More than 1,600 people from around the world met Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nev., for the 42nd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.

The event, sponsored by the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), is the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering. It features five days of workshops, technical sessions and entertainment.

This year’s conference featured a silent auction that raised more than $9,500 for the SEE Education Foundation. Big-ticket items included four park-hopper passes to Walt Disney World; a one-of-a-kind, handmade quilt; a lifetime membership to ISEE; and a commemorative granite block from Crazy Horse Memorial.

The ISEE is committed to keeping standards current with the best available technology and procedures. Therefore, existing standards are periodically reviewed and modified. The current standard under review is the "Performance Standards for Blasting Seismographs — 2011 Edition," which can be downloaded below for editing.

The ISEE Standards Committee reviews and revises standards every five years. Written comments that are received by the deadline will be addressed by the Standards Committee in writing prior to modification of the standard.

Blasting seismographs are used to establish compliance with federal, state and local regulations and evaluate explosive performance. Laws and regulations have been established to prevent damage to property and injury to people. The disposition of the rules is strongly dependent on the accuracy of ground vibration and air overpressure data. In terms of explosive performance the same holds true.

Developed by the ISEE Standards Committee, this technical guideline for blasting seismographs is intended to improve accuracy and consistency in ground and air vibration measurements. The new field practice guidelines is an update of the 2009 edition, and is available to ISEE members and non-members as a free download at the ISEE Bookstore. Get your copy today.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Feb. 9 delivered a major blow to President Barack Obama by putting on hold federal regulations to curb carbon dioxide emissions mainly from coal-fired power plants, the centerpiece of his administration's strategy to combat climate change.

The court voted 5-4 along ideological lines to grant a request by 27 states and various companies and business groups to block the administration's Clean Power Plan, which also mandates a shift to renewable energy from coal-fired electricity.

The highly unusual move by the justices means the regulations will not be in effect while a court battle continues over their legality.

Ratings agency Moody's on Monday downgraded Anglo American's credit rating to below investment grade, saying the world's fifth largest diversified miner "now faces a higher business risk due to deterioration in commodities market conditions and a longer and more uncertain deleveraging period than previously expected."

After the downgrade to junk status Moody's also maintains a negative outlook on the London-listed company's credit rating reflecting "concerns over the potential for a further deterioration in Anglo American plc's bulk commodities portfolio, particularly in iron ore."

Workers have imploded the old Hulton Bridge over the Allegheny River. The implosion of the 107-year-old span that connects the Pittsburgh suburbs of Oakmont and Harmar occurred about 9:45 a.m. Jan. 26. PennDOT kept people 1,000 feet away from the blast and closed nearby Route 28 to ensure motorist safety. Those roads were to open as soon as crews confirmed that all of the explosive charges set for the implosion have detonated. across the river.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that about 2.25 billion metric tons of construction aggregate, valued at more than $21 billion, was produced in 2015. This represents a 4.5 percent increase over 2014 totals.

Jason Christopher Willett of USGS reports that in 2015, 1.32 billion metric tons of crushed stone was produced by 1,430 companies operating 3,700 quarries, 82 underground mines and 187 sales/distribution yards. The estimated value is more than $13.8 billion.

Feb. 21-24, 2016
Phoenix, Arizona

Feb. 24-26, 2016
Olathe, Kansas

March 10, 2016
Kansas City, Missouri

March 10, 2016
Charles Town, West Virginia