Kings County Sandpit Expansion Receives Environmental Assessment Approval

The expansion of a sandpit in Auburn, Kings County, that provides high-quality sand for infrastructure and development has received environmental assessment approval.

Kenneth Lutz Trucks Ltd. was advised of the approval for its Morden Road sandpit project today, December 3. The pit will expand to 5.46 hectares from four hectares.

“This decision shows that we can protect the environment while enabling the economic development communities rely on,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “It includes stringent terms and conditions to protect our land, water and communities while supporting sustainable development that supports jobs and benefits all Nova Scotians.”

Quick Facts:

• the approval has 33 terms and conditions to protect the environment
• since January, seven quarries and two pits have received environmental assessment approvals
• the sand supports aggregate markets in Kings County and other parts of Nova Scotia, provides material for infrastructure and agricultural needs, and is used for products such as topsoil, septic filter sand, cable-burying material and animal bedding
• the expansion will add more than 10 years to the lifespan of the project
• anticipated annual extraction from the additional area is 10,000 tonnes of sand

Additional Resources:

Morden Road sandpit expansion environmental assessment approval and project documents: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/morden-road-sand-pit-expansion/

More information on the environmental assessment process is available at: https://novascotia.ca/environmental-assessment-getting-started/

Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf