Questions from Open Houses at the Central Kings Recreation Centre

  • Will this be a 24/7 operation?
    • No, the proposed quarrying operation will run from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday except for statutory holidays. However, should there be a severe weather event forecasted, some erosion and sediment control measures may need to be implemented outside of scheduled work hours to ensure we remain compliant with all environmental regulations.
  • Is there a feasibility study to truck towards the potash mine to use the mine railroad to ship by rail? One local rail crossing was removed this summer during road upgrade.
    • Transportation of the rock by rail is an option that Hammond River Holdings has only evaluated from a high level at this point. This is something that will be examined more closely in the coming months.
  • Regarding the number of trucks in the operation: you are making confusion/conflicting statements. Quick facts notes 12 hr/day, 5 days /week. EIA says 24/7. Why do these not match? The number of trucks does not match EIA either?
    • The confusion on number of loads per day stems from whether Route 111 is determined by the Department of Transportation to be uprated to heavy haul. In preliminary talks with the DOT, we are confident that the route can be uprated and that would result in 25-30 loads per day on average. This updated average of 25-30 loads per day is different than the 35-40 stated in the EIA since conversations with the DOT had not started at time of filing. Either way, both numbers are based on a 5 day a week, 12 hours per day operation. The EIA states that loading and trucking could occur 24hrs a day 7 days a week, however it is Hammond River Holdings intention to limit truck traffic to the weekdays from 7am-7pm as possible.
  • Over loaded trucks filled with wood go by all the time. How will truck loads be monitored or controlled to ensure they are not travelling down the roads over loaded?
    • If the route gets upgraded and a B-train style rock truck is used, 40 tonnes of rock will only leave the boxes approximately 60% full. To ensure trucks are not loaded over the legal limit, a scale will be used, and each load will be weighed prior to leaving site. This process is especially important in the spring when weights are restricted.
  • What will we do with the hole when we are finished?
    • The overburden that was removed and stockpiled during the development of the quarry will be used to re contour the site to return the topography to a more natural state. The pit will become a lake.
  • What is the area that is to be cleared? Not the mine but the total cleared area.
    • The property was recently cleared and re-planted so there are a limited number of mature trees on the site. The total project foot print is anticipated to cover approx. 40 ha of the 61.81 ha property.
  • Will water from the river be used for blasting? Will it be used for dust control?
    • Water from the Hammond River will not be used for blasting or dust control.
  • How many machines will be working on site?
    • The number of machines working will vary depending on the stage of development, but we estimate 6 to 10 machines will be working on site. This includes excavators articulating rock trucks, rock crusher, loader, drill and dozer.
  • We are concerned about the safety of people who ATV, hike and hunt in the area. How are you going to prevent people from falling into the quarry?
    • There will be an earthen safety berm built around the perimeter of the property and warning signs will be posted. HRH is also considering the need for safety fencing along 3 sides (i.e. east, north, and south) of the quarry that is similar in construction to the wildlife fencing commonly used along provincial highways.
  • Are any chemicals being used to process the gypsum?
    • No
  • Kids wait on the side of the road for the school bus, can we stop hauling during these times?
    • HRH will review the school bus schedule and work to eliminate or reduce the number of trucks traveling the route during those times.
  • Why do an open pit mine? Why not do underground mining?
    • Portions of the deposit grade from gypsum at surface into anhydrite at shallow depths making underground mining impossible. Even if it was possible, implementing underground mining methods for a project of this size would render the project economically unviable.
  • Will we be hauling/working on holidays and weekends?
    • We will not be running the operation on holidays (i.e. crushing or blasting). It is not Hammond River Holdings intention to haul rock on holidays, but this has been left open in the EIA for emergency situations.
  • Will there be any conveyors on site?
    • Yes, there will be conveyors on site. The extent of which depends on the stage of the quarries development.
  • Will you be crushing at night?
    • No. The only activity that could happen at night based on the EIA as currently filed is loading trucks. However, our estimate of 25-30 trucks per day is based on a 12-hour workday day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks per year. Hammond River Holdings intention is to keep all truck traffic to week days.
  • Will you be able to store everything on site? The overburden specifically seems like a lot of material to store on the outline you have provided.
    • Yes, all the overburden will fit on site. Overburden will be stripped in phases as required to further develop the pit. Initially the overburden will be used for site grading and to construct storage pads. Once the quarry is well established the overburden stripped from subsequent phases will be used to reclaim the inactive parts of the quarry. Starting reclamation early is considered industry best practice, this results in earlier re-vegetation and better storm water management.
  • What is all the equipment for?
    • The equipment primarily serves to load, haul and crush rock on site. The equipment will also be used to maintain site infrastructure such as; roads, ditches, culverts and settling ponds.

Blasting

  • Can the blasts be quieter if they are more often? Maybe more often is better if they can’t be heard at all.
    • The magnitude of noise emissions from a blast does not necessarily increase with the size of the blast. Each blast consists of a series of drill holes that are each loaded with a charge. When a blast is initiated, there is a small delay (measured in milliseconds) in the denotation of each charge. Delaying the charge detonation among holes essentially splits the blast into a series of small scale miniblasts, which has proven to be an effective method for reducing both the ground vibration and noise emissions. HRH will be engaging a specialized contractor to complete the blasting at the quarry, who will be responsible for designing each blast to be within the safe limits for both noise and ground vibrations.
  • Will we do assessments of smaller residence like trailers and camps for blasting vibration?
    • HRH will be workings with our consultant to determine a radius where it is recommended a pre-blast condition survey be conducted. All types of residences that are located within that range will be eligible for a survey. Once the consultant has determined the appropriate radius for pre-blast surveys, the website will be updated and all those within the area will be notified directly.
  • What time of day will blasting occur?
    • The proposed blast schedule is from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday excluding statutory holidays. We estimate that 25 blasts or less will be required per year.
  • What is the length of the blast?
    • The duration of a blast is dependent on its size. However, a blast of any size is never longer than a matter of a few seconds.
  • What is the size of the blast footprint?
    • The blast foot print can vary depending on volume and geometry (deep vs. shallow). The geometry of the blast is typically dictated by the tonnes required, the thickness of the deposit and/or the depth to the next bench.
  • What will it sound like at my house?
    • This is very dependent on where the house is located relative to the proposed site. HRH will review this question more closely and provide a response shortly
  • You say we are not using any chemicals on site, so what are we putting in the ground to blast with?
    • We meant that chemicals are not being used in the processing of gypsum at the site. Blasting agents will be used to quarry the gypsum bedrock at the site. The blasting agents are consumed in the reaction upon denotation.
  • What are the dB readings we can expect at these noise receptors for the blast?
    • This depends on your proximity to the blast . The provincial requirement is to maintain noise levels to less than 128dbL at any location. Additionally, the EIA states the proponent will maintain noise levels less than the guideline level of 65 dBA during the daytime. Note that dBA and dBL are different units of measure and are not comparable.
  • Will I feel and hear the blast? How long will it last?
    • This is very dependent on where the house is located relative to the proposed site. HRH will review this question more closely and provide a response shortly
  • I watch eagles from my house. Will the blasting scare aware the eagles?
    • This is very dependent on where the house is located relative to the proposed site. HRH will review this question more closely and provide a response shortly
  • What will be the impact of blasting on wildlife and livestock?
    • This is very dependent on where the house is located relative to the proposed site. HRH will review this question more closely and provide a response shortly
  • Will blasting cause my property to cave in or big holes to open up?
    • The safe limits for ground vibration from a blast established by the province are several orders of magnitude below the levels required to cause a ground subsidence issue.
  • Will blasting damage my well?
    • The safe limits for ground vibration from a blast established by the province are protective of potable water wells.
  • Will blast vibrations crack my foundation?
    • The safe limits for ground vibration from a blast established by the province are protective of residential foundations.
  • Will you be using seismographs to monitor blasts?
    • Yes
  • What does a pre-blast survey entail?
    • The following is from the Blasting Code Approval Regulation under the Municipalities Act. Although it has been repealed, to our knowledge it is still considered to be the blasting best practice that licenses contractors use.
      • 5(2)A pre-blast survey… shall include an inspection of each residence for which the person who operates the quarry has been given permission to enter by the owner or occupant of the residence and shall record the following:
        • (a) the age of the residence;
        • (b) the type of basement construction and the location and size of any exterior and interior cracks;
        • (c) the type of wall covering and the location and size of any exterior and interior cracks;
        • (d) the window conditions;
        • (e) the window frame and door frame conditions, especially at the corners of the residence; and
        • (f) any protruding nails, plumbing or electrical fixtures.

Wells

  • If wells become compromised, I understand that Hammond River Holdings has made commitments to remedy the situation with residents that are impacted. However, until these remedies can be put in place, what are residents supposed to do about laundry, showers, etc.?
    • Hammond River Holdings is going to take this under consideration and provide an update in the coming weeks.
  • What if the quality of the water changes throughout the project (well water)?
    • Hammond River Holdings has committed to several potential mitigation measures in the EIA in the unlikely event that the quality of water in a residents’ well changes because of the project. Response measures to be undertaken in the unlikely event of a change in water quantity or quality in nearby wells would depend on the nature and extent of the observed changes to those wells. For example, if a change were to occur in a nearby well due to the project, it would be most likely to be a change in water quantity, as opposed to a change in water quality (since there is no transformation on-site that could lead to threats to water quality). If a change in well yield were to occur, some possible response measures include provision of water, identification of an alternative water supply, deepening of an existing well, drilling of a new well, or other measures. If a change in water quality were to occur to wells in close proximity to the quarry would be due to ground vibration (e.g., increasing turbidity). This would be determined by testing of well water before the project and water testing following the potential operation of the quarry. The mitigation measure for this event would be similar to those of a water quantity issue.
  • Will hand dug wells be checked for water quality?
    • All wells within the specified radius will be tested, subject to landowner permission, regardless of whether they are drilled or dug wells.
  • How is the water yield of the wells to be determined?
    • HRH is currently investigating and will provide a response to this question at a later date.
  • Regarding baseline testing:
    • What will we be testing for?
      • Water quality samples would be analyzed by an accredited analytical laboratory for general chemistry including various physical parameters (pH, conductivity, turbidity, suspended solids, and various others) as well as for bacteria levels and trace metals.
    • How frequent will testing be?
      • The intention as outlined in the EIA Registration document was to conduct baseline sampling (ie. once prior to construction) of several wells that would be located within an approximate 2km radius from the center of the site. Since filing the EIA Registration, in conversations with nearby residents we have proposed that we will do baseline sampling for everyone within that 2km radius, not just some and we will monitor wells within 1km every year.
    • How we will be testing?
      • Water samples will be taken from individual homeowners, providing permission to do so, by running cold water from a tap inside the home for 5 min, then filling a bottle from the tap. Samples will be taken to an accredited analytical laboratory for analysis.
  • Will you be seeking permission from those who have wells within 600m?
    • The 600m set back is the guideline put in place by the government for quarries in the province that are not required to perform an EIA. Therefore, it does not explicitly apply to this project currently. Since this project does fall under the EIA application, there will be a higher level of scientific study performed on the water table and the potential risk to nearby wells. Hammond River Holdings will be working closely with the Department of Environment and the Department of Energy and Resource Development to determine what the proper setbacks should be for this project based on all of the scientific data available.

Dust

  • Will there be dust to the surrounding community outside the quarry?
    • We have proposed mitigation methods for dust as part of the EIA filing. These include maintaining the tree buffer, crushing in the pit, paving the 30m of the round entrance into the site, watering unpaved roads on-site during dry periods, and a 30km/h speed limit for vehicles traveling on the site. There is the possibility that some dust will result as part of this operation, but Hammond River Holdings is committed to mitigating it as much as possible. However, since most operations will be within the open pit (at depth), and given the presence of a treed buffer surrounding the site, substantive amounts of dust at nearby residence are not expected. The nature of the final gypsum material, 6 to 8 inch minus, is such that substantive amounts of dust are not expected.
  • I know that the trucks and crusher will cause dust to the surrounding community. How will that be mitigated?
    • The crushing operation is expected to result in less than 3% of total dust emissions from the site. i.e., 0.009 tonnes/year of dust out of a total 0.31 tonnes per year of dust from the operation, as detailed in Table 5.2.7 of the EIA Registration. Hammond River Holdings is committed to operating the crusher within the pit when possible to mitigate the dust in the immediate surrounding environment. Trucks that will deliver the gypsum will drive into the front of the site only, get loaded with rock that is 6-8 inches in size and deliver to customer. It is not anticipated that any significant dust will be generated from this process as the rock will be in large enough pieces. Should the operation start to cause dust to the nearby neighbors (for example on very hot, dry days) mitigation measures will be undertaken, such as employing water to suppress the dust or potentially minimizing operation.
  • Are truck routes on and off the mine site to be paved to keep dust down? I have noted lots of mud and dirt tracked onto paved roads from local/recent clear cutting (recently on and around the proposed site).
    • At present, the plan is that the first 30m of the entrance to the site will be paved to cut down on mud being tracked onto the 111. The internal site haul roads will be capped with crushed rock. The crushed rock serves to reduce dust, reduce tracking mud and to stop mud from contaminating gypsum stock piled on site. The paved entrance to the site will also be swept to minimize vehicle traffic from tracking mud and dirt out onto public streets.
  • The road is very close to the river, less than 30 ft. at one corner near my house. How will dust from trucks and road dust kicked up by trucks be kept out of the river?
    • All trucks will be covered with tarps during transport to prevent fugitive dust from being released while in transit. Since the initial 30m of the site access road will be paved, it is not expected that significant amounts of dust would be transported by the truck tires onto public roads.
  • What size of dust particle will cause problems for the fish in the river? What will be done to keep these dust particles out of the river?
    • Fish can be adversely affected by fine particles and silt present in watercourses, typically with diameters less than 100 microns. However, it should be remembered that the gypsum material extracted from the open pit will be large diameter cobbles (6”-8” in diameter) and not fine dust. Any fine dust that might occur would likely be immediately following a blast, from crushing within the quarry, or from fugitive dust from unpaved roads. It is expected that dust generated by the operation, if any, will disperse and deposit quickly on site or immediately near the site, such that dust would not be expected to reach the Hammond River. Most dust is expected to be confined to within the open pit, or immediately near it, since quarrying operations will be at depth rather than on the ground surface, therefore dust would be expected to remain largely confined to the open pit.
  • Will the trucks be covered? How much dust will be deposited on the road from the trucks? Are you going to tarp the trucks to avoid dust and rocks from falling out?
    • The trucks will be covered to minimize dust while transporting on public roads. Additionally, the initial 30m of the road into the site will be paved to minimize any dust that could be tracked onto the road. A 30 km speed limit will be established on the quarry property to reduce the amount of dust generated by vehicle traffic.
  • Will blasting generate a lot of dust? Will I still be able to hang my cloths out to dry?
    • The quarry site is setback far enough that it is not anticipated that dust emissions from the blast will interfere with people’s use of their property.
  • My porch is 20 ft. from the stop sign on the truck route. My family has allergies. How can you assure /prevent dust from getting on the porch, in the house and into the vegetable garden?
    • It is expected that dust generated by the operation, if any, will disperse and deposit quickly on site or immediately near the site. Most dust is expected to be confined to within the open pit, or immediately near it, since quarrying operations will be at depth rather than on the ground surface, such that dust would be expected to remain largely confined to within the open pit. As such, a substantive amount of dust at nearby residences is not expected.

Property Value

  • How is JDI going to compensate people for deteriorating property values in the area due to the project? Everyone knows that identical farms in the same area, one with a pipeline and one without, are not worth the same. The one without the pipeline is worth more.
    • The suitable adaptive measures that would be appropriate are unique and are determined on a case-by-case basis considering the conditions observed at the time. It should be noted that Hammond River Holdings has taken the same approach on the real estate values portion of the EIA as similar projects across the province. As stated in the EIA Registration, the body of evidence relating to whether property values are generally positively or negatively affected by the presence of a nearby industrial operation is highly uncertain. However, in the unlikely event that property values in the area experience significant change during the life of the Project, a market study would need to be conducted by a qualified real estate professional to determine a cause-and-effect, and to define appropriate response mechanisms and adaptive measures to be considered. Residents would need to be consulted directly to determine their needs and desires, since individuals may have different wishes. For example, one may want assistance in selling their home whereas another may simply enjoy lower property taxes. Such issues are individual concerns that are best addressed on a case-by-case basis.
  • What is going to happen to my property value?
    • As stated in the EIA Registration, the body of evidence relating to whether property values are generally positively or negatively affected by the presence of a nearby industrial operation is highly uncertain. We would expect that property values will remain largely unchanged as a result of the presence of the project, but should substantive changes occur, Hammond River Holdings would respond as stated in the EIA.
  • Who is going to study my property value? If JDI hires a consultant, will that person not be biased when reporting if property values drop?
    • HRH would be consulting with an experienced real estate professional. Any statement that they would be biased towards HRH is unfounded.

Noise

  • How is this noise going to affect me?
    • The answer to this question is very dependent on the distance from your residence to the project. Noise modelling results at the nearest residences are presented in Tables 5.2.6 and 5.2.8 of the EIA Registration. Noise modelling indicated that the Project operations would result in no more than a 12 decibel increase in noise at the nearest residences compared to current levels, and would be within the guideline level of 65 decibels during the daytime. As noise decreases with increasing distance from the source, residences located farther afield than these nearest residences would experience noise at a lesser level than at the nearest residences.
  • I don’t agree with the decibel readings that are on this chart since a crusher must be much more than what is written here. How is this accurate?
    • The baseline noise levels as documented in Table 5.2.4 of the EIA registration are actual monitored levels as measured for a 24-hour period on September 24-25, 2018. Noise modelling predictions are then made by projecting what noise levels should be during construction and operation by modelling the noise propagation of equipment to be used as defined by the equipment manufacturer as part of the specifications for the equipment. Typically these noise levels from the manufacturer are measured at 15 m from the equipment. This data was then used to model the dBA readings that are presented in the EIA to the nearest noise receptor, or house. That is what was presented at the open house in a table, not the dBA readings as if standing right next to the equipment.
  • Where will the crusher be located? It is noisy isn’t it?
    • The crusher will operate within the pit to minimize the noise impact to nearby residents. Based on our models, the noise levels from the crusher alone are expected to be 54 dBA at the nearest receptor located 381 m to the north of the open pit (where the crusher will be located), and 44.4 dBA at the nearest receptor located 1,183 m to the south of the open pit. Existing noise levels at these locations during the daytime were measured at 37.4 dBA and 39.5 dBA, respectively. Noise levels will be less than the guideline level of 65 dBA during the daytime.
  • Will there be any noise at night?
    • The operation itself will not be operating at night. Additionally, Hammond River Holdings will endeavor to operate rock delivery trucks during weekdays only. Trucking outside of 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday would only be required in emergency situations.
  • Will you be monitoring sound in real time so that you can shut down if it goes above limits or will it be an average?
    • There are practical limitations to how noise monitoring can be conducted, including power supply, calibration, and maintenance requirements. We are unaware of any industrial operation where noise is continuously monitored. Noise monitoring is typically conducted as single planned events, or as unplanned “spot checks”.
  • What is the expected dust and noise impact on the 820?
    • Truck traffic will not be routed through the 820. Therefore, we do not anticipate any increased dust or noise along that route because of the project. Residences that are close to the project along the 820 may at times perceive noise because of the operation, but not due to trucking.
  • With the equipment on site, can a replacement for a backup beeper be investigated? This is likely to increase noise for nearby residents.
    • Hammond River will investigate a suitable replacement for back up beepers. Back up beepers are known to be very effective in keeping personnel safe when working around mobile equipment. Hammond River considers the safety of their employees and the public to be of utmost importance, so a suitable replacement would have to be at least as good as the back up beepers.
  • Will the tree buffer be maintained?
    • Hammond River Holdings is committed to maintaining the tree buffer that exists on the property that they own. There are portions of the tree buffer that is not owned by Hammond River Holdings, but we are committed to working with those land owners to maintain the buffer where possible. Additionally, there will likely be a setback required from adjacent properties as part of the EIA process. If those setbacks do not currently have trees on them, Hammond River Holdings will plant them.
  • When I am sleeping, will I hear trucks?
    • It is very unlikely that during normal sleeping hours (nighttime) that there will be any noise impact to the community. The operation itself will not be running and on the rare occasion that trucking would have to happen outside of the normal Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm timeframe (emergency situations), Hammond River Holdings would prefer to truck on a weekend day, not at night.
  • What are the noise bylaws for the area?
    • There are no noise bylaws for the area. However, it is likely that the Approval to Operate that may be issued by the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government would specify allowable noise levels. For other quarries in the province, these levels have been limited to 65 dBA during the daytime, and 55 dBA at night. Hammond River Holdings does not plan to operate at night.

Water

  • Have you studied the 100-year rain storm?
    • The hydrology assessment for the site is ongoing and the findings will be submitted to the Technical Review Committee for review.
  • What will you have to report for water quality?
    • This will be determined by the Department of Environment through the EIA process, but at this time we expect we will have to report Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
  • Where is the water being drained?
    • Water will be collected on the site and stored either in a sump at the bottom of the open pit or in the settling pond. When water meets discharge requirements, it will be directed to nearby existing watercourses that eventually lead to the Hammond River.
  • How is the water being filtered before release into the environment?
    • The water will settle by gravity in a settling pond prior to release and testing procedures will be determined through the EIA process and the Environmental Protection Plan.
  • Will water flow into the mine from fractures when they blast? (Risk of draining the water in the area into the mine).
    • Since the open pit will likely extend to below the water table, it is likely that local surface water or groundwater will drain into the open pit and require periodic pumping. This assessment is ongoing.
  • Will you be performing control monitoring of environmental parameters so that exceedances can be stopped or only compliance monitoring so that it is only regular sampling, not continuous monitoring?
    • Hammond River Holdings has submitted to the Department of Environment as part of the EIA that it plans to conduct compliance monitoring to demonstrate compliance with the conditions of the EIA and/or the Approval to Operate to be issued for the Project. In the coming months, Hammond River Holdings will evaluate the reliability of more continuous monitoring of water quality to ensure that we are complying with the highest environmental standards.
  • What will be the impact to the wetlands near the quarry?
    • There is very detailed information in the EIA on the various wetlands surrounding the site and which ones specifically will be impacted. HRH is prepared to offset the impacts to wetlands as required by the Department of Environment and Local Government.
  • How deep will the quarry be when it is finished? Where will the water come from to fill it up?
    • At its deepest point it could be up to 75m deep. After reclamation the pit will fill with groundwater and surface water over time.
  • What if the water doesn’t meet quality standards for effluent?
    • The Department of Environment will set the water quality levels that HRH must follow. If the water does not meet those levels, the water will be returned to the pit, allowed to further settle there and potentially returned to the settling pond again before being released.

Miscellaneous

  • What is the status of the other site where drilling was performed on Upham Mountain?
    • Hammond River Holdings is not pursuing developing the site where drilling was performed on Upham Mountain. There are many factors that have contributed to this including transportation routes, the nature of the resource, location of site, and others.
  • How does the mineral claim system work? Will you be giving up some claims in the new year (8072)?
    • When a person, or company, obtains a mineral claim in the province of New Brunswick they have one year to do some work to develop that mineral claim. There is a specified list of activities that qualify as “work”. If a person or company does work to start to develop that claim, they can use those work dollars to put against the claim for the years to come. So, if you do a lot of work (measured by dollars) in the first year, that work can continue to be put against that claim for a few years until those dollars “run out”. It is worth noting, however, that the work, measured in dollars, escalates as the claim gets older. This process often results in people or companies letting claims expire if they have no work, or run out of work, to put against them.
  • This project is close to the potash discharge pipeline. Has this been considered?
    • There have been discussions with Nutrien in regard to required setback distances from their effluent line. A review conducted by Nutrien’s Engineering team found the 12.5mm/s criteria that is considered protective of residential dwellings is also protective of the brine line.
  • What Aboriginal groups have been contacted? How? When?
    • The chiefs of the fifteen First Nation communities in the province, as well as the Aboriginal organizations that represent them (i.e., Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB), Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated (MTI), and Kopit Lodge) were sent a letter of notice about the project, and a few have requested a meeting to further discuss. These dates have not been set as of right now but will be in the coming months.
  • How do folks who live more than 2 km away get timely info (ex. 4km away?)?
  • The EIA notes future projects being considered and Mary Keith has indicated no. How come these don’t agree?
    • It is likely that Mary Keith was referring to claim 8072 (answered previously). Hammond River Holdings will continue to evaluate potential sources of gypsum throughout the province moving forward. The viability of a deposit is dependent on several factors, including: land ownership, mineral claim ownership, quality of deposit, technical ability for ease of efficient extraction, potential transportation routes, number of and location of nearby residents, and proximity to the wallboard plant in Saint John.
  • We own property on both sides of the road. How do we cross the road frequently and safely to access our property with the increase in truck traffic?
    • A traffic plan will be developed for all trucking contractors and roadway signage will be updated to indicate it is a trucking route as well as to indicate trucking activity near the entrance to the site. However, at 25-30 trucks a day going to and from the site for about 12 hours a day, this represents 2-3 trucks an hour and is not expected to be a continuous source of trucking activity on the trucking route.
  • What is to be done to the small bridge near our property to prepare it for increase in heavy truck traffic? Bridge was just refurbished in August and it already has a substantial pot hole with additional pavement deterioration.
    • The Department of Transportation will review the condition of the road and all structures prior to approving the route for heavy haul.
  • Lots / most trucks carrying wood do not stop at the stop sign. Some run the sign. What can be done to improve the safety at the intersection and prevent this.
    • Hammond River Holdings will develop a traffic plan for all trucking contractors associated with the Project and will work with the NB Department of Transportation to confirm that roadway signage is appropriate. Residents will be encouraged to provide feedback to HRH should there be violations of any road signs.
  • Some parts of the proposed truck route are very narrow. If two large trucks were to pass by each other there is no room to walk. Where are we supposed to walk?
    • HRH will raise this concern and work with the NB Department of Transportation on this issue in the coming months.
  • This road is a part of the scenic route for the Fundy. Is there any concern about taking away from the Fundy Trail project with this mine?
    • There is no anticipated impact to the Fundy Trail with this project. The suitability of Route 111 as a trucking route is the responsibility of the NB Department of Transportation.
  • Who is to stop Irving from mining further along that vein as it runs through other people’s property after the gypsum is gone on this site?
    • Exploration and mining activities are regulated by the province. The approval for this Project, should it be granted, would be limited to the subject property. Conducting operations outside of the area identified in this EIA would be a violation of the Clean Environment Act. In order for HRH to operate on adjacent properties we would have to purchase the land or have an agreement in place with the current landowner and register another EIA with the province.
  • I am concerned about road condition after all the truck traffic. Rte 111 was just paved in some spots and I want to know who would fix it after it gets torn up with all the trucks?
    • The Department of Transportation is responsible for road conditions around the province. JDI has spoken to the department and they are aware of this proposed project and will be evaluating the transportation route accordingly for concerns raised above, among other factors.
  • Who is to stop Irving from changing the regulations around how the mine operates? They did it with the new Irving Oil HQ with height and closeness to road bi-laws.
    • The new Irving Oil Headquarters is not related to JD Irving in any way and therefore, we cannot comment on the specifics of that project. It is important to remember that only the government can change regulations in the province of New Brunswick.
  • Is this a quarry or a mine?
    • This project is triggered under the Mining Act because Atlantic Wallboard will use the gypsum for its chemical properties (it gets heated at the wallboard plant). The definition of a mine under the Mining Act includes a quarry for the purposes of removing a mineral. Therefore, this is a quarry for gypsum, which is defined as a mineral under the Mining Act.
  • Where are the closest residences to the operation?
    • These residences are on the 111, the 820 and the Myron Rd. The nearest residence to the open pit is approximately 235 m away on the 820.
  • How many houses are there within 2km of the site?
    • Based on information compiled from Service New Brunswick property database, there are approximately 53 houses located within approximately 2 km from the edge of the Project site. We will be going door to door to confirm this number.
  • Will a federal assessment be required for this project?
    • We do not anticipate that a project of this scale will trigger a federal assessment.
  • Will you hire local people?
    • While we are still very early in the process, HRH is committed to working with local residents to provide employment opportunities to the community.
  • How long will this operation last?
    • With current resource estimates, the life of this quarry is approximately 10 years assuming 250,000 tonnes of rock per year.
  • What happens to the site after the operation completes?
    • The site will be reshaped with overburden material and eventually a lake will form in the pit. A good local example is the Cheticamp Gypsum Quarry hiking trail.
  • Are you meeting the most current, stringent environmental standards?
    • The NB Department of Environment and Local Government will specify the conditions of approval including environmental limits and monitoring requirements for the Project. However, in the absence of knowing what those conditions will be at this stage, the EIA Registration for the Project has proposed mitigation measures to limit the environmental effects of the Project. We believe those mitigation measures are in line with the appropriate environmental standards, but what is required to comply with the law will be determined by the NB Department of Environment and Local Government as part of setting the approval conditions.
  • Will there be acid generating rocks as part of this operation?
    • No.
  • Will you be expanding?
    • Hammond River Holdings will continue to look for high quality gypsum to supply the wallboard plant. The viability of a deposit is dependent on several factors, including: land ownership, mineral claim ownership, quality of deposit, technical ability for ease of efficient extraction, potential transportation routes, local environmental sensitivities, number of and location of nearby residents, and proximity to the wallboard plant in Saint John.
  • Why is Irving looking to mine gypsum now? Where is it coming from today? Why can’t you keep getting it from there?
    • Atlantic Wallboard was opened on the premise that synthetic gypsum from the province’s power plants would supply most of its raw material requirements. New Brunswick, like most regions in North America, has started to curtail its coal fired power plants, creating a shortage of synthetic gypsum on the market. Additionally, the wallboard industry has increased by 5% over the past five years. As a result, the Atlantic Wallboard operation had to find an alternate supply for its raw material. Atlantic Wallboard is currently purchasing its rock from a very large gypsum quarry in Nova Scotia, but there is uncertainty in the long-term viability of that supply.
  • What kind of air quality is here? How often is the monitoring?
    • Baseline air quality has not been established, but since there is no development in the area currently, we expect that air quality currently would be typical of an undeveloped rural environment with low contaminant levels. We expect that the conditions of the Approval to Operate for the Project will require air quality monitoring for dust levels, to be confirmed by the NB Department of Environment and Local Government. The operating schedule for particulate matter sampling in this manner is based on monitoring ambient dust levels for a 24 hour period every sixth day according to a national schedule, but the actual requirements and frequency of monitoring will be determined by the NB Department of Environment and Local Government.
  • Why is this not a town hall style meeting?
    • While we acknowledge that there are individuals who would prefer a town hall style meeting, we have also heard from other residents that appreciated the format of the open house. We believe that this open house gave people the opportunity to meet with the expert of their specific area of concern while being respectful of their time. We have since attended a town hall style meeting so that both meeting styles were available to the public.
  • Did Hammond River Holdings exist before this project?
    • Hammond River Holdings was created in early 2018 so that gypsum supply options could be explored for Atlantic Wallboard.
  • Can we have a list of JDI people that are here in attendance and their credentials?
    Person Role in JDI Role in Project
    David Saucy VP Construction Equipment Division Responsibility for Hammond River Holdings
    Mary Keith VP of Communications Responsibility for external communications
    Jenna Hazelton General Manager, Atlantic Wallboard Responsibility for Hammond River Holdings
    Dan Guest Distribution Manager, Atlantic Wallboard Operational expertise in quarry operations
    Renee Morais Environmental Coordinator Involved in the EIA process for various projects within JDI
    Other Atlantic Wallboard Employees Various roles at Irving Wallboard At the open house for note taking purposes, not directly involved in the project
  • I have received conflicting responses to the same question here tonight. Why?
    • There were various individuals with varying levels of expertise on the project that attended the open house. There were several people who were there in a “note-taking” capacity as well as some people who are very intimate with the EIA document in its entirety. There is no one person that has knowledge of every single aspect of this project as proposed and as such, it is possible that some people where asked questions that is not their area of expertise. If anyone received conflicting responses, please email that comment and the question, to info@hammondriverholdings.com. Any content that is shared on the site www.hammondriverholdings.com is accurate and up to date. It is important to remember that this is very early in the process and this project has evolved even since the filing of the EIA. Hammond River Holdings is communicating updates as they become available through its website.
  • How will you ensure that wildlife do not enter the pit and cannot get out?
    • During operation of the Project, access to the open pit will be maintained to allow for safe entry and egress by equipment, individuals, and wildlife that may incidentally be found there from time to time. It is not expected that wildlife would enter the pit while operations are taking place (due to human activity), but should it enter the open pit, safe entry and egress from the pit by wildlife would be maintained. The reclamation and closure plan has not yet been fully developed but maintaining safe entry and egress from the pit lake will be a key consideration for human and wildlife safety that will need to be considered prior to closure. As stated in Section 2.4.3 of the EIA registration: “Prior to allowing the open pit to fill with water, its edges will be reshaped to an appropriate slope to allow for safe entry and egress of the pit lake by animals or humans. Additionally, appropriate signage and other safety measures will be put in place to warn individuals about the potential safety hazards arising from the presence of the pit lake. This conceptual plan will be updated as part of the process to obtain a mining lease for the Project under the Mining Act, which requires a reclamation and closure plan to be developed as a pre-requisite to obtaining a mining lease.”
  • Was JDI aware that there was gypsum on the property when they purchased it years ago?
    • No.
  • What is the reclamation plan?
    • The quarry reshaped with overburden and allowed to fill with water to form a small lake.
  • How does the government make sure the site is reclaimed? We have had mines close a long time ago (such as Cassidy Lake) and the sites have not been fully reclaimed.
    • The minister of DNR requires a financial security from the operator prior to the start of mining operations. The security is based on the cost to complete the site reclamation.
  • How do I apply for a job?
  • There is gypsum on my land. Do you need landowner permission to mine it? Why don’t I own the gypsum on my land?
    • The crown retains most of the mineral rights in the province. Mining can only proceed once the proponent has obtained a documented agreement with the owners of the surface rights (i.e. property owners) within the footprint of the development.
  • Will the travel route via Norton be imposed for the construction phase as well?
    • Yes.
  • The truck travel route outlined includes a narrow bridge between where the 111 meets the 165. The bridge also has a hole in it. How will that be dealt with?
    • HRH will highlight this issue to the Department of Transportation and discuss mitigation if it is determined to be required.
  • There is no sidewalk and in some areas there is no shoulder and we worry about being able to walk safely. What about when there is snow and it is plowed onto the curb where we would normally go when traffic goes by?
    • HRH will raise this concern and work with the NB Department of Transportation on this issue in the coming months.
  • Has JDI ever been denied a project through the EIA process?
    • Yes.