Explosives Industry News - April 17, 2019

Regulatory Spotlight

Separation Distances of Ammonium Nitrate and Blasting Agents from Explosives or Blasting Agents

A final rule on 27 CFR Part 555 was issued by the Department of Justice on Monday, April 1.

Beginning May 31, 2019, all ammonium nitrate will be subject to the § 555.220 Table of Distances when stored within the sympathetic detonation distances of high explosives and blasting agents listed under the table at § 555.220. Ammonium nitrate explosive mixtures that are high explosives pursuant to § 555.202(a), or are defined as a blasting agent pursuant to § 555.11, will be subject both to the table of distances for storage of explosives materials at § 555.218 and to the § 555.220 Table of Distances.

For more information contact, Denise Brown, Enforcement Programs and Services, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives at

Visit https://www.isee.org/news/438-separation-distances-of-ammonium-nitrate-and-blasting-agents-from-explosives-or-blasting-agents to view the full article online.

Industry News

Call for Papers: Submit an Abstract for the 46th Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique

Did you have a recent breakthrough on a project? Submit your findings for a chance to present your work at the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering.

Abstracts for the 46th Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique, to be held Jan. 26 - 29, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo., are now being accepted by the International Society of Explosives Engineers.

Abstracts of approximately 200-400 words are due by May 15, 2019. The submission site, guidelines, instructions and deadlines can be viewed at www.isee.org. Please contact us if you do not receive confirmation within two weeks of submitting your abstract. Chapter sponsored abstracts/papers must be submitted by the deadline.

Visit https://www.isee.org/conferences/2020-conference to view the full article online.

Advertising Deadline for Membership Directory Yellow Pages is Today

The ISEE Membership Directory and Desk Reference is the most comprehensive who’s who publication in the explosives industry. Now you can make your company shine and target explosives industry leaders by advertising in the Membership Directory Yellow Pages.

Ads start at $125. The deadline is today. For more information, contact Dede Manross at 801.942.5650 or explo@comcast.net.

Visit https://www.isee.org/news/436-get-listed-in-the-2019-membership-directory-yellow-pages to view the full article online.

2019 Ohio Drilling & Blasting Conference Draws More Than 150 Attendees

The Ohio Drilling & Blasting Conference was held from March 20-21, 2019, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The conference was sponsored by the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) and Ohio Coal Association and endorsed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management.

More than 150 attendees participated in the event that featured 13 exhibit booths and a full day of presentations from explosives industry experts. This year’s program began with opening remarks from Mike Mann, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and John Capers, Austin Powder, and included topics covering regulatory updates; geology; spacing calculations; community relations; and driller and blaster communications. Attendees qualified for blasters training recertification hours from several states.

Visit https://www.isee.org/news/439-2019-ohio-drilling-blasting-conference-draws-more-than-150-attendees to view the full article online.

Austin Powder Names New President

Austin Powder Co., a manufacturer of explosive technologies and blasting services, named Jason Rawlings as its president. Rawlings succeeds Dave True, a 43-year veteran who will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors.

Rawlings joins Austin Powder from Cummins, where he served as executive director of sales and marketing. He also has an extensive background in general management in the mining, rail and defense industries.

Visit https://www.pitandquarry.com/austin-powder-names-new-president/ to view the full article online.

Newmont Shareholders OK $10 Billion Goldcorp Takeover, Creating Biggest Gold Producer

Newmont Mining shareholders on April 11 approved the company’s $10 billion takeover of Goldcorp Inc which is set to create the world’s biggest gold producer with assets across the Americas, Africa and Australia.

The deal, the biggest takeover in the gold sector’s history according to Refinitiv data, faced some initial opposition from Newmont investors who said it overly favored Goldcorp shareholders. But they rallied behind the proposal on the promise of a special dividend.

Visit https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newmont-m-a-goldcorp/newmont-shareholders-ok-10-billion-goldcorp-takeover-creating-biggest-gold-producer-idUSKCN1RN25U to view the full article online.

Rio Tinto Injects Another $302 Million into Resolution Copper Project in Arizona

Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest miner, will invest a further $302 million to advance its Resolution copper project, in the U.S. state of Arizona, as part of its drive to increase its exposure to the red metal, used in everything from electric vehicles to batteries.

The extra financing brings the total injected by Rio, which owns a 55% interest in the project, and its Resolution partner BHP (ASX, NYSE: BHP), which owns the remaining 45% interest, to over $2 billion since 2004.

Visit http://www.mining.com/rio-tinto-injects-another-302m-resolution-copper-project-arizona/ to view the full article online.