Serving our Communities with Trust and Commitment
By planning for the evolution of quarry sites, the welfare of the environment and the safety and prosperity of our associates and communities, we ensure that our business is operated in ways that positively impact those we serve for decades to come.
Our commitment to the communities we serve is deep and extensive.
We study, explore, and learn about the communities we enter to understand their past and imagine the possibilities for the future. We engage and partner with community leadership, government and institutions to turn visions into collaborative realities.
Whether we’re working on a new bridge project or one of Virginia’s many highways, we take a long-term approach to our business to ensure that the community benefits from our work for decades to come.
Environmental Management System
Environmental stewardship has always been a core part of our business at Luck Stone. We take great pride in our efforts, and the resulting benefits to the communities in which we operate. In the spirit of continuous improvement increasing environmental performance, Luck Stone has implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS).
An EMS helps to ensure that Luck Stone remains focused on goals that will lower the environmental impact of our operations, while enhancing the quality of life of our associates and our neighbors. Goals at each plant are set by the associates who work there, when they see the areas that offer the best chance for success and improvement.
An EMS not only helps to ensure compliance with the various permits we obtain from many regulatory agencies, but challenges us to “go beyond compliance” to find solutions that will make us the local mining company of choice. We also solicit feedback from other community partners, such as schools, local government, and our neighbors.
Environmental Goals
-Increase Community Education and Outreach on Environmental Issues
-Enhance our Recycling Programs and Initiatives
-Further Reduce Dust Emissions from our Process Areas
-Improve Discharge Water Quality
As a result of our EMS efforts, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has recognized each Luck Stone quarry facility as an Exceptional Environmental Enterprise (E3) in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program.
Luck Companies is also a member of the Businesses for the Bay program, a volunteer organization that is managed by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. B4B members set goals each year that concentrate on projects that will improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and are guided by actions associated with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Luck Companies Corporate Office is a Founding Member at the Gold action level.
An example of how Luck Stone extends beyond governmental standards to minimize impact in our work is shown through our process of acquiring undeveloped land, a process known as Greenfielding.
Steps to Greenfielding
1. Identify land
We develop relationships with large landowners in our markets to determine if they are a good fit for quarry use - including a location that allows for convenient truck service to our markets, or access to rail or water provider service to those markets.
2. Establish geology
We confirm that the areas we investigate have the geological resources to facilitate the production of construction grade aggregates.
3. Due diligence
We identify property attributes, geology, and adequate reserves for 50-100 years of operation. Considerations include local zoning, state permit requirements and local and state stakeholders aligning with our criteria.
4. In-person visit
Once access to a cleared property has been obtained, we make contact and request a site visit. An initial tour of the property will identify land characteristics that indicate the presence of aggregates. We will also drill to establish both depths of overburden (dirt or unsuitable rock) and the quality of the material.
5. Acquire permits
Once a site is determined to be a viable source of construction grade aggregate, we proceed with the permitting process, including extensive conversation with the community about our operations and the specifics of our plans. To date, every application we have undertaken has significantly benefitted from public input. We also plan for future reclamation of the property to include water storage reservoirs or land development.
6. Community Input
Throughout the entire process we meet with community members at every level to discuss the positive economic impact of a new quarry, the perceived impact, and the actual impact. This conversation continues beyond these 7 steps as we make sure to keep everyone engaged as partners from the local to the state and federal level.
7. Plan for operations
When a permit is received, we begin planning for operations, including hiring local engineers, surveyors, site work contractors and others to build plants and infrastructure, as well as hiring associates for operation of the facility.
Latest News
Each year, we provide resources to our communities, including sponsorships and product donations.
To learn more about sponsorships and product donations, please contact [email protected].
