By Stephen Smoot
Since Dwight D. Eisenhower’s last year in the White House, limestone has been dug from the ground near Riverton. Over the decades, Greer has established itself as a major county employer and economic driver.
Like any extractive industry, however, the lime extraction and processing facility in Riverton occasionally runs into headwinds that affect its operations and profitability.
Last week, Jim Linsenmeyer, Eastern Panhandle representative for the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, met with Kyle Apple and David Harper of Greer, as well as Sherry Mongold from the Seneca Rocks Regional Development Authority.
The group toured the entire Greer operation from where it extracts the raw calcium carbonate rich stone, crushes it into a manageable size, then either packages the raw material or cooks it to create calcium oxide, which has a number of environmental and industrial applications.
Linsenmeyer explained his role, as well as that of the Cabinet level department for which he works. He explained that “we’re here to help businesses to grow and prosper” while helping them “increase revenues and profitability.”
When asked about the number one challenge facing Greer, both the Riverton operation and Greer as a whole, Apple quickly answered, “Every so often,” he explained, “the EPA rewrites regulations.”
Apple went on to say, “They added four new classes of pollutants they haven’t regulated before,” and added that “they don’t have a whole lot of data,” but went ahead and made new rules anyway.
“We’re stepping into a void . . . they’re kind of guessing,” he said.
Apple said that Greer has worked closely with Alex Mooney, Carol Miller, Joe Manchin, and also said, “Senator Capito has provided letters on our behalf.” He praised the entire delegation, saying, “I am impressed with our congress people and senators. They get it. The people who represent West Virginia get it.”
Meanwhile “the demand for lime is increasing. We’re all basically sold out.”
Lime plays a key role in a number of different fields, mostly with its ability to assist in purifying substances. The steel manufacturing process uses it to force impurities from molten metal to the top for easy removal. Compliance with a number of environmental mandates requires the use of lime. It helps to remove pollution from air released in smokestacks, treats sewage waste, removes dangerous impurities from drinking water, and cleans animal waste.
Farmers use lime to neutralize acid in the soil and assist bacteria in changing soil nitrogen into a form usable by growing plants.
Lime is so safe that brook trout thrive in the waterways running through the Riverton plant site. Apple noted that a state researcher obtained approximately 70 such fish just downstream from the plant.
As demand increases, regulatory barriers prevent the increase of both extraction and production of lime.
Another issue for Greer reflects problems faced by many employers nationally, particularly in manufacturing. Apple says that Greer “used to always have a stack of applications,” but even $19 an hour, full benefits jobs for entry level applicants have not always produced the workforce they need.
Linsenmeyer told Apple and Harper that “we act as an ombudsman, or an advocate, for our business partners.” This includes representing the company’s point of view when dealing with state agencies. It was noted that state agencies generally work well with business, except when state officials need approval from federal authorities on a given issue.
He added that his office can help with other problems as well. This includes creating “spotlight” pieces for the Daily 304 blog, which highlights positive news from across the state. The social media team also shares and ensures the widest possible audience.
Greer brings tremendous economic impact to both Pendleton County and the state as a whole. They have four other stone operations, as well as ownership of newspaper, radio, and other assets. Apple said, “We bring a lot of dollars into West Virginia because we mostly sell outside of West Virginia.”
Linsenmeyer shared that “we appreciate the capital invested and the technology behind all of that rock . . . We appreciate your investment in this great state.”