Delegate Alfonso Lopez Visits Vulcan Quarry
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Pictured Left to Right – Jim Cooper, Vulcan Area Ops Manager; |
Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Chair of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee joined VTCA and Vulcan Materials representatives, including Kip Addison, Vulcan Sales Manager and current VTCA President, for an in-depth tour of Vulcan Materials’ Graham Quarry. The Graham Quarry is one of the largest aggregate operations in the Commonwealth.
Delegate Lopez was given an overview of the operations by viewing an aerial image, showing how close the operations are to residences, Fairfax Water Authority facilities, the Occoquan River and the historic Town of Occoquan. Delegate Lopez learned how Vulcan is an interictal part of the Occoquan Community and how they have worked with the Fairfax County Water Authority to assist in current and future sustainable water supply for Fairfax County residents.
Delegate Lopez then joined Vulcan representatives for a tour of the plant where he learned how aggregate mines are developed and how safety and environmental concerns are a focus of day-to-day operations. Vulcan also got to explain how aggregates are extracted and processed through series of crushing and screening processes and that through these processes under-utilized products are generated. The group even discussed how industry and research organizations are looking for market opportunities for the under-utilized products.
Delegate Lopez was informed of the many uses of aggregates from key components in asphalt and concrete and that aggregates are the single most utilized product on VDOT projects. The Delegate learned that aggregates are critical in all facets of constructions, including infrastructure, homes, schools, commercial buildings and stormwater management. We also discussed aggregate’s role in agriculture and the many unique industrial minerals produced in the Commonwealth and their global uses.
One of the critical components of aggregate usage is transportation and the critical need for aggregate operations to be close to high demand markets for many reasons, including lower cost, carbon reduction, and project expediting. Delegate Lopez was briefed on the benefits of bulk transportation utilizing railing and barging of aggregate products.
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Vulcan Sales Manager Kip Addison with Del. Alfonso Lopez |
Most importantly, we discussed the economic impact of Virginia’s aggregate industry. We shared the recently published “The Economic Contribution of Construction Aggregate and Industrial Mineral Mining in Virginia” report. We talked about the jobs the industry represents, wages paid to workers, total dollars contributed, and taxes generated.
The two-hour tour was thorough, and the delegate asked a lot of questions and truly had an interest in learning all he could about Virginia’s Aggregate Industry in the time he had available. We believe he truly went away with a positive impression of aggregate operations and understands the importance this industry has to Virginia’s economy and to everyday life.
Delegate Lopez suggested that the Joint Agricultural, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committees consider touring an aggregate facility during their retreat. VTCA will work to facilitate that tour.