In January 2003, ERM submitted a final application report for the Eagle Rock Quarry project to the BC Environmental Assessment Office. The report presents a thorough assessment of the project, including potential impacts on the surrounding natural environment and on the nearby communities.
Environmental Assessment Certificate M03-01 was issued on 17 September 2003 by the Province of British Columbia and executed by the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management, the Minister of Energy and Mines, and the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection. This certificate covers the construction, operation, dismantling, and operation of the Eagle Rock Quarry and is subject to conditions outlined in the certificate document. The project did not trigger an application under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).
The key project-related environmental issues identified in the EIA are summarized below.
19.5.2 Biophysical Environment
Freshwater Ecosystem
The quarry facilities have been carefully sited to avoid impacts on the Featherstone and Cook Creek watercourses. Impacts from the project on surface water quality will be restricted to South Creek. The watersheds in the project area are shown in Figure 19-7. It is proposed to construct and operate settling basins in South Creek for the removal of sediment from quarry and site runoff and to serve as a process water storage reservoir. The project involves washing aggregate materials but includes a water treatment facility (filtration plant) to remove suspended solids so that process water can be recycled.
A waterfall on South Creek 26 m upstream of the outlet to Alberni Inlet restricts fish habitat to this lower section of the creek. The project facilities have been sited to avoid direct impacts on this section. Mitigation measures have been included to reduce impacts resulting from three project-related conditions:
• increase in total suspended solids due to surface disturbance and dust • increase in nitrate concentrations due to blasting agents used on site
• changes to the natural stream flow in South Creek due to the construction of settling ponds approximately 215 m upstream of the fish-bearing section.
Efforts to minimize erosion and sedimentation into the creek will include sediment control structures, a two-stage settling pond system upstream of the fish habitat section and progressive reclamation of the quarry site.
Use of best-management practices for nitrogen-based blasting agents and the addition of large amounts of water into the drainage are expected to keep nitrogen levels in the fish- bearing section of South Creek well below provincial guidelines. Modelling based on the maximum predicted mass of nitrate was conducted to determine predicted nitrogen concentrations in South Creek for an average year, a 1 in 10 wet year and a 1 in 10 dry year; all predicted concentrations were below provincial guidelines.
The EIA acknowledges that stream flows in South Creek will need to be maintained throughout the life of the project to assure food and nutrient supply to the fish-bearing section of the creek. The settling pond system has been designed with a “bleed line” through the downstream pond to convey water downstream and thus maintain these flows. The water discharged from the settling basins into the lower reaches of South Creek will have to consistently meet Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Freshwater Aquatic Life (CCME Guidelines) to avoid classification as a deleterious substance under the Federal Fisheries Act. The key parameters of concern are likely to be total suspended solids and nitrogen compounds.
Groundwater
From studies to date, it appears that the rock mass will have very low flows and that the quarry will act as a discharge area. As such, the quarry development is not expected to have adverse effects on groundwater. However, additional field testing, including hydrogeologic mapping, water level monitoring, in situ permeability testing and groundwater chemistry, is recommended to confirm these assumptions.
Dust
Perhaps the most significant issue with respect to the quarrying process is the production of dust. Many control measures have been proposed to help the effects of dust on the surrounding environment. These include speed limits for vehicles, covering and stabilizing exposed soils, watering and possibly using dust control reagents on road surfaces, automatic spray suppression systems throughout the processing plant, progressive reclamation, efficient blasting, and enclosure of the shiploading conveyor. In conjunction with these measures, dust levels will be monitored and a response plan created that outlines procedures to be followed if dust levels become elevated.
Noise
Many stakeholders have identified noise as a concern. Although ambient noise levels will increase during project construction and operation, significant off-site disturbance is not anticipated. Several mitigative measures have been proposed, including mufflers and noise-dampening systems for equipment, limiting production to the daytime, avoiding noisy activities during sensitive wildlife cycles and recreational activities, where possible, and using blasting techniques that reduce blasting noise.
Visual Impact
To alleviate concerns with respect to the visual impacts of the site on recreational and tourism use of Alberni Inlet, a visual quality objective has been set. A buffer of second- growth forest will be left along the boundary of the site adjacent to Alberni Inlet to help hide the lower part of the quarry and the process plant both during and after production. Visual impacts of the upper part of the quarry, above the forest buffer, will be addressed at closure. Closure work will include revegetating the quarry floor and benches, rounding the vertical profile of the benches and recontouring the bench faces to reduce long straight lines. The combination of softened lines and vegetation should allow the quarry to partially blend into the surrounding landscape.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Many wildlife inventories have been conducted in the site area, with specific attention to identifying any threatened or endangered species that may inhabit the project area. The only species found to be of potential concern is the marbled murrelet, which tends to habituate in old growth forests. To prevent disturbance during possible murrelet breeding and nesting periods, it is proposed to clear old growth areas required for project purposes only between 15 September to 31 March. Other sections of old growth forest, particularly along the foreshore of Alberni Inlet, will be maintained and therefore continue to provide habitat, along with the nearby Macktush and Cook Creek valleys.
19.5.3 First Nations Consultation
The three First Nations groups who reside in the area around the Eagle Rock Quarry site have been consulted extensively with respect to the project. Two specific concerns are heritage sites and current traditional uses of the site. A thorough archaeological study was conducted in the vicinity of the proposed quarry. Several sites containing Culturally Modified Trees (CMT’s) were identified, and the facility layout was adjusted accordingly to prevent their disturbance.
Current traditional land uses are hunting and trapping. Although some wildlife habitat loss will result from the quarry project, the quality of the habitat is considered to be limited, and
wildlife in the area should not be significantly affected. The First Nations trapper who has registered tenure for the area, including the project site, has been contacted and is supportive of the quarry project.
19.5.4 Environmental Monitoring
ERM has committed to implementing ongoing environmental monitoring programs during the quarry life to assess impacts that the project may have on the surrounding natural environment and to measure performance against the various regulatory requirements and standards that will apply to the project.