NATIONAL STONE SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION

MEETINGS, EVENTS & MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIPTHE MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT HAD ANOTHER STRONG YEAR FOR NSSGA ON BOTH THE PRODUCER AND M&S FRONTS. PRODUCER MEMBERSHIP WAS UP 6% OVER 2022 AND THE MANUFACTURERS & SERVICES DIVISION WAS UP 4% OVER 2022. ALL TOLD, 472 COMPANIES ARE MEMBERS OF NSSGA, 1.5% OVERALL GROWTH. THIS IS A RESULT OF PROSPECTING, DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY CONTACTS, HAVING ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO THE WORK OF THE ENTIRE ASSOCIATION STAFF AND NSSGA BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF CRITICAL ADVOCACY ISSUES. MEETINGS/EVENTSNSSGA'S CORNERSTONE ANNUAL EVENTS, ANNUAL CONVENTION, YOUNG LEADERS, LEADERSHIP SUMMIT AND LEGISLATIVE & POLICY FORUM EACH BOASTED RECORD ATTENDANCE AND INCREASED MEMBER ENGAGEMENT. IT'S NOTEWORTHY TO MENTION THAT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE VARIOUS PLANNING COMMITTEES, ADDITIONAL BREAKOUT CONTENT IS BEING ADDED TO EACH OF THESE MEETINGS WHICH HAS PROVIDED A VITAL FORUM OF EXCHANGE AND ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR MEMBERS. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, POLITICAL OUTLOOK, SUSTAINABILITY, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION WAS HELD IN LAS VEGAS AND WAS CO-LOCATED WITH TWO OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ASSOCIATIONS, THE NATIONAL READY MIX CONCRETE ASSOCIATION AND PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION. CAL RIPKEN KEYNOTED THE JOINT GENERAL SESSION AND WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. ALL OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES MET DURING THIS EVENT AND CONTINUE TO DO THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 2023 IS AN OUT YEAR FOR AGG1 IT IS THE YEAR NSSGA PARTICIPATES IN CONEXPO/CON-AGG. THE YOUNG LEADERS EVENT WAS HELD IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND HAD A LINEUP OF INDUSTRY SPEAKERS, PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS AND ENGAGING BREAKOUT CONTENT. SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A WOMEN IN AGGREGATES PANEL, A KEYNOTE FROM OUR MEMBER COMPANY, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG LEADERS TO RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT WAS HELD IN CHARLESTON, SC AND BROUGHT IN A HEALTHY MIX OF MEMBERS AND GUESTS. MANY NSSGA COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE HAD IN ADDITION TO BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON SAFETY AND HEALTH, COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND WORKFORCE ALL WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED. ATTENDEES HEARD FROM JEFF EGGERS WITH THE MCCHRYSTAL GROUP ON LEADERSHIP AND HOW TO GUIDE A TEAM. THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FORUM WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF TO TELL THE STORY OF THE AGGREGATES INDUSTRY TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. NSSGA CO-LOCATED HILL DAY WITH THE NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL READY MIX CONCRETE ASSOCIATION. ATTENDEES PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS, HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CHRIS STIREWALT, A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND ANALYST. NSSGA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MEMBERS LEADING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS. WEBINARS AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS CONTINUE TO MEET OUR MEMBERS WHERE THEY ARE THIS OMNI CHANNEL APPROACH CONTINUES TO SEE SIGNIFICANT ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION FROM OUR MEMBER COMPANIES. OUR STRONG NUMBERS OF WEBINAR PARTICIPATION ARE A CATALYST TO CONTINUE TO BRING EDUCATION TO OUR MEMBERSHIP. NSSGA HAS ADDED TWO STUDENT CHAPTERS TO OUR ROSTER COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES AND UK. WE ARE MAKING STRIDES AT SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOLS AND CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM OUR STUDENT CHAPTERS. NSSGA SUPPORTS OUR STUDENT CHAPTERS BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION TO OUR CORNERSTONE EVENTS. NSSGA HAS NEARLY TRIPLED SPONSORSHIP REVENUES IN FOUR YEARS AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MANUFACTURERS & SERVICES DIVISION TO REALIZE BRAND RECOGNITION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCESS AND PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP. NSSGA STAFF WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR M&S MEMBERS TO INCREASE NON-DUES REVENUE WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS.

GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS:IN 2023, NSSGA ADVANCED AGGREGATES INDUSTRY PRIORITIES AND SECURED POLICY WINS IN VARIOUS AREAS. SOME OF THE MOST NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE ACHIEVED IN THE FY23 OMNIBUS PROCESS TO ADVANCE INDUSTRY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING SECURING FLEXIBILITY FOR COVID RELIEF FUNDS, DEFEATING HARMFUL BILLS, AND PROMOTING MATERIALS NEUTRALITY.FOLLOWING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FINALIZATION OF THE WOTUS RULE, NSSGA JOINED A COALITION TO OPPOSE IT AND SEEK A STAY, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING A CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT. A SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR THE INDUSTRY CAME WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN SACKETT V. EPA THAT THE "SIGNIFICANT NEXUS" TEST USED BY THE EPA WAS NO LONGER LEGALLY VALID. NSSGA CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS FOR A CLEAR WOTUS RULE BY MEETING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND WORKING WITH LAWMAKERS TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE REVISED RULE. NSSGA ALSO ADVOCATED FOR A CLEARER AND MORE ALIGNED INTERPRETATION OF THE RULE. FURTHERMORE, NSSGA ADDRESSED THE CORPS' HALT OF ISSUING APPROVED JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATIONS AND WORKED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS ISSUE.INDUSTRY'S VIEWS WERE HEARD AS NSSGA PROVIDED TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON VARIOUS INDUSTRY RELATED TOPICS, INCLUDING WOTUS RULE, IIJA IMPLEMENTATION, DOL REGULATIONS, AND SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES. FOR OVER A YEAR, NSSGA SOUNDED THE ALARM ABOUT THE ORIGINAL FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION DEC. 2021 MEMO, WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM THE INTENT OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. NSSGA SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO THIS MEMO AND FHWA FINALLY RELEASED A REVISED REPLACEMENT.NSSGA AND ITS PARTNERS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR A FINAL RULE IMPLEMENTING THE BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA (BABA) SOURCING REQUIREMENTS THAT ENSURES AGGREGATES, CONCRETE, AND ASPHALT SUPPLIED TO FEDERALLY FUNDED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO NEW DOMESTIC SOURCING REQUIREMENTS. THIS VICTORY COMES AFTER YEARS OF PERSISTENT EFFORTS TO SECURE A LEGISLATIVE EXEMPTION FROM BABA, DESPITE ONGOING ATTEMPTS BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND CERTAIN VOICES IN CONGRESS TO REOPEN DISCUSSIONS AND IMPOSE CUMBERSOME REQUIREMENTS. THROUGH VARIOUS STRATEGIES, INCLUDING FILING COMMENTS, GENERATING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT, AND ENGAGING WITH LAWMAKERS, NSSGA PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SECURING THIS FAVORABLE OUTCOME.FURTHER CEMENTING OUR ADVOCACY, FURTHER NSSGA ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE DEFEATING HARMFUL BILLS TARGETING AGGREGATES OPERATIONS; PROVIDED COMMENTS ON PROPOSED REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AMONG OTHER TOPICS; OPPOSED HARMFUL AMENDMENTS IN DEFENSE BILLS; SUPPORTED PERMITTING REFORM EFFORTS; AND ADDRESSED RAIL SERVICE CHALLENGES AND ADVOCATED FOR INCREASED STB AUTHORITY.ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE, NSSGA HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE. SUPPORTING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH FROM ESTEEMED UNIVERSITIES, ORGANIZING MEMBER WEBINARS ON TOPICAL SUBJECTS AND DEVELOPED AND APPROVED INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AGGREGATES PCR AND EPDS. WE REMAIN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN STANDARDS COMMITTEES LIKE ASTM, AASHTO, AND ACI, AMONG OTHERS, AND ARE CONSTANTLY PUSHING FOR MORE AGGREGATE RESEARCH FUNDING.NSSGA ALSO PUSHED BACK ON OSHA'S INJURY AND ILLNESS TRACKING RULE AND PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS ON OSHA HEAT INNLESS RULEMAKING. FURTHER, NSSGA SUBMITTED EXTENSIVE COMMENTS TO MSHA'S NEW RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA RULE BY FOCUSING ON THE NEED FOR MSHA TO ALIGN WITH OSHA, THE SEPARATION OF MNM AND COAL, AND URGED THE AGENCY TO ADOPT INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE BEST PRACTICES.IN 2023, NSSGA'S IMPACT FOR THE AGGREGATES INDUSTRY THROUGH IMPROVING THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT; PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR INDUSTRY MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS AND CONCERNS; CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS; AND ENHANCING THE INDUSTRY'S REPUTATION AND VISIBILITY.