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Association & Industry News
The NRMCA Materials Division is now seeking nominations for the annual Shydlowski-Turner Materials Leadership Award. Named in honor of L. Michael Shydlowski and Robert P. Turner, the award was created to honor a current or former employee of an NRMCA Materials Division member company who exemplifies leadership, commitment and support for the ready mixed concrete industry and the initiatives and activities of NRMCA. The winner will be honored during the awards ceremony at the 2022 NRMCA Annual Convention in March. Click here to nominate a valued partner or colleague and here for more information on the award, including background on Mr. Shydlowski and Mr. Turner. You may also contact Alex Land at aland@nrmca.org. 
SEO
Currently, the case challenging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to direct their employees to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or be subject to weekly testing continues to remain stalled by order of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court’s stay prevents OSHA from taking any “steps to implement or enforce” the ETS. The outcome of the stay has allowed the first compliance date of the ETS to come and go without any action. Had the rule remained in effect, covered employers would have been required to ascertain the vaccination status of their employees and require unvaccinated employees to wear masks, as of December 6. While the 6th Circuit has yet to rule on whether to uphold or remove the stay, or on the merits of the ETS, the court decided last week that the case will remain in the 6th Circuit. The court’s next ruling on the status of the injunction is anticipated for later this week. It is highly likely that whichever side the court sides with, the opposite side will appeal to the Supreme Court for a final decision. This scenario is likely to end with a final decision by the end of the year. Despite the uncertain outcome of the ETS litigation, NRMCA continues to advocate on and monitor the ETS, while updating the membership on its changing status. For more information on how the ETS could impact the ready mixed concrete industry if allowed to go into effect please click here. To review the specifics of the ETS, click here. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
The American Coal Ash Association reports that 59% of coal ash produced in 2020 was recycled, an increase from 52% in 2019. It is estimated that about 69 million tons of coal combustion products (CCP) were produced (a decline from 79 million tons in 2019) and about 41 million tons were beneficially used. Decreased production of CCP is reflected in the reduced consumption of coal by utilities to generate electricity. The fly ash used in concrete decreased by 12% to 11 million tons. The decline is attributed to the shifting supply dynamics associated with closures of coal-fueled power plants. Use of CCP in cement production declined 4% to 4.8 million tons. About 4 million tons of previously disposed ash was beneficially used in ash pond closure activities, for cement kiln raw feed and gypsum panel manufacturing. Increasing beneficial use requires ash suppliers to ensure materials are consistent and available to customers and requires large investment in technology and logistics. The industry is actively deploying technologies and strategies for harvesting coal ash materials that were previously disposed. The ACAA CCP Production & Use Reports are available here. The RMC Research & Education Foundation has published its end-of-year newsletter. It you missed it, you may read it online here. Click here for more information on the work of the Foundation or contact Executive Director Julie Garbini or Senior Director Jennifer LeFevre. 
Buildings
The final session of the Global Concrete Summit is set for Wednesday, December 15, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time. The session will feature practices including pervious pavement, urban heat island reduction, light colored pavements and cool communities. Sustainability initiatives adopted by businesses, building owners, designers and manufacturers, including health and well being incentives and legislation, will be presented. Presentations include: 10 a.m.to noon - Session 5A
12:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Session 5B
Register for free now at www.globalconcretesummit.com. For more information, contact Lionel Lemay at llemay@nrmca.org or 847-922-7995.
Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) again extended an emergency declaration first issued in March 2020. The declaration allows for flexibility of certain transportation regulations for carriers impacted by COVID-19. The extension runs through February 28, 2022, after which date carriers will be required to resume normal compliance operations for everything from Hours of Service to driver training requirements, driver medical qualifications and CDL renewals. Click here to review the declaration extension and here to review this declaration and other COVID-19-related regulatory guidance posted on NRMCA’s COVID-19 Resources webpage. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. Government Affairs
Please join NRMCA's Government Affairs staff this Thursday, December 9, at 3 p.m. Eastern time for an informal meeting regarding the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Government Affairs team will be available virtually to answer any questions and concerns you may have regarding what impact the IIJA has on the ready mixed concrete industry as well as what the implementation will look like. This meeting will be conducted in an open forum. Before you join the conversation, click here to read an opinion piece on how to wisely spend the infrastructure funds. Click here to register for the discussion. For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org or 321-229-1785. NRMCA is still accepting entries for its 2022 Kids Art Contest, sponsored by the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau. The theme for the contest is “My Kind of Concrete!” The contest is open to children up to Grade 12 who have a relationship to an NRMCA Member.
Entries will be divided into the following grade categories: pre-K - K; 1-3, 4-6 and 7-12. First, second and third place winners will be selected from each grade category. Prizes will be awarded in each grade category ($100 first, $50 second and $25 third place). Entries will be judged only against others in their grade category on originality, effort, creativity, composition and interpretation of the theme "My Kind of Concrete!" Winners in each category will be announced at NRMCA’s 2022 Annual Convention, March 15 - 18 in San Antonio, TX. Images of the winning entries will be used later in the year to create a 2023 NRMCA calendar and winners and the sponsoring members will receive a free copy of the calendar. Selected entries will be displayed at NRMCA’s Annual Convention. NRMCA reserves the right to copy and modify any entry for reproduction. Entries will not be returned and may be used for future promotional opportunities. Entries must be postmarked or submitted electronically by December 31 and should be mailed or delivered to Taylor Drzewicki/NRMCA, 66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 250, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information, contact Taylor Drzewicki at tdrzewicki@nrmca.org. 
2022 January 31 - February 2, San Antonio, TX January 31 - February 4, Linthicum Heights, MD February 8 - 11, Phoenix February 15 - 17, Dallas February 15 - 17, Online Course February 22 - 24, Smyrna, TN March 22 - 24, Smyrna, TN April 5 - 7, Dallas April 19 - 21, Smyrna, TN September 29 - October 3, Aurora, CO Calendar
Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. December 13 - 15, Online Course December 15, Free Virtual Conference 
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