Titan America's Center Sand Wins Environmental Award for Gopher Tortoise Habitat

NORFOLK, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tarmac America LLC's Center Sand Mine, located in Clermont, Florida, recently received a First Place "Proud of Mine" Award from the Florida Limerock & Aggregate Industry (FLAI) to honor their recently-completed Gopher Tortoise Relocation Project.

The gopher tortoise, an endangered species, is a burrowing creature and mining encroaches on its burrows. Company officials launched a rescue effort and decided to create a 35-acre nature preserve habitat adjacent to the Center Sand Mine property in order to safeguard the tortoises.

"We actually forfeited a portion of our minable reserves to create this habitat," reported Brian Bleakney, General Manager. "But it was the right thing to do. Now the gopher tortoises have a safe habitat which we'll maintain and protect."

Initiating the project included acquiring a Gopher Tortoise Relocation permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Site surveys were conducted to determine locations and quantities of inhabited burrows on the property. Hog fencing was buried in the ground at approximately five to six inches deep around the area to protect and contain the tortoises. Pine trees were thinned and the land was reseeded with foraging plants suitable for the turtles. Fifty-six turtles (22 males, 24 females, 10 immature) were humanely removed from the mining area and placed into their new habitat. Conservation Area development supports Titan America's sustainability development values and commitment to the environment.

Tarmac America LLC is a subsidiary of Titan America LLC which is headquartered in Norfolk, Va. and the premier heavy building materials producers in the eastern United States. Titan America operations include cement plants, ready-mixed concrete plants, concrete block plants, quarries, import and rail terminals and fly ash beneficiation facilities. For more information about Tarmac America LLC or Titan America LLC, visit www.titanamerica.com.

Editor's Note: Photographs available

    Source: Titan America LLC

Released May 6, 2009