U.S. Silica Opens New Transload Facility to Serve Utica and Marcellus Shales

FREDERICK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2012-- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) today announced an agreement with S.H. Bell Company to open a new silica sand storage facility to support growing demand from oil and gas customers in the Utica and Marcellus Shales. U.S. Silica will ship barges and railcars of premium Northern White frac sand to the new transload facility in East Liverpool, Ohio from its network of sand plants.

“We are excited to have S.H. Bell as a strategic service provider as we further expand our supply chain reach,” said Bryan Shinn, Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Silica. “This is a prime location for a new facility and is another example of how U.S. Silica is leveraging our flexible logistics to bring high quality products closer to market. We have opened nine strategic frac sand transload facilities this year and continue to move our point of sale closer to the shale basins, providing convenience and flexibility for our customers.”

“We are looking forward to our new relationship with U.S. Silica,” said John Bell, President of S.H. Bell Company. “This is an ideal location for distributing frac sand into the Utica and Marcellus Shale areas. S.H. Bell Company will continue to be an active participant in the oil & gas industry and a strong supporter of job creation and growth of the local economy.”

For more information about U.S. Silica visit www.ussilica.com.

About U.S. Silica

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the second largest domestic producer of commercial silica, a specialized mineral that is a critical input into the oil and gas proppants end market. The company also processes ground and unground silica sand for a variety of industrial and specialty products end markets such as glass, fiberglass, foundry molds, municipal filtration and recreational uses. During its 100-plus year history, U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 200 products to customers across these end markets. U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Frederick, MD.

About S.H. Bell

S.H. Bell Company is a family – owned company that has been in business since 1933, and whose core business is providing terminal handling via barge/rail/truck, storage, processing, packaging, and record keeping services for the metals, and oil & gas industries. S.H. Bell Company’s global customer base is comprised of producers, traders, and consumers of metals, minerals, proppants, ferro-alloys, and semi – finished industrial materials. S.H. Bell Company offers the highest quality of service through its facilities strategically located in East Liverpool, OH, Newell, WV, Chicago, IL, and Baltimore, MD areas. S.H. Bell Company’s headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, PA.

For more information about S.H. Bell Company visit www.shbellco.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include but are not limited to our plans, objectives, expectations ad intentions and other statements that contain words such as “expects,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes” and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events, or that do not relate to historical matters. These statements are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our beliefs or expectations will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from our beliefs or expectations due to economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors.

Source: U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.
Investor Relations
855-745-4227
IR@USSilica.com