A long defunct quarry at 40251 Quadling Road in Abbotsford, BC has recently been re-opened. Unfortunately, the quarry is home to a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons.  These birds are protected in Canada, and are a Red-Listed Species of Special Concern in British Columbia. The nest site is located on a remnant natural bluff that so far has been spared from development. The nearby Sumas River provides a steady diet of seabirds creating a perfect nesting location for the Peregrines. Although the nesting site is specifically protected by the Province’s Wildlife Act, the Quarry owners have applied for a permit to destroy it and, in doing so, will have destroyed the last active nesting site for this species in the southern Fraser Valley.
In addition to the Peregrines, the quarry is:

* Home to the critically endangered Phantom Orchid, another Red-Listed species

* home to a large flight of migratory cliff swallows

* directly adjacent to the Barrowtown pump station and Sumas River Dam and dyke system

* in close proximity to a very popular fishing and recreational area with a boat launch and walking trails along the dyke.

* 120 meters from the closest residence.

* 130 meters from the nearest domestic well

* less than 500 meters from Highway 1 

A notice of the Quarry Pit Amendment Application was posted on June 16, 2019 on a very quiet, dead end, rural road where very few people actually saw it.  Approval to re-open was granted in April 2020, contingent on obtaining a permit to destroy the Peregrine nesting site. The cliff face is also the annual nesting site of hundreds of cliff swallows. Ornithologists and environmentalists have been sounding the alarm for years with regard to the steady decline of swallows; this species in particular has experienced a 90% reduction in numbers over the past 25 years.  This site is the largest remaining nesting colony in the South Coast region of British Columbia, and needs to be protected.  In addition to the Peregrines, Phantom Orchids and Swallows, this ecologically sensitive area is home to dozens of other bird species, including bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, blue heron, kingfishers, as well as other raptors, waterfowl and songbirds.   Once the mine owners are given permission to begin operations, they
will begin blasting the mountainside and continue for 8-10 years. The quarry and proposed blasting site is directly adjacent to the Barrowtown Dam and pump station.   The dam, pump station and connecting dyke system, protect the Fraser Valley from flooding and prevent the Sumas Lake, which was drained in the 1920’s, from returning.  In an age of unprecedented global floods, is it wise to risk damaging the dam and dyke that are protecting one of the most important agricultural areas in the province?  The Sumas River is home to endangered sturgeon, Coho, steelhead, trout and pike minnows.  There is a resident family of river otter and colony of beaver, more than a dozen resident black bears, and deer and porcupine also inhabit the area.  It is a very popular boat launch, and
parking is at a premium in the evenings and on weekends.  Anglers line the shore daily on both sides of the river.  Kayakers, canoers, and ski jets all take advantage of this free, community boat launch. The dyke is part of the Trans Canada trail, which is popular with cyclists, horse enthusiasts and dog walkers alike.  Will the area be closed
down during blasting?  

The closest home is 120 meters from the blast site.  On the quarry amendment application, the shortest distance to the nearest residence was listed as 2000 meters.  This is completely misleading.  The
nearest well is 130 meters from the excavation site, but the application erroneously stated that the site is 500 meters from the nearest residential water source.  There is no vegetation buffer on the quarry property; the scars are just now starting to heal from previous damage.

I am an area resident, and own a small farm nearby.  Please do not allow the beautiful area that is enjoyed by so many to be destroyed by greed. Any one of these concerns raises alarms, but when added all together it simply makes no sense that the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources would allow this area to be destroyed, and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations would not act to protect the many species that utilize this site.

Please consider sharing your concerns with:

The Honourable John Horgan: premier@gov.bc.ca;

The Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations: FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca;

The Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources: EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca;

John Allan (MFLNR): John.Allan@gov.bc.ca;

Allan Johnsrude (MFLNR): Allan.Johnsrude@gov.bc.ca;

Scott Barrett (MFLNR): Scott.Barrett@gov.bc.ca;

Joshua Malt (MFLNR): Joshua.Malt@gov.bc.ca;

Joel Gillis (MFLNR): Joel.Gillis@gov.bc.ca;

and Jim Dunkley (MEMPR): Jim.Dunkley@gov.bc.ca.

My neighbours and I thank you for your time.