INFORMATION #1 04-30-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Serving Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota October 20, 2000 ' c_: .... , ~o'~. '~' ~ '~^ Per Issue Good neighbor Commercial Asphalt Compa- ny, Elk River, Minn., was a winner in the "existing facilities" category of the National Asphalt Pavement Association's (NAPA) Ecological Awards contents. According to NAPA, winners must be leaders not only in pre- serving and protecting the natur- al environment but also in · promoting the well being of the people who work and live in their communities. Commercial As- phalt Company, NAPA noted, "demonstrated a commitment to PHILIP HRL:E; ?-:T :--;UPT S14 C I T"r' O F E L_ K F;.:"r M E: P.. F' O E:O:,-:i ,~ 5.-¢ O ELI,:.'. ~.:IUER t'-'ll".l Associated Construction Publications CMOGROUP both these principles through their safe and responsible envi- ronmental practices and through their implementation and sup- port of programs that educate the public about the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) industry." 'After operating a HMA facility at one site for 12 seasons, Com- mercial Asphalt relocated its' plant to a s. ite two miles north and closer to' an aggregate source. This reduced the amount of [tuck traffic. Judges in the NAPA con- test noted that Commercial As- phalt "carefully planned every aspect of the facility to be not only energy-efficient but also to eliminate any possible concerns by neighbors. The company im- proved the plant with environ- mental and safety, features that incorporate latest technology. It also added many energy-efficient upgrades to the 1986 drum mix plant. These included a new computerized control house, four 250-ton 'silos that replaced three 120-ton silos, and two 40,000:' gallon vertical AC tanks. A new. quality management !ab measur- ing 42 feet by 21 feet incorporates the newest technologies, includ: ing an incertation oven for use in determining AC content in mix design and a gyratory compactor for use in Superpave design." Commercial Asphalt con- tributed more than $200,000 to road improvement at the site. The improvements included new turn and acceleration lanes on U.S. Highway 169 and the lower- ing, straightening, and paving of the City of Elk River Street in front of its facility. A 12-foot-high berm shields the neighborhood from the plant's day-to-day actiV- ities. The entire property is fenced and landscaped. In Min- nesota, the plant is viewed as a model for HMA facilities elsewhere.