Red tape ties up California road materials recycling plan.The California Department of Conservation The California Department of Conservation provides services and information that promote environmental health, economic vitality, informed land use decisions and sound management of California's natural resources. has rejected a recycling plan proposed by Granite Construction Granite Construction is a member of the S&P 400 Index, and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. , Watsonville, Calif., because the plan conflicts with the state's Williamson Act agricultural tax break program, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report in the Lompoc Record (Lompoc, Calif.). Granite had planned to crush and recycle used road materials at its Buellton, Calif., plant to generate asphalt asphalt (ăs`fôlt, –fălt), brownish-black substance used commonly in road making, roofing, and waterproofing. Chemically, it is a natural mixture of hydrocarbons. for repairs to roads damaged in the recent winter storms. But because the facility sits on land enrolled in the Williamson Act, recycling road materials there is not allowed. The Lompoc Record reports that Granite receives no tax breaks on the land, because it is not in active agricultural use, though it is subject to the act's restrictions. Granite moved to remove the land from the Williamson Act contract in 1997, but the process takes a decade to complete. |
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