A Spallumcheen quarry that has caused concerns for surrounding neighbours is adequately ensuring that dust and noise level mitigation measures are established.
The township, in May, wrote a letter to provincial energy and mines minister Bill Bennett requesting assistance in regards to the quarry, located in the 5100 block of Back Enderby Road, stating the township receives “many complaints from neighbours regarding the noise and dust it creates.”
Council asked the ministry to confirm quarry permit conditions are established to minimize the negative impacts of the quarry on neighbouring properties.
Bennett wrote back June 14, stating the ministry has received “no substantiated complaints of excessive dust or noise generated from the permitted quarry.”
“This is a small, intermittently operating quarry with the crusher having only operated on three days in 2016 – Feb. 22, April 11 and May 2,” wrote Bennett.
An inspector looked over the proposed quarry site in June 2014 to view site conditions, access, closeness to neighbours and other factors to determine appropriate quarry permit conditions.
The site has been inspected four times, said Bennett, since the permit was issued: twice in 2014, and once each in 2015 and 2016.
The inspector saw no evidence during any inspection of excessive dust being generated, and that the quarry operator had put in place all dust control measures he committed to at a public meeting on the matter.
“The inspector noted that the operator had also voluntarily commenced placing crushed aggregate on a portion of the Baker Forest Service Road as a further effort to mitigate dust,” said Bennett, who reiterated the ministry has received “no substantiated complaints indicating excessive dust is being generated.”
As for noise levels, readings, said Bennett, were taken by an independent third party contacted by the operator while the crusher was operating.
The highest level recorded was 50 dB (decibels) at a neighbour’s property line, and the lowest reading was one of 43 dB at a spot in the 4900 block of Back Enderby Road.
“For gravel pits located in heavily populated residential neighbourhoods, the ministry typically sets permit limits for noise of 55 dB at the property boundary,” said Bennett. “All noise readings reported were less than 55 db.”
Bennett said the ministry had received no substantiated complaints indicating excessive noise.
Spallumcheen council voted unanimously to forward Bennett’s letter to concerned property owners.
“If there are further complaints, it seems they should be directed to the ministry rather than council,” said Coun. Todd York.