Creteheads. Owen Blevins, ConcreteAnswers.TV bringing you the Internets most passionate show about concrete plants and equipment. Today, the man to my right, Mr. Doug Ruhlin from Resource Management Associates - - www.RMAgreen.com - in New Jersey. If you recognize this mug its because youve seen him at one of your state association meetings, you might have read an article of his on the web, or seen him at an RMCA, hes published in InFocus magazine, the mans all over the place. Bottom line is Doug knows water and specifically when it comes to the concrete and aggregate industry; hes a resource that we should all be using. Owen Blevins (OB): Doug, welcome to the show. Doug Ruhlin (DR): Thank you Owen. OB: Thanks for coming. Ive got a question for you to start off this two/three segment gig were going to be doing here. The first question Im going to have for you is, What do you believe is the biggest environmental issue affecting producers today? DR: Thats a good question, Owen. I think that the biggest issue affecting producers today is really kind of a two phase approach and I think number one that you have is you have more or less is a sense of complacency about their current status, whether its good or bad, that sense of complacency is very dangerous. That becomes compounded with what I would call kind of like a lack of understanding, a lot of times about the really basic principles of some of the rules and regulations that affect the operations. For example, a lack of understanding about what folks should be doing, what operations should be doing, what permits are needed, what those permits allow, what those permits dont allow, what those permits require, particularly the technical requirements things like monitoring, inspections, documentation, those sorts of things. So when you add the complacency with the lack of understanding its really kind of a volatile situation and kind of a dangerous situation as well. So I really view that is the biggest concern, the biggest challenge today. OB: Alright, so that leads me to another question, Doug. Does this really translate into a real threat facing the producer today? DR: Oh definitely. You know weve got things going on today like the Federal Government, the US EPAs enforcement effort, the enforcement initiative that is directed particularly against the ready-mix industry and the aggregates industry. Theyre focusing on issues particularly like storm water, water quality at those facilities and I think when youve got that dangerous mix background of complacency with perhaps a less than stellar compliance record, I think that that, with the enhanced enforcement initiatives that are out there both on the federal and the state level, really create some challenging situations for the industry. OB: Tell me, what do you think concrete producers should be doing to minimize or, I cant say theyre going to eliminate it, but minimize this threat? DR: Well, I think, certainly, they should do whatever they can do to keep their operations in compliance. I think thats got to be first and foremost. So, I think, really, what needs to happen is that they do a thorough, comprehensive review of operations and of the rules and regulations that apply to the operations to find out exactly where they stand. To make sure theyre up to speed; to make sure theyre in compliance with everything that need to be doing. But also, to, kind of, recognize the potential limits of their knowledge. If they dont understand exactly what applies to their operation, to ask the questions, to seek out the experts, to get some assistance, to really make sure that they know what rules/regulations affect them at their operation, so that they can, in fact, be in compliance with those rules and regulations, so they can overcome that lack of understanding, so they can overcome that complacency and really do everything that can to protect themselves against any potential problems. OB: Alright Doug. Hey, I want to thank you for coming in for this first installment. Creteheads, were going to have more of Doug in a later installment so check back soon. Thanks again to our sponsor, Mid Atlantic Concrete Equipment. For more information come to our website at ConcreteAnswers.TV. Of course Dougs website, Ill put at the post on the bottom of this video so that you guys can go to it. Thanks for checking in and we'll see you next time.
Doug’s knowledge of potentially negative environmental impacts of concrete plants is very timely. The need for education is an important factor in the responsible production of concrete.
Great episode… If we do not police ourselves someone will do it for us.