This consultation was open from:
March 31, 2021
to May 17, 2021
Decision summary
Port Colborne Quarries Inc. was issued a licence to extract aggregate from a quarry in the Region of Niagara.
Location details
Site location details
City of Port Colborne, Niagara Region
Part Lot 17, 18, 19, Concession 2, Geographic Township of Humberstone.
The site is adjacent to the west boundary of Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) license No. 4444.
A link to our mapping tool allows you to locate and view licensed sites under the Aggregate Resources Act.
Proponent(s)
Port Colborne Quarries Inc.
20 Corporate Park Drive
Suite 100-101
St. Catherines,
ON
L2S 3W2
Canada
Decision details
Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) license # 626511 was issued to Port Colborne Quarries Inc. on August 11, 2026, subject to conditions specified on Schedule A for a Class A licence.
The licensed area is 106.3 hectares in size with an extraction area of 71.1 hectares and allows for the operation of a quarry below the water table. A maximum combined total of 1,815,000 tonnes of aggregate may be removed from the site and adjacent ARA Licence no. 4444 in any calendar year.
A copy of the licence can be obtained by contacting the Ministry office and contact identified below.
Effects of consultation
4 comments were received in response to the Environmental Registry of Ontario consultation process.
Concerns related to rehabilitation, permit to take water and effects of cumulative impacts.
These concerns were addressed through site plan controls, the requirement to obtain a Permit to Take water authorization from the MECP and technical report standards.
Comments were received in response to the ARA consultation process.
The applicant worked to address the comments by providing additional information, amending technical studies, and revising the site plan.
The application was referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a hearing. On March 13, 2026, a letter was received by MNR from OLT providing notice that the remaining public objections were withdrawn. The application was then referred to MNR for the Minister to decide whether to issue or refuse to issue licence #626511 pursuant to subsection 11(8) paragraph 4 of the Aggregate Resources Act (OLT-25-000824).
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
4th Floor S, 300 Water Street
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from August 18, 2026 to begin the appeal process.
Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.
How to appealClick to Expand Accordion
Start the process to appeal
If you’re an Ontario resident, you can start the process to appeal this instrument decision.
First, you’ll need to seek leave (i.e. get permission) from the relevant appellate body to appeal the decision.
If the appellate body grants leave, the appeal itself will follow.
Seek leave to appeal
To seek leave to appeal, you need to do these three things:
- prepare your application
- provide notice to the minister
- mail your application to three parties
1. Prepare your application
You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following things in your application:
- A document that includes:
- your name, phone number, fax number (if any), and/or email address
- the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
- a statement about whether you are a resident in Ontario
- your interest in the decision, and any facts you want taken into account in deciding whether you have an interest in the decision
- the parts of the instrument that you’re challenging
- whether the decision could result in significant harm to the environment
- the reason(s) why you believe that no reasonable person – having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind – could have made the decision
- the grounds (facts) you’ll be using to appeal
- the outcome you’d like to see
- A copy of the instrument (approval, permit, order) that you you are seeking leave to appeal. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry
- Copies of all supporting documents, facts and evidence that you’ll be using to appeal
What is considered
The appeal body will consider the following two questions in deciding whether to grant you leave to appeal:
- is there is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, with respect to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision?
- could the decision you wish to appeal result in significant harm to the environment?
2. Provide your notice
You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re seeking leave to appeal.
In your notice, please include a brief description of the:
- decision that you wish to appeal
- grounds for granting leave to appeal
You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:
College Park
5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
3. Mail your application
You’ll need to mail your application that you prepared in step #1 to each of these three parties:
- appellate body
- issuing authority (the ministry official who issued the instrument)
- proponent (the company or individual to whom the instrument was issued)
Port Colborne Quarries Inc.
20 Corporate Park Drive
Suite 100-101
St. Catherines,
ON
L2S 3W2
Canada
Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca
Include the following:
This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.
Connect with us
Contact
ARA Contact
300 Water Street
ARAApprovals@ontario.ca
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Proposal Updates
This notice was updated on November 10, 2025 to advise the public that this application under the Aggregate Resources Act has been referred by the Ministry Natural Resources to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Please refer to https://olt.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/e-status/ for information on scheduled hearings of the Ontario Land Tribunal
This notice was updated on April 4th, 2025 to advise the public that there has been no change to the status of the proposal, and it is still being considered. No additional opportunity for comment is being provided for at this time.
This notice was updated on February 13, 2023, to advise the public that there has been no change to the status of the proposal and it is still being considered. No additional opportunity for comment is being provided for at this time.
Proposal Details
Port Colborne Quarries Inc. has applied for a Class A licence (Category 2 – Quarry Below Water) to excavate aggregate from a quarry of 106.3 hectares in size with an extraction area of 71.1 hectares.
This application is for an expansion to the existing ARA Licence No. 4444. It is proposed that all tonnage removed from the proposed licence and adjacent ARA Licence No. 4444 will be combined for total annual tonnage of 1,815,000 tonnes.
Other information
Port Colborne Quarries Inc. currently operates the adjacent site under the authority of Licence No. 4444 under the ARA. In total 142.1 hectares are currently licenced as a quarry. The annual tonnage condition is 1,815,000 tonnes.
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. The Aggregate Resources of Ontario Provincial Standards Version 1 (Provincial Standards) sets out the application process and requirements.
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. This information is prepared in accordance with the category being applied for under the Provincial Standards.
For this proposal, the following are available for viewing at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry office listed below:
- Site plan
- Summary Statement
- Natural Environment level 1 and 2
- Cultural Heritage (Archeological Stage 1 and 2) (Cultural Heritage Assessment)
- Hydrogeological level 1 and 2
- Noise Assessment (Acoustical Impact Study)
- Blast Design (Blasting Impact Assessment)
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.
Comments received through the Environmental Registry should not be construed as an objection under the ARA in accordance with section 4.0 – Notification and Consultation Standards of the Provincial Standards 1.0 under the ARA. To be considered as a formal objector, individuals need to contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry person specified on this notice to determine how to submit an objection.
Public consultation opportunities
As specified in the ARA, written notice concerning this application will be delivered to landowners within 120 meters of the proposed licenced boundary; an information sign, giving notice to the public of this application, will be erected at the proposed site; and a Notice of Application appeared in the local paper, the Welland Tribune on March 24, 2021. A French language translation of the Notice of Application appeared in Le Regional on March 18, 2021.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, documents will be available for review at www.portcolbornequarries.ca. In place of an in-person Public Information Session, Port Colborne Quarries Inc. is hosting a virtual Public Information Session via Zoom on Tuesday April 20th, 2021 between 3:00pm and 7:00pm to discuss details and answer questions related to the application. Links to access the Zoom meetings will be available at www.portcolbornequarries.ca.
The application for this licence is being circulated within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Additionally, notification of this application has been forwarded to the City of Port Colborne, Niagara Region, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
4th Floor S, 300 Water Street
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from March 31, 2021
to May 17, 2021
Connect with us
Contact
Jeff Schosser
300 Water Street, 4th Floor, South tower
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
4By email
0By mail
0