Rep. Sewell leads bipartisan letter urging resolution for Vulcan Materials in Mexico dispute. Representative Terri Sewell has led a bipartisan congressional letter urging fair treatment for Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials Company amid ongoing disputes with the Mexican government over property seizures and business operations restrictions. The initiative follows years of diplomatic efforts involving U.S lawmakers concerned about impacts on American businesses operating abroad. 2 days ago Monday, Sept 28 By D. C. Hull U.S. Representative Terri Sewell led a bipartisan letter to Mexican Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri Montaño on Sep. 28, expressing concern and outrage over the Mexican government's treatment of Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials Company and American workers. The letter, co-led by Representatives August Pfluger, Salud Carbajal, and Gary Palmer, calls for fair treatment of Vulcan Materials and Alabama workers in Mexico. "I am proud to lead this bipartisan letter demanding the fair treatment of Vulcan Materials and Alabama workers in Mexico," said Rep. Terri Sewell. "For almost a decade, senior members of the Mexican government have used illegal tactics to intimidate Vulcan Materials and their workers, including a military seizure of Vulcan-owned property in Mexico. I have worked closely with my colleagues in Congress as we pursued all diplomatic and legislative options, including passing the Defending American Property Abroad (DAPA) Act. I will continue to fight for all the workers in my district who have suffered from illegal trade actions by foreign nations." Rep. Pfluger said, "Mexico's seizure of Vulcan Materials is a direct threat to American jobs, economic security, and national security... Even after an international tribunal found that Mexico violated its trade obligations by shutting down part of Vulcan's operations, the Mexican government has continued to target this company." He added that House passage of his Defending American Property Abroad Act sends a message that the United States will not tolerate illegal capture of American assets abroad. "American companies and workers operating abroad deserve to be treated with fairness," said Rep. Carbajal. "The actions taken against Vulcan Materials are unacceptable and a clear violation of international trade norms." Rep. Palmer also said that no American company should face property seizures or threats from foreign governments acting outside legal frameworks. According to background provided with the letter, on May 5, 2022, the Mexican government shut down Vulcan's operations using military force; another occupation occurred in March 2023 reportedly benefiting CEMEX - a private Mexican company - and on September 23, 2024, President López Obrador decreed the property as a Naturally Protected Area (NPA), preventing further productive use by Vulcan while criminal charges are now being used as grounds for potential asset seizure. Earlier this year Sewell helped pass the DAPA Act through the House; she previously led Alabama's House delegation in writing to Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena about these issues. Terri Sewell is currently serving in Congress representing Alabama's 7th District since replacing Artur Davis in 2011; she was born in Huntsville but lives in Birmingham now after earning degrees from Princeton University (BA), St Hilda's College at Oxford (MA), and Harvard University (JD), according to her official office.

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC), the largest US producer of construction aggregates, has declined 24.3% from its 52-week high of $331.09 reached on 10 February. The Birmingham, Alabama-based company, valued at $32.5 billion, has fallen 11.5% year-to-date and 16.3% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500's gains of 10.9% and 16.2% respectively. The underperformance stems from elevated valuations and weak private construction demand due to high interest rates. Whilst public infrastructure funding has provided support, soft residential and commercial activity has constrained volume growth. Rising diesel and energy costs, combined with weather disruptions, have further squeezed margins despite price increases. In July, VMC reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.59, beating expectations of $2.50, with revenue of $2.2 billion matching forecasts.

Vulcan requests permit to expand Fairfield Quarry. * By Barbara Ball * / * September 3, 2026 SCDES could hold public meeting if public interest is significant. FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC is requesting state approval to expand its Fairfield County granite quarry, including adding land to the permitted site, increasing the size of the mining pit and relocating its processing plant. According to a public notice issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), Vulcan has applied to modify its existing mine operating permit for the Fairfield Quarry, located on State Road S-20-41, also known as Old River Road, approximately 6.75 miles northeast of Winnsboro, and on the east side of I-77. The property is identified as TMS# 110-00-00-004 and 111-00-00-039. The proposed permit modification would allow Vulcan to add land to the quarry's permitted acreage, increase the pit area, move the processing plant, and add an overburden storage area, according to the Sept. 3 public notice. Vulcan has also submitted a reclamation plan that calls for restoring the site to a lake and grasslands after mining operations end. SCDES is conducting a technical review of the application and related documents and will accept written public comments through Sept. 25, 2026. According to the notice, public comments may affect the agency's decision by providing additional information for consideration and could also be used in determining specific terms and conditions Vulcan would be required to follow if the permit modification is approved. SCDES could hold a public meeting if there is a significant amount of public interest in the proposed expansion. The proposed expansion comes about seven years after Vulcan's plans for the quarry drew opposition from residents living near the site. When the company announced plans in 2019 for what was then described as an $18 million granite quarry, nearby property owners appeared before Fairfield County Council to raise concerns about dust, noise, blasting, groundwater and the possible effect of the operation on their homes and property. At that time, Vulcan said that of its 909.7-acre property along I-77, only 127.7 acres, or about 14 percent, would be mined. The company said the remaining 86 percent would be left unmined for setbacks, buffers, natural landscape and wildlife habitat. Vulcan Mum on Additional Acreage The current public notice does not state how many additional acres Vulcan is seeking to add to the permitted mining area or how much larger the pit would become. During the original permitting process, Rob Black, whose family had lived on property along Hwy 21 for 90 years, told council that nearby residents were concerned about noise from drilling, blasting and rock crushing, as well as dust generated by the operation. "We worry about what Vulcan isn't telling us," Black said at the time. His wife, Michelle Black, said residents were concerned not only about periodic blasting but the continuing operations necessary to prepare for blasting and process the rock. "It's not the blasting that will be the largest source of noise and disturbance," she said. "It's the constant drilling of the blasting holes and the crushers running constantly." Water was also a major concern for residents because many homes in the area depended on wells. Property owner David Ray told council in 2019 that the quarry would be located near Horse Creek branch, which flows into Little Wateree Creek. "While we're concerned about the dust and the noise that the quarry will create, our water is our main issue," Ray said. "There's no county water out there. You think about losing your water. If we lose our well water, we're out of water." Another nearby resident, Kevin Thomas, questioned whether the economic benefits of the quarry outweighed its potential impact on neighboring properties. "We have great concerns about the potential loss of our water wells and the dust and noise of blasting that will risk the destabilization of the foundations of our homes that come with any quarry," Thomas told council. Vulcan officials defended the project at the time. Elliott Botzis, then vice president and general manager for Vulcan Materials in South Carolina, said in a statement to The Voice that the Fairfield quarry would provide building materials for homes, businesses and infrastructure while creating jobs and generating tax revenue. The quarry was also proposed near Fairfield County's 1,500-acre industrial megasite, another issue raised by residents during the initial permitting process. Then-County Council Chairman Neil Robinson said in 2019 that because the property was already zoned for the proposed use, the county had limited ability to directly affect the project. He nevertheless said residents needed an opportunity to have their questions answered. "Our citizens need to have a voice in this," Robinson said at the time. Residents will now have another opportunity to weigh in as SCDES considers Vulcan's request to expand the quarry. Written comments on the permit modification will be accepted through Sept. 25. The public notice lists SCDES contact Colby G. Myers at (803) 898-3079 or [email protected] for questions or assistance.