HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-25 Euless ArticlesU.S. Concrete's Bi-Coastal Operating Companies,
Eastern Concrete Materials and Central Concrete,
Earn NRMCA Green-Star Certification
Program Recognizes Pursuit of Environmental Excellence, Commitment to
Sustainability, and Use of an Effective Environmental Management System
EULESS, Texas, Feb 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc.
and Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc., business units of U.S. Concrete, Inc., today they announced that
they have been awarded Green-Star Certification from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
(NRMCA) for a total of 17 newly certified plants.
Seven plants operated by Eastern Concrete Materials are first in New Jersey, as well as the New York
City area, to receive Green-Star Certification
Eastern Concrete Materials' newly certified plants include three locations in New Jersey, three in New
York City, and a location in West Nyack, New York. All seven plants earned their certification on
January 1, 2014. Eastern Concrete Materials expects to complete certification for its other active plants in
New York and New Jersey before year-end.
Central Concrete Co. Inc. certifies all its plant operations
On December 16, 2013, Central Concrete was awarded Green-Star Certification for all ten of its
permanent plant locations, all located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Central Concrete also operates an
additional ready-mix plant, acquired in October 2012 from Bode Concrete, which was the first ready-mix
plant in California to receive the NRMCA Green-Star Certification. That award was issued on December
23, 2008. As a result, Central Concrete has completed certification for its entire set of permanent plant
operations, totaling 11 plants.
NRMCA Green-Star Certification Process
NRMCA's Green-Star Program was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency as an environmental benchmarking and continuous improvement tool that would recognize
companies that commit to adhere to the industry's principles of environmental compliance and
sustainability.
"Over the years, U.S. Concrete has demonstrated a deep commitment to executing effective sustainability
strategies," said Lionel Lemay, senior vice president of sustainability for NRMCA. "This Green-Star
Certification is further recognition of their efforts to adopt sound environmental business processes and
tools with the aim of continually improving environmental performance."
Working in conjunction with Resource Management Associates, an environmental and sustainability
consulting firm, Eastern Concrete Materials and Central Concrete developed and implemented an
Environmental Management System (EMS) based on the classic "plan-do-check-act" model in
preparation for the Green-Star audit. This comprehensive system has several components, including a
commitment to a Program of Continual Improvement, creating a Self-Evaluation Procedure, clearly
articulating its Environmental Policy, and conducting a thorough Environmental Training Program, based
on the new management system.
"It's an outstanding achievement for a company to undertake an EMS for just one plant -- and an even
greater accomplishment to earn Green-Star certification," said Doug Ruhlin, founder, Resource
Management Associates. "What's especially notable about Eastern Concrete Materials and Central
Concrete is that they both accomplished this across multiple plants within a year from initiating the
process."
About Eastern
Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc., a business unit of U.S. Concrete, Inc., has 17 ready-mix plants in New
Jersey and New York and is the largest, vertically integrated supplier of ready-mix concrete in the
Northern New Jersey-New York City metropolitan area. The company also supplies sand, stone, and
gravel from its three quarries in New Jersey to ready-mix, asphalt, government and contractor customers
in New Jersey and New York. Eastern's ready-mix product line, built on U.S. Concrete's EF
Technology(R) platform of more sustainable concrete mix designs, includes a suite of proprietary and
branded products to reduce the initial and lifecycle carbon footprint of building projects by improving the
appearance, productivity and performance of concrete. The company's portfolio of projects includes the
area's tallest buildings, best-known monuments and largest roadways and bridges. For more information
about Eastern, visit http://www.us-concrete.com/usc_eastern_concrete.asp .
About Central Concrete
Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc., a business unit of U.S. Concrete, Inc., has been serving the San
Francisco Bay Area for more than 60 years. The company is recognized for engineering higher-
performing concrete than traditional concrete while significantly lowering carbon footprints with its low-
CO2 mixes.
Unlike traditional concrete, Central Concrete's standard mixes deliver 50% or greater cement replacement
materials, thereby significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the project under construction. Central
Concrete is recognized for supplying its low-CO2 mixes to numerous San Francisco Bay Area signature
projects, including the Cathedral of Christ the Light Church, Oakland; California Academy of Sciences,
San Francisco (world's greenest museum); NASA Ames Sustainability Base, Mountain View (greenest
federal building in the U.S.); David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Los Altos (largest net-zero private
office building in Calif.); the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission headquarters (San Francisco's
greenest office building); the new San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium; and the San Francisco-Oakland
Bay Bridge.
With 12 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Concrete offers multiple points of service to
meet the diverse operational needs of its customers. For more information, visit www.centralconcrete.com
About U.S. Concrete
U.S. Concrete services the construction industry in several major markets in the United States through its
two business segments: ready-mixed concrete and aggregate products. The company has 106 fixed and 10
portable ready-mixed concrete plants and seven producing aggregates facilities. During 2012, U.S.
Concrete produced approximately 4.8 million cubic yards of ready-mixed concrete and approximately 3.3
million tons of aggregates. For more information on U.S. Concrete, visit www.us-concrete.com .
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on
management's belief, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims
any obligation to update these statements and cautions you not to rely unduly on them. Forward-looking
information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the stability of the business; ready-mix
backlog; ability to maintain our cost structure and the improvements achieved during our restructuring;
ability to maximize liquidity, monitor fixed costs, manage variable costs, control capital spending and
monitor working capital usage; and the adequacy of current liquidity. Although U.S. Concrete believes
that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance
that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other matters: general and regional economic conditions;
the level of activity in the construction industry; the ability of U.S. Concrete to complete acquisitions and
to effectively integrate the operations of acquired companies; development of adequate management
infrastructure; departure of key personnel; access to labor; union disruption; competitive factors;
government regulations; exposure to environmental and other liabilities; the cyclical and seasonal nature
of U.S. Concrete's business; adverse weather conditions; the availability and pricing of raw materials; the
availability of refinancing alternatives; and general risks related to the industry and markets in which U.S.
Concrete operates. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. These risks, as well as
others, are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Concrete's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including U.S. Concrete's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2012 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Plans for Fort Worth Park a Nod to
Black Community
By CATY HIRST
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2014 | Updated 1:19 PM CST
Euless Historical Preservation Society/flickr
The historical marker for the Mosier Valley School. (Photo by Euless Historical Preservation Society from Flickr)
It took Mosier Valley, the oldest black community in Tarrant County, nearly 40 years to
receive water and sewer service from the city. Now, over 50 years after it was annexed into
Fort Worth, the community that was settled in the 1870s by freed slaves will have its first,
and only, park.
"I'm just grateful they are building it. It is a little late, but I guess that's all right," said Lloyd
Austin, 90, a former pastor of the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in Mosier Valley.
"There could be a lot of activity there, if anyone could get in there and work with it."
Earlier this month, the Fort Worth City Council approved the purchase of four acres of land
from the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district for $260,000 and $25,000 in closing costs to
develop a park in an "underserved area of the city," according to a report to the council.
Annexed by Fort Worth in 1963, it took decades before new streets, street lighting, police
and fire, and other city services were provided for the small community in the far northeast
corner of Fort Worth.
"I think it was because black people lived there," Austin said of why it took so long to get city
services. Austin, who was pastor of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church from 1964 until
2005, said the city addressing Mosier Valley is long overdue.
Benny Tucker, president of the Mosier Valley Community Area Council since 1993, hopes
the city's interest in the area will encourage people to move to the Mosier Valley area.
Tucker and his wife, Rose Renee Tucker, moved from Mosier Valley to Fort Worth in 1997
because of the lack of city services, like water and sewer.
"It was absolutely frustrating," Benny Tucker said. "To own property that you can't -- where
there is not even access to water and sewer." Tucker said the city residents were
responsible for digging their own water wells and managing their own septic tanks, making
parts of the area unsanitary.
The city has since improved other services, Tucker said, like increasing police and fire
response in the area and adding lighting to the streets, but the area still needs
improvements to basic infrastructure, like storm drainage.
Gyna Bivens, councilwoman for the area, said that acquiring the land for a park during
Black History Month made it even more appropriate.
"The idea that we were able to acquire this property from the H-E-B school district is real
special to a lot of African-Americans," Bivens told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The tight-
knit community of Mosier Valley, which peaked in the 1930s with a population of about 300,
built the historic Mosier Valley School in 1883, according to the Texas State Historical
Association.
The wooden school house was simple, with just one room for all the students up until the
1950s, when Mosier Valley parents filed a federal suit seeking to integrate their students
with the Euless district. A federal judge ruled in favor of the Mosier Valley parents, but
instead of integrating the students, Euless built a brick school in 1953 for the African-
American students. Rose Renee Tucker, a native of Mosier Valley, attended the school in
the 1960s.
"It was a small school and everybody knew everybody there. The community was small and
the relationship we had with each other -- the teachers seemed like they just cared about us
a little bit more, it seemed like they tried to do everything they could to advance us and
make us learn. It was more like a family," Tucker remembered of the little brick building.
In 1968, the Mosier Valley School was closed, and the children were bused elsewhere. The
site was honored with a historical marker by the Texas Historical Commission in 1983.
The four acres purchased from the school district include the site of the original school
buildings.
In developing the park, the first step for the city is to get the park in the "queue" and create
a master plan, said David Creek, assistant director of the parks and community services
department. "You get into a piece of property that has this historical nature to it and I think
whatever master plan you do will have to respect that historical aspect of it," Creek said.
He said there's a possibility that the wooden-framed, one-room school house that was on
the lot before the brick building still exists, and he said the city will examine the possibility of
bringing it back if it does. Benny Tucker said he has also heard there is a possibility the
wooden-framed building was moved, instead of being torn down.
"I think that is one of the really neat features of this -- it already gives you something to work
with it; it gives the park an identity starting off the bat," Creek said. Tucker, who has been
advocating for a park for the community for about 20 years, said having a public space will
help bring the historical community together.
"Basically, it will be a coming together place and will also bring back to the community
former residents," he said. Bivens said the city will plan a ceremony for acquiring the park,
"to just recognize the history of Mosier Valley and the role it played in the early settling days
of Africa-Americans in this area."
ID Cards Needed For All Texas Voters
Voters with EIC cards will still need to register to vote
By Frank Heinz
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2014 | Updated 1:49 PM CST
AP, Texas Department of Public Safety
With early voting kicking off Tuesday in the Texas primary races, it's a opportune time to remind voters
they'll need approved identification if they plan on casting a ballot.
With the passage of the Texas Voter ID law, everyone in the state is required to provide identification
before voting in any Texas election.
To be given a ballot, voters will need to either show one of the following forms of identification: a state-
issued driver's license, state-issued identification card, a current U.S. passport, DPS-issued CHLs,
Military IDs, a U.S. citizenship certificate that has a photo or an Election Identification Certificate.
Texas Election Identification Certificates are documents supplied by the DPS at all 220 driver's license
offices, for free, to those who meet certain criteria; one of which is that they cannot have any of the
other forms of accepted identification.
To qualify for an EIC, an applicant must meet the following conditions:
• Bring documentation to verify U.S. citizenship and identity.
• Be eligible to vote in Texas (Bring a valid voter registration card or submit a voter registration
application through the Texas Department of Public Safety).
• Be a Texas resident.
• Be 17 years and 10 months or older.
To apply for an EIC, voters must visit a DPS office and fill out an application. Applicants will need to
be able to verify U.S. citizenship and may need to bring a copy of their birth certificate as well as any
two of the following: Social Security card, voter registration card, school records, Medicare or Medicaid
card, ID card issued by a government agency, unexpired insurance policy or an expired Texas ID. See
more from the DPS on documentation requirements to obtain an EIC.
Once completed, the EIC receipt an individual receives will include their photo and can be used for
voting until the permanent card is delivered by mail, the DPS said in a news release Tuesday.
EICs are valid for six years; those given to citizens over 70 years of age will not expire. Cards are only
used for voting and not for identification.
Certificates are also available at DPS EIC mobile stations and at select county locations.
Those with EIC's will still need to register to vote. To check your status as an active voter, visit the
Texas Secretary of State's website here.
Early Voting Begins Tuesday for Texas
Primaries
Early voting runs through Feb. 28
Monday, Feb 17, 2014 | Updated 3:40 PM CST
Texans who can't make it to the polls next month have other options.
Early voting begins Tuesday for the Texas Democratic and Republican primaries on March 4.
Secretary of State Nandita Berry said voters can cast ballots early through Feb. 28. The deadline
to request a ballot by mail is Friday.
Photo identification is required to cast a ballot in person.
The general election will be held Nov. 4.
U.S. Concrete Announces Fourth Quarter
and Full Year 2013 Earnings Release and
Conference Call Schedule
EULESS, Texas, Feb 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- U.S. Concrete, Inc.
plans to release fourth quarter and full year 2013 results on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 6:00 a.m.
Eastern time. In conjunction with the release, U.S. Concrete has scheduled an investor
conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at
10:00 a.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Central).
What: U.S. Concrete Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Earnings Release
Conference Call
When: Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time
How: Live via phone - By dialing Toll-free: (877) 312-8806
Conference ID: 4812399 and asking for the U.S. Concrete call 10
minutes prior to the start time. - OR - Live over the Internet – by
logging on to U.S. Concrete's Web site at the address below.
Where: www.us-concrete.com
A replay of the conference call and archive of the webcast will be available after the call under
the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.us-concrete.com .
For more information, please contact U.S. Concrete at 817-835-4159 or email cdossey@us-
concrete.com.
U.S. Concrete services the construction industry in several major markets in the United States
through its two business segments: ready-mixed concrete and concrete-related products; and
precast concrete products. As of the date of this press release, the Company has 106 fixed and 10
portable ready-mixed concrete plants, one precast concrete plant and seven producing aggregates
facilities. During 2012, these plant facilities produced approximately 4.8 million cubic yards of
ready-mixed concrete and 3.3 million tons of aggregates. For more information on U.S.
Concrete, visit www.us-concrete.com .
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on
management's belief, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to
management. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.
The Company disclaims any obligation to update these statements and cautions you not to rely
unduly on them. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements
regarding: the stability of the business; ready-mix backlog; ability to maintain our cost structure
and the improvements achieved during our restructuring; ability to maximize liquidity, monitor
fixed costs, manage variable costs, control capital spending and monitor working capital usage;
and the adequacy of current liquidity. Although U.S. Concrete believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those
expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other matters: general and regional economic
conditions; the level of activity in the construction industry; the ability of U.S. Concrete to
complete acquisitions and to effectively integrate the operations of acquired companies;
development of adequate management infrastructure; departure of key personnel; access to labor;
union disruption; competitive factors; government regulations; exposure to environmental and
other liabilities; the cyclical and seasonal nature of U.S. Concrete's business; adverse weather
conditions; the availability and pricing of raw materials; the availability of refinancing
alternatives; and general risks related to the industry and markets in which U.S. Concrete
operates. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. These risks, as
well as others, are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Concrete's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including U.S. Concrete's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2012 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Matt Brown, SVP & CFO
U.S. Concrete, Inc.
817-835-4105