TheRepublic.com - Materials News

3 hurt in apparent explosion at Pa. steel plant

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:19:04 -0400

COATESVILLE, Pennsylvania - An apparent explosion at a steel plant in eastern Pennsylvania has left three people injured.

Plastic ocean debris the target of new Calif. bill

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:20:23 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - It's a common sight on the nation's beaches: among the sand, sea foam and gnarled kelp lay plastic bottles, bags and other garbage.

W.Va. rally held against Patriot bankruptcy plan

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:26:05 -0400

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Church groups gathered with miners and other supporters at a rally in Charleston against Patriot Coal's bankruptcy plan.

Extremists claim responsibility for Niger attacks

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:20:29 -0400

NIAMEY, Niger - Suicide bombers in Niger detonated two car bombs simultaneously, one inside a military camp in the city of Agadez and another in the remote town of Arlit at a French-operated uranium mine, killing 26 people and injuring 30, according to officials in Niger and France. A surviving attacker took a group of soldiers hostage, and authorities were attempting to negotiate their release.

Wyden zeros in on plan to boost logging revenue

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:52:11 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Oregon - Sen. Ron Wyden is zeroing in on his plan for boosting logging on federal lands in Western Oregon and helping rural counties beset by money problems.

Kennecott lays off employees after landslide

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:23:34 -0400

SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah mining company has started laying off some of its 2,100 workers after a landslide filled the bottom of a large open copper mining pit west of Salt Lake City.

Nevada mining tax measure heads to voters in '14

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:14:10 -0400

CARSON CITY, Nevada - The Nevada Assembly took final legislative action Thursday on a proposal to repeal a constitutional mining industry tax cap, sending the matter to voters next year to decide if lawmakers should be able to adjust the tax rate by statute.

States to NRC: Better nuclear waste rules needed

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:43:13 -0400

MONTPELIER, Vermont - Attorneys general in Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut announced Thursday they are petitioning the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a more thorough environmental review of storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste at plant sites.

Wyden: FracFocus a 'constructive' tool on drilling

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:22:31 -0400

WASHINGTON - A website partially funded by the oil and gas industry could be a "constructive" tool for federal regulators as they consider requiring public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Ron Wyden said Thursday.

Worker exposed to ammonia at fertilizer plant dies

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:49:49 -0400

POCATELLO, Idaho - A man who was working for a subcontractor at a Simplot fertilizer plant near Pocatello has died at a Utah hospital after being exposed to ammonia last weekend.

Industry study: Coal exports support W.Va. jobs

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:31:24 -0400

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - The National Mining Association says exports helped support nearly 24,000 coal jobs in West Virginia in 2011.

2 Amway employees treated after disinfectant leak

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:04:04 -0400

ADA TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Amway Corp. says two of its employees were treated at a hospital following the leak of a cleaning chemical at its West Michigan headquarters.

Fire Marshal's Office: Panel had blast site access

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:17:48 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - The State Fire Marshal's Office says a federal safety panel's investigators had access to the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others.

On top of big salaries, companies pile on perks

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:13:30 -0400

NEW YORK - Wynn Resorts pays for founder and CEO Steve Wynn's residence at its tony Las Vegas hotel and casino at a cost of nearly $452,000.

Minn. lawmakers compromise on sand mining rules

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:23:17 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS - Critics of silica sand mining had hoped the Minnesota Legislature would adopt aggressive statewide rules to protect people and the environment. What finally emerged from the just-completed session, however, was a compromise that still leaves key decisions up to local governments.

Groups ask for big picture look at NW coal ports

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:05:21 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Oregon - Environmental groups and a public health organization want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the big picture - from mining in Wyoming to air pollution in China - before allowing development of three Northwest ports to ship up to 100 million metric tons of coal a year to Asia.

Mexico cartel dominates, torches western state

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:08:53 -0400

LA RUANA, Mexico - The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror.

In top coal state, gas to fuel next power plant

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:28:19 -0400

CHEYENNE, Wyoming - The next major power plant to be built in the nation's top coal-mining state will be fueled by natural gas.

Coal jobs in Ky. at lowest point since 1950

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:50:09 -0400

LEXINGTON, Kentucky - A state report shows the number of coal jobs in Kentucky has dwindled to its lowest point since 1950.

Evian giving its water bottle a makeover

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:41:19 -0400

NEW YORK - Evian is giving itself a facelift to keep up with its sleek, young competitors on store shelves.

Wis. candidates got $758K from sand, gas industry

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:19:15 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A new report says the sand mining and natural gas industries have given Wisconsin candidates nearly $758,000 dollars since 2007, with contributions spiking last year as sand mining took off in the state.

Somerset power plant cuts mercury emissions

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:25:13 -0400

SOMERSET, Massachusetts - A coal-fired Massachusetts power plant frequently listed as one of the most polluting in the state has dramatically reduced its mercury emissions.

All 28 bodies recovered from Indonesian mine room

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:23:18 -0400

TIMIKA, Indonesia - Rescuers on Wednesday recovered the last of 28 miners killed last week when an underground room of a giant Indonesian gold and copper mine collapsed, the operator of the U.S.-owned facility said.

Minn. agency approves 4th Magnetation plant

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:28:06 -0400

DULUTH, Minnesota - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's citizens board has approved a company's plans to build its fourth iron ore recovery plant on the Iron Range.

Wis. budget committee approves sand mining plan

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:12:32 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Wisconsin's budget-writing committee has approved pulling money from the state's environmental management fund to cover sand mining inspections.