A northeastern Ontario quarry on Lake Superior has been given an approval by a provincial planning tribunal to start mining aggregate.
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) will allow the Superior Aggregates Company to proceed with an open pit mine for trap rock on Michipicoten Bay.
In a 72-page report, OMB representative Joe Sniezek ruled in favour of the company and the Municipality of Wawa and directs the Ministry of Natural Resources to issue an Aggregate Resource Licence to the company.
The decision ends a seven-year battle between a small group of local residents and cottagers on Lake Superior and the municipality over a zoning approval of the project.
The controversial project proposal, which sits just between 50 and 150 metres from the Superior shoreline inflamed local passions within the community between conservation and development-minded residents.
For the Municipality of Wawa, the quarry means a revitalized harbour facility that's fallen into decline and disrepair since Algoma Steel (now Essar Steel Algoma) gradually began reducing shipments of iron ore from its now-closed mine.
Though the Superior Aggregates quarry would only employ 30 people, it represents an opportunity to regain jobs lost by the Algoma Ore Division closure in 1998 (220 jobs) and the shut-down of the Weyerhauser oriented strand board in 2007 (132 employees).
For the Concerned Citizens for Michipicoten Bay, it meant preserving a vast stretch of breathtaking wilderness coastline for cottagers, eco-tourism and wildlife such as the Woodland Caribou.
The citizens group challenged the quarry on municipal planning principles and the company's bid for a licence under Ontario's Aggregate Resources Act. The matter ended up at the Ontario Municipal Board and a 16-day hearing began last April in the community.
Wawa Mayor Howard Whent was not immediately available for comment, but in a July 17 release, he said “the board's recognition of the passion and thoughtfulness expressed by all parties is positive proof of the importance of this decision.”
Because of noise concerns, quarry operations will be restricted to dawn to dusk operations (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Monday to Saturday, with crushing on Saturday's from a half-day ( 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Blasting will be limited from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. The company said blasting will occur two to four times a month.
Superior Aggregates stated it has no plans to become a 24-hour operation. To do so would require a site-plan amendment with public notice and comment.
Representatives from Superior Aggregates and the Concerned Citizens for Michipicoten Bay were also not immediately available for comment.
