The Issue
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James Dick Construction Ltd. (JDCL) has applied to extract 990,000 tonnes/year of aggregate by underwater blasting from the proposed Campbellville (Reid Road Reservoir) Quarry. JDCL's own experts state that extraction above 350,000 tones/year could impact water levels for the adjacent provincially significant wetlands, the habitats of endangered and threatened species, and significant woodlands at the site, all of which could be permanently affected.
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JDCL states they understand the Amabel Formation and underwater blasting technique, but were involved in mining at the Guelph (DoLime) Quarry. Here, the aquitard protecting deeper groundwater aquifers used as a water supply by the city of Guelph was compromised. JDCL has not been able to tell us of ANY aggregate quarry in Ontario that uses underwater blasting.
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The proposed Quarry puts at risk Campbellville and Milton's water: If approved, it will blast into the upper 100 feet of the highly sensitive aquifer that provides water to approximately 20,000 Milton and Campbellville residents. Blasting could open pathways that allow surface toxins to contaminate groundwater and affect water quality.
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Operations at the Quarry will negatively impact our air quality! Blasting, crushing, pulverizing, truck emissions all create dust particles less than 2.5 microns! Health Canada warns there is no safe level of PM 2.5 exposure. These "silent killers" can travel downwind, affecting residents many kilometres away.
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The Blast Impact Assessment failed to consider the worst-case scenarios of potential seismic vibrations and overpressure impacts on nearby sensitive receptors like homes, businesses and Hwy 401 bridges.
- Flying rock from blasting can cause property damage, personal injury or even death Other countries require a 400 to 500 meter blasting exclusion zone. Hwy 401 is only 100 meters from certain of the blast areas, and carries over 100,000 cars per day past the site.
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Reid Sideroad and alternate roads are going to get busier! The Quarry will operate 13 hours a day, 6 days a week. There will be 32 big, loud, quarry truck trips per hour during peak times. Add to that, trucks to ship recycled materials in and out for the asphalt reprocessing operation and quarry service vehicles and employee vehicles. This traffic is an increased risk to pedestrians, school children, cyclists, local traffic and commuters.
- The Hwy 401 ramps are currently operating at capacity, and trucks can travel on any road designated for truck traffic: The traffic Impact Study states that maintaining the existing form of traffic control (a stop sign) is forecast to result in high levels of delay on the east and west-bound off-ramps on Hwy 401. The west bound off ramp is often congested with current traffic levels! If the Hwy 401 is backed up either direction (which it often is), you can expect the trucks will find other routes, which will include Guelph Line and our rural roads, many of which are “no truck” routes.
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JDCL plans to fill one pond for their aggregate crushing plant, and an asphalt and concrete re-processing operation and stockpiles. Their application indicates they intend to bring used asphalt onto the site, stock pile it and reprocess it. There is no limit on how long the re-processing operation will be active; it could be indefinitely.
- If there is damage to homes or businesses, or loss/contamination of water, the property owner has the burden and cost of proving it was caused by the Quarry. JDCL is merely required to self-assess its operation and file a Licensees Compliance Assessment Report.
