Zorra Farms Ltd. - Changes to the conditions of a licence to operate a pit or quarry

Application has been made by Zorra Farms Ltd. to amend the current site plan to allow an extraction below the water table in an area of the site that currently does not allow this. The new proposed maximum depth of below the water table extraction will be 314 m above sea level. 

The final rehabilitation of this proposal will result in the creation of a pond 28.6 hectares in size. 

Other Information

Zorra Farms Ltd. currently operates the site under the authority of ARA licence No. 2336. In total, 40.8 hectares are currently licensed as a pit.

For this application, the following information has been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (ministry):

• updated site plan
• hydrogeological assessment level 1 and 2

The updated site plan describes and incorporates any changes to the extraction phasing, operations or rehabilitation that would result from the proposed amendment.  Any mitigation and/or monitoring measures that must be undertaken, as identified in the technical reports are also described on the site plan. 

A hydrogeological level 1 report is a preliminary evaluation to determine the final extraction depth relative to the established groundwater table(s) and the potential for adverse effects to groundwater and surface water resources and their uses.  If the level 1 report identifies a potential adverse effect resulting from the operation, then an impact assessment (level 2 report) is required to determine the significance of the effect and the feasibility of mitigation.

The Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) and the notification and consultation process under the ARA considers all comments before making a decision.  Comments received through the ERO are considered by the Ministry however, the process under the ARA is proponent driven. This means that comments for consideration by the applicant under the ARA process must be submitted to the applicant and the Ministry during the 60-day consultation period (November 30, 2021 to January 28, 2022) initiated by the applicant.

Public consultation opportunities

Written notice concerning this application was delivered to landowners within 120 meters of the proposed licensed boundary; an information sign, giving notice to the public of this application, was erected at the proposed site; and a public notice of application appeared in the local paper, the Woodstock Sentinel on November 30, 2021.

Documents are available for review by contacting the applicant's consultant at the following email address markham@harringtonmcavan.com.

A virtual information session was held on December 15, 2021 to provide details regarding the proposal. 

The proposal request for this licence is being circulated within the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. Additionally, notification of this application has been forwarded to the Township of East-Zorra Tavistock, Oxford County, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs, for comment.