Lafarge Canada Inc. - Issuance of a licence to remove over 20,000 tonnes of aggregate annually from a pit or a quarry

Lafarge Canada Inc. has applied for a Class A licence, Quarry Below Water, to excavate aggregate from a quarry of 28.4 hectares in size with an extraction area of 21.1 hectares.

This application is for an expansion to the existing Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) licence No. 626521. The annual tonnage condition applied for is 750,000 tonnes.

Other information

Lafarge Canada Inc. currently operates the adjacent sites under the authority of licence No. 4185, 4144 and 10699 under the ARA.  In total 176 hectares are currently licenced as a pit and quarry and 40.2 hectares are currently licenced as a quarry.  The annual tonnage condition is 3,000,000 tonnes combined.

The extraction of aggregate from a pit or quarry on private land designated by regulation, in the province of Ontario, requires the issuance of a licence.  

For each new licence, the applicant must provide information (site plan, summary statement, technical reports) with respect to the existing features, operation and rehabilitation of the site to demonstrate that the proposed operation will minimize adverse impact on the environment.  

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

• site plan
• summary statement
• natural environment level 1 and 2
• stage 1 and 2 archeological assessment (cultural heritage)
• hydrogeological and hydrological levels 1 and 2
• noise assessment
• blast design

The site plan addresses existing features of the pit and/or quarry area (existing natural features and land use on and surrounding the site within 120 meters); the proposed operation (shape, dimensions, area and depth to be excavated, method of extraction); and progressive and final rehabilitation.

The summary statement includes information on one or more of the following considerations: land use planning, agricultural classification, quality and quantity of aggregate, haul routes, truck traffic and entrance permits, progressive and final rehabilitation, surface water, and elevation of the established groundwater table.

The natural environment report determines the presence of significant natural heritage features/areas and fish habitat and ensures that any necessary preventative, mitigative or remedial measures are undertaken for their protection. A Level 1 report identifies if the features are on-site or within 120 meters of the site.  If features are identified, then an impact assessment (natural environment level 2 report) is prepared to determine any negative impacts on the natural features or ecological functions, and any proposed preventative, mitigative or remedial measures.

The purpose of a cultural heritage resources report is to ensure that significant archaeological resources are identified, assessed for their significance, and protected (preserved or collected).

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.

A noise assessment report is prepared if extraction and/or processing facilities are within 150 meters (for pit applications) or 500 meters (for quarry applications) of a sensitive receptor defined by the provincial standards.  The report is required to determine whether provincial guidelines can be satisfied.

A blast design report is prepared if a sensitive receptor, defined by the provincial standards, is based within 500 metres of the limit of extraction for a quarry application.  The report is required to determine whether provincial guidelines can be satisfied.

The Ministry reviews all comments received through the Environmental Registry and the notification and consultation process under the ARA, and considers them before making a decision.  Comments received through the Environmental Registry 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 initiated by the applicant.

Details of the application process can be found in Ontario  Regulation 244/97 under the ARA and on the Ministry website at aggregate resources\ontario.ca.  Many regulatory changes for new applications took effect on April 1, 2021.  This means that applications submitted after March 31, 2021 must meet the new requirements in Ontario  Regulation 244/97 and Aggregate Resources of Ontario Standards.  However, if the application was submitted before April 1, 2021 and met the site plan and report standards of Aggregate Resources of Ontario Provincial Standards, Version 1.0 the applicant is not required to change these documents to meet the new requirements.

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 Ottawa Citizen (English) and Le Droit (French) on February 26, 2022.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, documents are available for review by contacting Chris Galway by email at chris.galway@lafargeholcim.com or by phone at (905)738-7732 or are available for download at the following website https://lafargenavanquarry.ca/. In place of a Public Information Session, Chris Galway will be available from March 21, 2022 to March 31, 2022 to discuss details and answer questions related to the application.

The application for this licence is being circulated within the NDMNRF.  Additionally, notification of this application has been forwarded to the City of Ottawa, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Kingston office and Species at Risk Branch, Hydro One and South Nation Conservation, for comment.