Aggregate extraction has been identified as one of the most contentious land-uses in Southern Ontario. The siting or expansion of aggregate operations is often met with vehement debate from concerned members of the public, local municipalities, and additional parties who have various reasons to be opposed to aggregate extraction operations. “Aggregate wars” have now become a common planning challenge in a number of aggregate rich municipalities in Ontario. Due to a legacy of poor rehabilitation practices, aggregate site rehabilitation has been identified as one of the most serious problems plaguing pit and quarry developments. Aggregate site rehabilitation plays and essential role in preparing the land for its sequential land-use and is the primary mechanism for the mitigation of adverse environmental and social impacts caused by the extraction process. Using a mixed-methods research approach, this study aimed to determine the rate and quality of aggregate site rehabilitation occurring in Ontario for the time period of 1992-2011. This was completed using an assessment of production statistics and a sample of rehabilitation plans. In addition, interviews with representatives from key actor groups were conducted to strengthen the base for evaluating the effectiveness of the current policy framework to ensure the adequate rehabilitation of aggregate sites. Results from this study indicate that progressive rehabilitation efforts are falling short and a net gain in disturbed land is occurring each year. More research, in the form of field studies and long-term monitoring initiatives, is needed to permit a better assessment of the quality of rehabilitation occurring. Findings from this study illustrate that the current rate of aggregate site rehabilitation occurring in Ontario is not enough to moderate adverse environmental and social impacts. Changes are needed to the current policy framework in order to address this problem. Four policy recommendations are suggested: to set a maximum for disturbed areas at operating aggregate sites, to re-implement a security deposit type model, to introduce citizen advisory committees in the aggregate site management process, and to tie site and rehabilitation plans to predetermined timelines. An analysis of aggregate site rehabilitation prior to 1992 requires further research
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OWTU.10012/7966 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Port, Caitlin Marie |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
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