EA Project Engagement

Welcome to our engagement site for Projects currently undergoing the Environmental Assessment (EA) process, pursuant to the Nova Scotia Environment Act and Environmental Assessment Regulations. The EA Process is administered by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC).

Here, you are invited to review information related to the proposed Project, presented as an online 'open house', and to provide feedback prior to Project being registered with NSECC. Any feedback you provide will be considered in the ongoing preparation of the EA Registration Document that is being prepared for the Project.

CURRENT PROJECT
Morden Rd. Sand Pit Expansion

Proponent: Ken Lutz Trucks Limited
Location: Auburn, Kings County, NS

1. What is the EA Process?

Environmental Assessment (EA) is a decision-making tool used to promote sustainable development by evaluating the potential environmental effects of major developments before they proceed. This is accomplished by involving the public along with various government departments and agencies during the environmental assessment.

Environmental assessment also promotes better project planning by identifying and addressing environmental effects at the earliest stages of project development and can save proponents time and money.

More information of the EA Process can be found at the NSECC's EA Frequently Asked Questions page.

2. Project Description - Morden Rd Sand Pit Expansion

2a. Project Overview

Fraxinus Environmental and Geomatics has been retained by Kenneth Lutz Trucks Ltd. (the Proponent) to prepare an environmental assessment registration for the Morden Road Sandpit Expansion Project. The Proponent has extensive experience in aggregate extraction, land rehabilitation, and related services for the trucking and construction industries. Based in Auburn, Kings County, Nova Scotia, the Proponent is committed to environmentally responsible practices and regulatory compliance.

The Proponent has operated the Morden Road Sand Pit on Morden Road, in Auburn, Kings County, Nova Scotia for over 20 years and received approval from NSECC in 2019 to expand the pit beyond 2 hectares (Approval No. 2019-2616742-00). This allowed the Proponent to meet growing demands for aggregate products such as topsoil, septic filter sand, cable-burying material, and animal bedding. The Proponent now seeks to further expand the sand pit under the Morden Road Sand Pit Expansion Project (the Project) beyond 4 ha to extend its lifespan, supporting aggregate markets in Kings County and other parts of Nova Scotia. This expansion will contribute to the regional economy by creating jobs and enhancing the availability of essential materials for infrastructure and agricultural needs, while maintaining a focus on environmentally responsible practices. The Proponent also offers services including the sale and installation of Bibeau dump bodies, truck and equipment sales, emissions cleaning services for heavy-duty engines, and supplies Annaite heavy truck tires.

The existing sand pit is located on PID 55090187 and the expansion project will encompass the immediately adjacent PID 55545354

2c. Location & Site Details

The Project site spans approximately 10.86 hectares centered at approximately 352944 m E, 4987107 m N (UTM zone 20T) and is situated in a suburban area with mixed land use, including residential, agricultural, and forested areas. The Project is located on Morden Road, in the community of Auburn, Kings County, Nova Scotia, approximately 10.5 km west of the town of Berwick and 17.3 km east of the Town of Middleton. Highway 101 lies approximately 480 m north of the Project site, and Highway 1 (the Evangeline Trail) lies approximately 330 m to the south. The Project site is accessed via a private driveway from Highway 361 (Morden Road) to the Project site's immediate west. The Project lies within the Annapolis Valley eco-district (eco-district 610) within an oak and pine eco-element area. The Project is entirely contained within the Annapolis River Watershed. McGee Brook, a tributary to the Annapolis River, borders the eastern boundary of the Project site and flows from north to south, discharging into the Annapolis River approximately 1.75 km to the south of the Project site. Wetland habitat exists in the eastern extent of the Project site within the floodplain of McGee Brook.

2b. Project Scope & Objectives

The primary objective of the Project) is to increase the sustainable extraction of sand to support local and regional construction and infrastructure projects. The scope of the Project includes site preparation, sand extraction, processing (washing, sifting, and grading), stockpiling, and site reclamation to minimize long-term environmental impact.

The Project aims to:

Meet the growing demand for sand in the construction sector.
Operate in compliance with provincial environmental standards.
Implement best practices for minimizing environmental impacts.
Reclaim the site to ensure safety and environmental integrity compatible with the surrounding environment.

2d. Project Components

Key components of the undertaking include:

Extraction Areas: Defined zones for sand and gravel extraction.
Processing: On-site equipment for screening, washing, and sorting materials, including mobile aggregate processing plants, conveyors, crushers, and screening drums.
Site Equipment: The site inventory includes the following:
- Mobile processing plants
- Conveyor belts (Stackers)
- Front-end loader
- A 50 ton excavator
- Dump trucks
- Storage containers
- Mobile screening and washing units
- A water truck
Product Stockpiling Areas: Dedicated areas for temporary storage of sand piles, gravel piles, and crusher dust piles. as well as native topsoil stockpiles harvested during initial site preparation.
Reclamation Material Stockpiling Areas: Dedicated areas for stock piling native topsoil, organic material and seed bank material harvested during initial site preparation, and to be used for reclamation activities. Grubbings and woody debris are also stockpiled and burnt to enrich top soil stockpiles.
Access Roads: Upgraded and maintained access roads connecting different areas of the site to the public road network (accessed via Morden Rd.)
Water Management Systems: All stormwater stays on site and drains through the sand to the water table below. Current pit operations do not extend to within 1m of the water table. Erosion and sediment controls are implemented to manage runoff and prevent erosion. Where possible, disturbed areas are using native topsoil and seed stock to stabilize exposed soils. No excavation below the water table will be conducted as part of the Project.
Environmental Protection Measures: A 30 m vegetated buffer is maintained between the Project footprint and McGee Brook. A wetland exists on-site that is entirely contained within the 30m buffer of McGee Brook, as such wetland habitats will be avoided. Berms are constructed around the existing pit area and will be incorporated in the expansion where the Project abuts neighboring property lines for safety and noise abatement. Erosion and sediment controls are implemented where appropriate, and areas are re-vegetated once project activity permits using native topsoil and seed stock. Dust control measures are in place using a water truck to wet access roads during operation to control dust emissions.

2e. Project Activities

The primary activities associated with the Project include:

Site Preparation: Clearing vegetation, grading land, and constructing access roads.
Extraction Operations: Using mechanical equipment, such as excavators, trucks, and loaders, to extract sand and gravel and transport it to mobile processing units.
Processing: Sorting and screening extracted materials to meet aggregate product specifications using mobile processing units. Sand is filtered and graded, while stones are crushed using mobile processing units to create the desired aggregate material size. Sand products are noted to be extremely pure, as such no washing of sand is needed.
Stockpiling: Temporary storage of processed materials on-site, organized into sand piles, gravel piles, and crusher dust piles.
Aggregate quantification: Aggregate products are weighed using a loader scale to determine product volume for sales.
Transportation: Hauling materials to local and regional markets using dump trucks or semi-trucks and trailers.
Environmental Setbacks: a 30 m vegetated buffer from the high water mark of McGee Brook will be maintained. This buffer encompasses the wetland habitat in the Brook’s floodplain as well, ensuring wetland habitat will not be impacted by the Project.

2f. Project Timelines

Public consultation for the Project, and engagement with Mi’kmaq will take place in March and April 2025, and an EA registration document will be submitted to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) for the Project in early May, 2025. The Project is proposed to be developed in stages over an anticipated lifespan of approximately 10 to 15 years. The existing pit area is currently in operation and will continue to operate for an estimated 3 to 5 more years. Site preparation for the expansion area has already begun, with extraction anticipated to begin once the existing pit nears depletion. The expansion area will add 10+ years of operation, extending the Project’s overall lifespan. Progressive reclamation will occur throughout the life of the Project, ensuring that disturbed areas are restored in a phased manner. Once pit operations cease, decommissioning activities will be completed within two years (approximately 2035–2037). Reclamation activities may extend beyond decommissioning as the site undergoes monitoring, with final completion anticipated within five years of closure (approximately 2040–2042).

2g. Site Reclamation

Reclamation activities will be implemented concurrently with extraction to ensure the site is restored to a stable and naturalized state. The final land use plan includes a designated laydown area at the western end of the Project site to support the Proponent’s other business operations. The majority of the site will be re-naturalized and allowed to grow into a forested environment, promoting biodiversity and habitat restoration. The Proponent is considering portions of the site for residential building lot development in the future. Closure activities will include the removal of equipment, re-vegetation of disturbed areas, and monitoring to ensure successful rehabilitation. Additional details regarding these measures will be provided in subsequent VEC and mitigation sections.

3. Mapping

Please take some time to explore the general project site in the map below (Desktop recommended)

If you are viewing this site on a mobile device, please open this link for best results.

https://felt.com/map/MORDEN-RD-PIT-Engagement-4UeMnxktS9Cuvdhm5i2mrvB?loc=45.025817,-64.856619,16.13z

Alternately, scan the QR code to open this map on your mobile device

4. Site Photos

Typical conditions at the project site are shown below.

McGee Brook - typical conditions

Typical vegetation in areas of site clearing

McGee Brook

McGee Brook - typical conditions

1/13

5. How are EA's Conducted?

The Fraxinus team has extensive experience in conducting environmental assessments (EAs). EAs involve conducting various surveys and assessments to characterize the environmental attributes of a project and the land it is located on.

These include:

Wetland assessments
Watercourse and aquatic habitat assessments
Botanical inventories, rare vegetation assessments and forest habitat assessments
Surveys for wildlife, including bird surveys, acoustic bat assessments and wildlife photo traps

Additionally, we conduct extensive research using mapping tools and other databases on air quality, geological conditions, groundwater conditions, greenhouse gas emissions and other biophysical characteristics.

We also conduct extensive research on various social and economic factors in the area of the Project's development. As part of this we conduct research on the local economy, tourism, demographics, and infrastructure. Finally, we include an extensive analysis on how the Project will impact human health and well-being. As part of this we include analysis on factor such as air quality and emissions, noise, impacts to water quality, and public safety.

We use the results of these studies and research to identify how the Project will interact with these different components, and how these interactions can be mitigated to reduce or eliminate negative effects. These mitigation measures are incorporated into environmental management plans, which require review and approval from the provincial government. We then work with the proponent and government regulators to implement these management measures and conduct environmental effects monitoring to ensure the management strategies are effective.

6. What Comes Next?

It is expected that the Project will be registered with NSECC in May, 2025.

At that time, a formal review will begin, based on the information provided in the EA documentation.

The EA review includes a public comment period, whereby members of the the public may formally provide feedback for consideration in the Ministerial decision-making process.

7. Provide Your Feedback on this Project

We welcome your comments or concerns on the Project, based on the information provided.

Please use the form provided, or send an email to:

engagement@fraxinusenviro.com