Victoria County quarry applies for expansion
A Halifax-based construction company has applied for an environmental assessment as it looks to triple the size of its Money Point rock quarry in northern Victoria County.
Dexter Construction Company Ltd. owns and operates a four-hectare quarry about two kilometres south of St. Margaret’s Village at the northern tip of Cape Breton.
It requested an environmental assessment approval for a 12.7-hectare permit area for production and operational footprint, storage (stockpiles) and provisions for surface water control, according to Dexter’s registration document filed with the environmental assessment branch of the Department of Environment on Thursday.
The existing quarry, opened 20 years ago, mines aggregate used primarily for road construction in Victoria County. Depending on demand, the company extracts between 25,000 and 50,000 tonnes per year.
According to the document, the expanded quarry will support continued extraction and production of aggregate up to 50,000 tonnes a year and will have a lifespan of about 40 years.
Subject to market demand, the anticipated expansion start date is during the 2018 construction season, it said.
Dexter operates rock quarries across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada using what it says are “modern industry standard methodologies in all phases of the extraction, processing and delivery” of the product.
It says alternative ways are always being sought to increase efficiency, cost-effectiveness and to mitigate damage done to the surrounding environment.
“Continuing operations of the Money Point quarry expansion will be assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the best available techniques are being utilized in all phases of day-today operations,” stated Dexter in the environmental assessment registration document.
Prior to seeking the expansion, Dexter spoke with area politicians, Mi’kmaq chiefs and local residents beginning last spring about any possible concerns they might have.
The company indicated it has not received any public concerns to date.
During individual meetings with residents on Oct. 25, “blast authorization” documents were signed by property owners permitting blasting within 800 metres of homes closest to the quarry expansion.
Only one concern of truck noise and dust associated with quarry operations was noted, according to the stakeholder engagement report.
The company says it solved the problem by ensuring noise and dust limits fell within the established industrial approval and it would also implement best practices to manage noise and dust in the area.
“Continuing operations of the Money Point quarry expansion will be assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the best available techniques are being utilized…”
Dexter Construction Company Ltd.
Comments on the registration of the environmental assessment will be accepted until March 17.
Environment Minister Iain Rankin will decide if the project can be granted conditional environmental assessment approval on or before April 6.
Copies of the environmental assessment registration information may be examined at the following locations:
• Dingwall Post Office, 26 Mountain View Rd., Dingwall
• St. Margarets Village Post Office, 3004 Bay St. Lawrence Rd., St. Margarets Village
• Nova Scotia Environment, Sydney District Office, 1030 Upper Prince St., Suite 2, Sydney
• Nova Scotia Environmental Assessment website http:// www.novascotia.ca/nse/ea/
The public can submit written comments to: Environmental Assessment Branch, Nova Scotia Environment, PO Box 442, Halifax, N.S., B3J 2P8 on or before March 17 or contact the department at 902-424-3600, fax 902-424-6925, or email EA@novascotia.ca.
All submissions received, including personal information, will be made available for public review upon request.