News Aggregates Pits & Quarries
Controversial quarry expansion may get full environmental assessment

A controversial proposal to expand the Bamberton quarry near Mill Bay on southern Vancouver Island. B.C. may get a full environmental assessment, the British Columbia minister responsible said last week.

The Malahat Investment Corp. and Malahat Nation have proposed expanding the existing waterfront aggregate quarry on the Saanich Inlet from 39.3 hectares to 45.7 hectares and doubling its capacity to 489,000 tonnes per year. Aggregate includes sand, gravel, stone or other similar materials used in construction.

The increases are too small to automatically trigger an environmental assessment. But after the Saanich Inlet Protection Society made a formal application in November, the Environmental Assessment Office has been considering whether the project and associated activities should be designated as reviewable.

(The Tyee)