Vulcan Materials inks deal involving 4 Georgia quarries

ATLANTA - The nation's largest producer of crushed stone, sand, gravel and asphalt used in building and road construction says it will sell its production interest in four metro Atlanta quarries.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday (http://bit.ly/1asCCiG ) that the $154 million deal involves Birmingham, Ala.-based Vulcan Materials Co. and Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber Co., which is one of the nation's largest landowners with about 6.3 million acres of timberlands.

The four Vulcan Materials quarries are located in Kennesaw, Norcross, Stockbridge and Friendship. Plum Creek says it will receive royalty payments from the production and sale of the crushed stone from the quarries for approximately 25 years.

Vulcan Materials employs 653 people in Georgia. The company says the deal generates cash while allowing it to maintain full ownership and operational control.