Page 87 - 2023 Sustainability Report

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Spec Agg was nominated – and ultimately selected – for patterns of the previously existing ground. Stone drainage
this honor. “The work Martin Marietta does to create a structures and erosion control are utilized in areas that
suitable environment for the wildlife here is amazing,” he display accelerated erosion, or where necessary to rejoin
said. “I’ve been out there many times and have seen elk, natural drainages. Existing wetland features are preserved
deer, birds, and other animals use the land, which is and/or enhanced.
important for our area.”

When Martin Marietta acquired the Sunflower Quarry in
DeSoto, Kansas in 2005, a new reclamation plan was
developed. Consistent with the Company’s core values and
operational philosophy, the local operational team set
about incorporating reclamation into the mine’s daily
operational practices.

Sunflower Site Aerial post-reclamation

After recontouring and grading, areas are seeded with a
seed mix recommended by the local NRCS office. The land
is then returned to pasture or agriculture, returning the
land to pre-mining uses. The site has done a remarkable
job in this regard. In fact, in 2021 Martin Marietta applied
Sunflower Site Aerial prior to reclamation
to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of
Conservation for approval on the reclamation of 73 acres
of the site. This was subsequently approved and the
The mining process at Sunflower is complex and
reclamation bonding on these acres was released.
reclamation occurs concurrently with mining. The first step
in the mining process is the removal and storage of the
topsoil. This exposes the limestone seams that are either
extracted and processed for sale or are considered
overburden and retained as part of the reclamation
process. More than half of the mined material is ultimately
reused in the reclamation process.
Once saleable material is separated, overburden (non-
saleable rock, clay and other material) is retained and
placed in mined-out areas of the quarry site. Once a
mined-out area has sufficient fill, the area is contoured and
Reclaimed areas at Sunflower Quarry
graded to replicate the rolling hills and natural drainage

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