Ring Creek residents are voicing concern about possible environmental degradation and traffic in their community should a Squamish company's proposed basalt mine be approved.
The public can comment on this project until Jan. 12.
However, a representative for BellaRock Enterprises Inc. asserts the project would be small and minimally intrusive — traffic increases would be negligible, hand tools would be used, and no blasting would occur at the mine near Garibaldi Park.
The Ministry of Mines told The Chief that BellaRock's application states up to 1,000 tonnes of basalt per year may be extracted.
A spokesperson from the province said the applicant is only required to provide details about the first year of activities at this time, as per the Mines Act permitting process.
The term of the application is five years.
BellaRock says the material would be used as dimension stone, which is commonly found in landscaping, walls, floors, and stairs for houses. The company says the mined rock wouldn’t be used as construction aggregate.
Yet, for members of an off-the-grid community like Ring Creek, where caring about the environment is a core value, the proposed project is an unwanted addition to the area.
“Everybody up there lives off natural resources, as far as trying to live a sustainable lifestyle,” said Ring Creek resident Sam Medysky, who is also well-known as a world-class kiteboarder.
A mine going into the area would be a contradiction to what many in the community value, Medysky said.
“The Ring Creek community opposes this proposal,” said Tyler Freed, a 20-year resident of Ring Creek.
“We are in the process of doing our due diligence.... We’ve retained an environmental consultant to represent both my and the community’s interests.”
Freed said that Ring Creek residents are in talks with provincial ministries and the SLRD about the matter.
“This is a large and extensive proposal that would have significant negative impacts to our community, local ecosystem, and other land users in the area,” he added.
He also said there were concerns about how the public was informed of the application, saying too little time for notice was given.
However, a spokesperson for the province said, "The application was advertised and posted as per the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources’ standard requirements and timelines of 30 days from Dec. 13."
Several residents expressed worry that increased traffic could clog the Ring Creek area, as well as roads surrounding Quest University, the Garibaldi Highlands and Coast Mountain Academy.
They say the vehicles could belch out smog, endanger children and become a safety hazard.
Clearing an area for a new access road could also harm animal habitat, the residents said. They also took issue with the fact that the mine would be so close to Garibaldi Park.
On the other hand, a BellaRock spokesperson said the project will be of such a small scale that the traffic and environmental impacts will be minimal or negligible. He also framed it as an economic booster for Squamish while saying recreational trails would also be unaffected.
“It’s an economic multiplier for Squamish,” said Jeff Levine, a spokesperson for the BellaRock Enterprises Inc.
He said the rock would be processed and sold in town, which would infuse cash into the local economy.
With respect to traffic, safety and environmental impacts, he pointed to the scale of the operation.
“I understand their concerns, however, this is a small operation — this is a small, family-run operation,” said Levine. “There’s going to be possibly four people working up there at any one time, and then their idea is having one dump truck a week come through there, so it’s not that much.”
Levine said during the week, only two pickup trucks would be on the road daily. Workers would load the basalt onto the trucks and drive the material to a clearing area.
A dump truck would then come once a week to take the rocks to town, where BellaRock would refine and shape them for use in houses.
Levine added the trucks will be clearly labelled with BellaRock decals, so locals can keep employees accountable.
“Look, I understand you might not like it, but if this does go through, how can we work together? Because the last thing we want to do is upset your neighbourhood,” he said.
BellaRock’s application to the province lists the use of an excavator, a forklift, a stone saw, a two-tonne flat deck truck and a highway-legal dump truck.
As part of the project, the company is proposing to build a new access road that would join with an existing decommissioned logging road, which would be put back into service. At the moment, the company anticipates the new road to be 1.2 kilometres. Its application says that it could be up to 3 kilometres. The estimated width of the road is three metres.
Culverts may be required in three areas of the new road, and a small bridge may be needed to cross a creek.
The company says it expects only 20 cubic metres of timber — half a logging truck full — will be cut to create the new road, said Levine.
BellaRock’s application requests to cut 45 cubic metres of timber for the project overall.
Levine said only hand tools would be used — no blasting would occur. No digging would occur either, he said, because the stone is already on the surface. The material would be chiselled into smaller pieces and loaded out.
Other sites nearby have been identified for potential mining. These areas will be used as a backup if the rock at the initial site isn’t of good quality, he said.
BellaRock will also put down a $6,000-deposit to restore the affected areas once the project is finished, according to the application filed with the province.
However, Jody Parry, the 40-year Squamish resident who owns the family business, later told The Chief the fee will be at least $50,000.
Levine also said if BellaRock isn’t granted the permit for the area, it could leave a hole that a larger out-of-town operation could fill.
“I’d much rather know it was an ethically-responsible company [and that] the money is staying in Squamish,” he said.
The Squamish Nation was contacted for comment on the matter but did not reply before the press deadline.
Those wishing to comment on the proposal can send emails to the province's chief inspector of mines at [email protected] with a copy to [email protected].
***Updated Jan. 4, 7:17 p.m. to add the latest estimate of how much restoring the area will cost.
