But Nelson opposition groups still want area declared off limits

Nelson Quarry has reduced the size of its proposed extension by half to protect significant woodlands and wetlands that include habitat for the endangered Jefferson salamander.

The company announced this week that it was reducing to 42 hectares the area it’s applying to quarry on Mount Nemo. The original size was 82 ha, later cut to 73.

President Norm Elmhirst said the latest reduction is part of the continuing process of trying to satisfy concerns of government agencies. In this case, the reduction reflects Ministry of Natural Resources mapping of areas that must be preserved, leaving 26 million tonnes of limestone available to be quarried over 13 to 15 years.

Nelson also announced it has obtained an option to buy more than 40 ha of farmland on the east side of the expansion site, property on which it proposes to plant trees to make up for losses on the new quarry land as well as to provide a permanently protected, forested wildlife corridor.

With a joint board representing the Ontario Municipal Board and Environmental Review Tribunal set to begin its main hearing on Nelson’s applications Sept. 14, Elmhirst said he is confident concerns of other agencies can be addressed and the necessary approvals obtained before the existing site is exhausted in about five years.

“We employ 48 people at our existing quarry, and regularly obtain services from another 500 workers in the area. Many of these folks are dependent on us for their livelihood, and we’d like to be able to tell them that their jobs will continue.”

The anti-quarry group PERL — Protecting Escarpment Rural Land — isn’t swayed by that comment and isn’t convinced the quarry footprint has been reduced enough to protect environmentally sensitive features of the site.

Spokesperson Roger Goulet said PERL wants the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty to declare the site unsuited for quarrying, as it recently did with the site of the proposed St. Marys Cement quarry in northeast Flamborough.

“PERL’s position is that the provincial government needs to align its thinking with that of Halton Region, Burlington, Conservation Halton, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and our organization and declare the area off limits to quarrying.”

PERL is pleased the hearings board recently ruled that the company must submit separate applications for an amendment to the Niagara Escarpment Plan and an escarpment commission development permit in order to use the crusher in its existing quarry to process stone from the expansion site.

That issue had been raised by the City of Burlington and the escarpment commission.

Elmhirst said he was disappointed by the ruling, but doesn’t expect it to delay the hearing.

The board has set aside 36 days from Sept. 14 to Dec. 9.