QUARRY EXPANSION UPDATE as of February 2024

The Expansion Application has been paused until the existing operation has been brought into compliance. It has been 4 months with NSECC remaining tight-lipped about what is / isn't happening.

What we do know -The Quarry (NCCI) people are claiming to operate 2 businesses on the site. They are using this as justification to circumvent many of the non-compliances that have been identified. Alarmingly, NSECC seems to be generally buying into this defence.

MLA Brad Johns has indicated that the main non-compliance issue NSECC are sticking the quarry on is the location of the settling pond. NCCI needs to move the pond inside the approved area - lot MA1. Minister Johns is under the impression this would start in the Spring.

NCCI have blasted and removed rock from outside the approved area, lot MA1. NCCI are arguing they are allowed to do this, presumably as part of the 2-business defence. Anyone should be able to see there is no reasonable grounds in this defence.

The photographic evidence, provided to NSECC and on this site, shows the area was used for quarry purposes and aggregate production, which fall under the EA. NSECC have still not provided the formal response (validation) to each of the non-compliances that were identified. This was promised in September and again in November. This is unsettling and the citizens of Mount Uniacke deserve full transparency.

The existing EA expires in 2025. Based on the discussion with NSECC, an extension is pretty much automatic if NCCI applies for one. Residents who are against the continued operation of the existing quarry, let alone the expansion, need to pressure NSECC and our provincial Representatives on this point. There should be no way a non-compliant EA holder should be allowed to renew their EA. Photographic evidence shows that NCCI have never been in compliance with their EA. That, on top of the misery they are causing in the community, should remove any consideration of a renewal.

NCCI failed to achieve the required number of CLC meetings in 2023. They tried to get them all in at the end of the year and it didn't happen. The last one was cancelled due to weather and has not been re-scheduled as yet, which should not matter as it is now 2024. This is just another non-compliance with the EA, which NSECC appears to ignore.

PHOTO ATTACHMENT: - 2023 aerial view of the Uniacke quarry. Sackville River headwaters 250 meters away to the southwest.

It is clearly evident the quarry has exceeded the 3.99 hectare Industrial Approval NCCI agreed to abide by in 2015. This alone is grounds to deny the current application for expansion under the Environmental Assessment. NSECC needs to act. *note the settling pond mid-right that they have been told to move.

NOTE: on attached photo. 2023 aerial view of the Uniacke Quarry. Sackville River headwaters 250 meters away to the southwest (the southwest is to the top of the photo). It is clearly evident the quarry has exceeded the 3.99 hectare Industrial Approval NCCI agreed to abide by in 2015. This alone is grounds to deny the current application for expansion under the Environmental Assessment. NSECC needs to act *****note the settling pond mid-right that they have been told to move