Limestone Aggregate Product
November 2, 2017Limestone Quarries Life After Death
December 8, 2017
- Economic Benefits
- The limestone industry provides 7,500 jobs and $550 million in wages to South Florida workers.
- $70 million in tax revenue is generated by the limestone industry – money that is invested in critical local infrastructure, like schools, hospitals, and roads.
- Florida has the lowest construction costs in the United States. Without the M-DLPA, building materials like concrete would have to imported, greatly increasing building costs. It is estimated that without local limestone aggregate production, construction costs in Miami-Dade County would increase approximately $800 million and nearly $1.5 billion statewide.
- State and National Impact
- Florida is the 2nd leading producer of limestone in the United States behind Texas and followed by Pennsylvania and Missouri. These 4 States comprise 40% of all aggregate material produced in the United States.
- Florida ranks 4th nationally in limestone consumption behind Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana.
- Production
- The Lake Belt Region of western Miami-Dade County contains the highest grade limestone in Florida.
- 60 million tons of aggregate is produced annually in the Lake Belt, 50% of Florida’s total production.
- Environmental Benefits
- The Lake Belt quarries provide a 50,000-acre buffer between the Everglades and the urban sprawl of western Miami-Dade County.
- M-DLPA has provided $120 million to fund the acquisition and restoration of over 12,000 acres of wetlands.
- The South Florida limestone industry has contributed nearly $20 million to fund upgrades to water treatment facilities.
- The South Florida limestone industry utilizes advanced technologies and equipment to meet strict state blasting limits, which are a 62% more restrictive than federal guidelines.
- M-DLPA actively participates in the Lake Belt Plan, including reclaiming land used for quarrying and transforming unused quarries into reservoirs and recreational areas for public use.
