November 13, 2012, Newberry, Michigan — Graymont, one of North America’s leading lime producers, confirmed today it is conducting an exploration program in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to firm up the quality and quantity of limestone deposits to support a new quarrying operation.
“We are already a member of the Upper Peninsula business community with our lime plant near Gulliver, and we’re looking forward to expanding our presence in the region.” stated Graymont CEO Stéphane Godin. He noted that the proposed quarry project would create new jobs for area residents and generate other economic spinoffs for the local communities and the State of Michigan.
The exploration program is being conducted by Graymont’s subsidiary Town 44 North in the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula, southeast of Newberry, Michigan. The project would actually occupy a site of approximately 5,000 acres. In fact, it is anticipated that the active quarry, including buffer areas, would cover no more than 800 acres at any point in time. Moreover, 80% of the overall site would remain accessible to the public for recreational and nature-related activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, caving, off-road vehicles (ORV) and snowmobile trail use.
The exploration phase of the project is expected to be completed within a few months. Next steps include consulting with stakeholders, identifying the final project location, and developing a comprehensive Forest Management Plan in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources.
Committed to world-class environmental and sustainability standards
Graymont is committed to world-class standards with respect to the environment and sustainability and strives to make positive contributions to the communities where it operates. With respect to this project, Graymont will reclaim the surface area disturbed by quarrying operations by replacing soil cover, adding vegetation and grading.
Consultation with a broad spectrum of stakeholders is an integral part of Graymont’s project-planning exercises. “We work hard to be good citizens and good neighbors,” Project Manager Bob Robison, Graymont’s Director, Mining and Geology, said. “Even at this early stage of the game, we have met with representatives of some stakeholder groups. Going forward, we will also be organizing town hall-style meetings to inform local citizens of our plans and invite their input,” Mr. Robison added.
Confidence in Michigan’s economic future
The proposed new quarry reflects Graymont’s confidence in the economic future of Michigan and neighboring states, and will further enhance the company’s ability to supply its plants and support the success of lime customers in the region.
A vital building block for 21st century industry, lime has a myriad of applications. These include its use as a flux in steel making and as a coating or filler in paper making. The fastest growing use of lime is in environmental applications where it facilitates compliance with today’s increasingly stringent air-quality, drinking water, waste water, and solid-waste regulations. For example, lime is a critical component of the “scrubbing” systems used to remove acidic gases, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), from flue gas emissions at power stations and other industrial installations.
About Graymont
Graymont is a leading producer of lime in North America with facilities across the United States and Canada, and has a significant investment in Grupo Calidra, the largest lime producer in Mexico.
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