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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 13, 2005 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. _ <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Honoring Piedmont Minerals <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Resolution <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Dianne Reid, 245-2326 <br />PURPOSE: To recognize Piedmont Minerals, a mining operation located in Hillsborough, for its <br />significant water conservation efforts. <br />BACKGROUND: Piedmont Minerals owns 165 acres of land just across the Eno from <br />downtown Hillsborough, with approximately 65 acres permitted for mining. The mine was <br />established in 1952, and aprocessing/grinding facility was built in the 1960s. <br />Three minerals are mined at the site: pyropholite, andalucite, and seracite. All three minerals <br />are processed and used in ceramics and/or brick manufacturing. The Hillsborough mine is the <br />only deposit of andalucite - valued for its heat resistance - in the United States. In addition to <br />its mined products, Piedmont Minerals imports bauxite from China and South America, which it <br />grinds for its parent company, Resco, headquartered in Pittsburgh. <br />In the summer of 2004, Piedmont Minerals changed its dust collection process from a wet mist <br />dust suppression system to a dry bagging system. As a result of this innovation, the company's <br />water usage was reduced from approximately 100,000 gallons per day to under 15,000 gallons <br />per day. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: None <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached <br />resolution commending Piedmont Minerals for its dramatic reduction in water usage and <br />authorize the Chair to sign the resolution,. <br />