Waterford Sand & Gravel Ltd. - Changes to the site plan for a pit or quarry

Application has been made by Waterford Sand & Gravel Ltd. to amend the current site plan. The change would remove the 30-metre western setback. This setback is adjacent to the Biederman Road road allowance which has been closed by the municipality and is privately owned. The road allowance is included in an ongoing new licence application by Waterford Sand & Gravel (ref. No. 626574). Application No. 626574 considered the removal of the setback on Licence No. 4464 and anticipates the two quarries would connect to form a single lake. A decision on Application No.626574 and the amendment to Licence No. 4464 would occur concurrently.

Public consultation opportunities

Waterford Sand & Gravel’s new licence application (ref. No. 626574) contemplated the removal of the western setback within Licence No. 4464. The following agencies were provided the opportunity to review and comment on that proposal: Ministry of Natural Resources, Township of Wainfleet, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and several utility companies. The ministry has considered the consultation requirements under the Aggregate Resources Act for an amendment as satisfied by the consultation undertaken for Application No. 626574.

Other Information

The technical report requirements for an amendment to extend extraction below the water table were satisfied by the technical reports prepared for application No. 626574. The following information was submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources:

• Summary Statement (‘Planning Justification Report and ARA Summary Statement’)
• Natural Environment Report (‘NE Report Level 1 and 2 Assessment’)
• Water Report (‘Max Water Table Report’ & ‘Level 2 Water Report’)
• Site Plan for Licence No. 4464

The Summary Statement required for a new licence application 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. This information addresses the ‘Planning and Land Use Considerations’ information required for an above-to-below amendment application.

The Natural Environment Report required for a new licence application identifies the presence of significant natural heritage features/areas that exist on the site or within 120 meters of the site.  Where any of the features or areas have been identified, the report must identify and evaluate any negative impacts on the features or areas and ecological functions, and identify any proposed preventative, mitigative or remedial measures. As the western setback of Licence No. 4464 lays within 120m of the proposed new licence No. 626574, the Natural Environment Report prepared for application No. 626574 considered the presence of significant natural heritage features/areas within the subject setback. This information addresses the ‘Natural Environment Assessment’ required for an above-to-below amendment application.

A Water Report is required for new site applications proposing to excavate below the maximum predicted water table. This report determines the potential for impacts to ground water and surface water resources and their uses. If a potential for impacts resulting from the operation is identified, then an impact assessment is required to determine the significance of the effect and potential for mitigation. This information addresses the ‘Water Assessment’ required for an above-to-below amendment application.

The Site Plan addresses existing features of the 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. A revised site plan for Licence No. 4464 has been submitted to the ministry for review for compliance with the Aggregate Resources Act and the regulations and policies that apply.