Area residents dig in against Bayside quarry

The Charlotte County chapter of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB), in a January 8 press release, is calling for a public consultation regarding the aggregate quarry operated for Charlotte County Ports Ltd. by Jamer Materials at Bayside on the St. Croix River. The chapter believes this consultation is needed in order to determine whether the quarry's approval to operate issued by the Department of Environment, which expires on April 30, 2007, should be renewed.

The CCNB says the Bayside quarry has been controversial since before it began operation. Since then, local residents have been concerned about noise, dust and what they believe to be non-compliance with the original terms of the project, which were presented to the public as the justification for the quarry establishment and how it would be run. It also does not conform to the provisions of the Bayside LSD basic planning statement, which was adopted in 1986, according to the CCNB chapter.

Katherine McCord, co-chair of the chapter and a resident of Bayside, says the government needs to hear from the public now, before approval to operate is renewed. "Our chapter members believe the only just way to proceed, at this point, is for the government to initiate a transparent and inclusive dialogue with the local community on how the quarry is affecting our lives, our community and our environment."

Luke McLean, also a co-chair and Bayside resident, comments, "This project was approved initially over the objections of the community and our member of parliament. While the government has no legal obligation to consult us, the new Liberal government could establish its credentials as a sensitive, caring government by hearing from the community on whether or not this quarry should continue to operate."

The CCNB chapter says it is also concerned about potential contamination from the operation and from a now excavated tailings disposal site within the Chamcook watershed, which supplies St. Andrews' drinking water. Even though the arsenic-contaminated tailings were moved back to the quarry site, the question of residual contamination remains unanswered, according to the CCNB.

"It is vitally important that the government undertake a comprehensive monitoring program for residual arsenic and other possible contaminants at this former dumpsite," says McCord. "If any are found, the company must be required to clean up."

The chapter also wants environmental monitoring to be carried out in the St. Croix estuary and in groundwater for potential contaminants including sedimentation from the quarry. "As far as we know, nobody has been monitoring the environment offsite for any impacts from the quarry. It is vitally important, in considering whether this quarry should have a future on the edge of this heritage river, to know what its impacts are and have been," adds McLean. "Based on the results of this monitoring, Charlotte County Ports and/or Jamer Materials should be required to remediate and compensate for any environmental damage."

Besides environmental impacts, the chapter wants a public consultation to address the impacts of the quarry on quality of life, property values and possible lost economic opportunities.

"We continually hear about the jobs this quarry supports. However, there have been serious costs to the community and to private landowners, and very possibly, lost economic activity associated with other uses of the port," adds McLean. "The quarry cannot be justified on economic grounds without also considering the economic losses it has caused, including how it may affect future development options. All this has to be put on the table publicly now, in anticipation of the expiry of the approval to operate. If the community demonstrates that the quarry impacts outweigh any benefits, then the government should refuse to renew its certificate of approval."

Public process not required for license renewal
Michael Cormier, regional director of the New Brunswick Department of Environment, says the only communication his department has received from the CCNB concerning a public consultation on the Bayside quarry's environmental impacts has been in the CCNB's press release. "Have they formally asked us as a result of the press release?"

"Legally, the renewal doesn't require a public process, and a request for [the public consultation] is really out of the ordinary. We did a very informal public participation exercise the last time [the quarry's license was up for renewal]. We asked for public written comment," points out Cormier. "Our minister isn't available, and he's not aware of this issue, so we will need to get together and come up with some recommendations."

Cormier, who has been regional director for two years, says the Department of Environment has heard complaints of dust and noise concerning the Bayside quarry. "There's been a lot of interest in the expansion of the quarry to the other side of the road, but we have not received a formal presentation."

Jamer Industries keeping public informed
Mark Clark, general manager of Jamer Industries' Bayside quarry, says the negative comments by members of the CCNB "are part and parcel of living in a democracy. People are entitled to their opinion and can speak out if they want to."
"We attended a public meeting in St. Andrews last month," notes Clark. "Well over 200 people were there. We went with the expectation that it would be a good opportunity to present our feelings on the current operation and going forward."

"We've been willing to inform the public about our operations," he points out.

The December 11 meeting in St. Andrews was held to discuss concerns about the quarry and its possible expansion across Route 127 in the area known as Simpson Hill.

Jamer Industries has been operating the Bayside quarry since 1998 and currently has 40 people on its payroll. The business manufactures construction aggregates for international markets