Timeline unclear for Melancthon quarry environmental assessment

By Chris Halliday Oct 10, 2012 - 3:54 PM

More than a year later, and an environmental assessment (EA) may not be any further along.Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones is wondering when the public will get involved in the provincial EA into The Highland Companies quarry plans in Melancthon. The answer, however, is unclear at this point.Last week, Jones voiced her concerns at Queens Park about what she sees as a lack of direction showed by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) when it comes to the EA that Highlands proposed quarry application will have to undergo. The government announced Highlands application for a license to mine 2,316 acres for limestone would be subject to an EA on Sept. 1 of last year, about one month before a provincial election. The ministrys promise to undertake an EA of the proposed 2,400-acre quarry garnered the attention of the entire province, Jones said in the legislature last Tuesday (Oct. 2). The unfortunate part is that it seems to have only garnered the attention of this government during an election campaign. Since EAs are proponent driven, however, there is no way to predict the length of the process. The first step is for Highland to complete the terms of reference, and submit it for review to both the MOE and members of the public.That stage hasnt been completed just yet, according to Highland officials. As John Scherer, principal of The Highland Companies, told The Banner in a statement on Monday (Oct. 9), the company is still trying to iron things out. Highland is continuing to evaluate how and when to commence the Environmental Assessment process, he said. We understand that an EA is a collaborative process and that were required to involve the public and other interested stakeholders in the development of the terms of reference.