We combine natural, locally-sourced stone, sand and other materials and then heat the mixture in a large kiln. The heating process turns the raw material into a new, marble-sized substance known as “clinker.” The clinker is then cooled and mixed with other ingredients, resulting in a grayish-white powder we all call “cement.”
When mixed with aggregate (such as sand, gravel and stone) and water, cement makes concrete, which is the foundation of all construction.
A long time. In fact, some of our local facilities opened as early as 1929.
The Brooksville operation was already an iconic local facility when, in 1971, Central Florida’s legendary F. Browne Gregg founded Florida Crushed Stone. Within three decades, the company employed more than 600 people and owned a dozen facilities—including historic operations in Hernando County. In 2000, Florida Crushed Stone became part of Rinker Materials, another Florida-based company. Cemex took over Rinker’s operations in 2007, proudly joining a legacy that stretches back over four generations.
Hernando County is our home, so caring for the land isn’t just our job—it’s our responsibility to our children. Since taking over local operations in 2007, we’ve invested more than $300 million in new technologies that further strengthen environmental stewardship.
Cemex has also pioneered the use of cleaner and greener alternative fuels, such as recycled waste and peanut shells. In addition to operating efficiently, we also operate compactly: Cemex uses only a small percentage of its local land, leaving thousands of acres in a natural state to serve as wildlife habitat. In fact, our efforts to protect local ecosystems have been recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council, which awarded Cemex the environmentally-friendly “Wildlife at Work” designation. And every year, hundreds of local students visit our Environmental Education Center, where they learn directly from Cemex’s engineers and scientists about our cutting-edge work in environmental stewardship and reclamation.
At Cemex, we employ some of the best scientists, engineers and environmental professionals in the country. Our teams regularly perform inspections of all facilities, ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations, and work closely with regulators to protect the environment. When it comes to taking care of the environment, it’s “all hands on deck.” That’s why, at Cemex, a significant part of a facility manager’s pay is determined by his or her environmental performance. The standards are high—and they should be.
Yes, we have filed an application to extend key local operations, securing high-wage jobs for our community and ensuring that Hernando County’s long-term needs of sand and stone will be in a sustainable, continuous supply. Obtaining those reserves locally will not only secure hundreds of Hernando County jobs, it will also deliver additional tax benefits to local residents.
When our operations in an area conclude, our team of environmental professionals reclaim and restore every acre we touch. In many cases, former quarry sites become public parks, lakes, and even world-class golf courses, like nearby Black Diamond Ranch.
Cemex is a major contributor to the local tax base, which helps keep residents’ taxes low. Moreover, Cemex’s unique position in Hernando County delivers savings to local residents in the form of more affordable roads, bridges and schools. Extending our operations will sustain our commitment to the community, broaden the local tax base, secure long-term savings for residents, and help Hernando County Public Schools and other local institutions. For our immediate neighbors, it will also continue to provide green space and wildlife habitat. Two of our nearest neighbors, Spring Hill African American Cemetery and Bayfront Health, issued letters in support of our expansion. The letters can be read here and here.
Perhaps most importantly, extended operations would secure hundreds of good-paying American jobs, right here in Hernando County.
Because we use only a small percentage of our local land, Cemex’s operations ensure the best possible preservation of local trees and wildlife habitat. That’s one of the reasons we’ve earned the Wildlife Habitat Council’s “Wildlife at Work” designation—and it’s one of the unique benefits of our operations.
Once operations are complete, Cemex reclaims every acre. Our team of environmental scientists have an extraordinary track record transforming one-time work sites into world-class golf courses, parks, lakes and vibrant green spaces.
No, our operations occur above the water table. The water source, or aquifer, is located beneath our mining operations. The quality and quantity of ground water will not be affected by mining operations and the water source will not be disturbed.
The protection of water quality is a highly-regulated process that is continually monitored by the State Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA under the Clean Water Act.