I received a response from the MLA of this area. It seems this is some good news in that the quarry owners are following all the stipulated requirements in order to continue their work in a way that protects the falcons. Please read this letter. Thank you for all of your support! -Dawn
Good afternoon Dawn,
Thank you for your email outlining your concern. The current owner bought the property in question and began the process for repermitting the pit in 2017. The process of the permitting of the quarry by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation went ahead, included opportunities for the public to receiving information and express concerns or support in 2019. The mine was given its permit in 2020 subject to receiving a Wildlife Permit from FLNRORD regarding the peregrine falcons that sometimes nest on its ledges. The Wildlife Permit was issued in January of 2021 satisfying the environmental requirements and protection of the birds.
Regarding the wildlife permit, MountainSide has done additional beneficial measure for the birds including building 3 nesting boxes along the Fraser Valley to increase the potential nests for the falcons. Additionally, they have also put up a bond for the protection of the species. At this time, MountainSide adheres to the permit and decided to protect the nesting ledge rather than destroy it before the birds were nesting. The birds have returned to the site and MountainSide is working around them.
Recently, their Wildlife permit was suspended as a new case officer took over their file and wanted to change and interpret differently some of the conditions in the agreement. Primarily, it is about an interpretation of a spherical or cylindrical distance from the falcons that is being sorted out. MountainSide is working with that official with a preliminary agreement in place for the alterations and is changing their plans to fit both the new requests and the mining permit. If you wish to write to the Minister for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) you can do so by emailing FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca.
Regards,
Amber Born
Constituency Assistant to
Bruce Banman, MLA
Abbotsford South