Serpent River quarry to affect Blanding’s turtles habitat

Mining company Darien Aggregates/Rankin Construction wants to build a massive rock quarry on a site that been identified as 100 per cent critical habitat for a dense population of threatened Blanding’s turtles.

How you can help

Write to the relevant decision-makers and urge them to reject Darien Aggregates’ proposal and protect Blanding’s turtle habitat. Feel free to cut and paste the “points to consider” below. (Please do not leave the box empty!)

Your email will go to Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Graydon Smith, Minister of Environment Todd McCarthy, Species at Risk Staff, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford and the MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin.

Why this matters

Blanding’s turtles and their habitat are listed as threatened and protected species in Ontario. Furthermore, this quarry is unnecessary especially for products that are already available at an operating mine just 90 km away.

Points to Consider:

Feel free to cut and paste the points below in your letter
Do not leave the box empty or your email will be blank!

  • An application (#625990) by Darien Aggregates for a permit to blast a below-water-table quarry In the Township of North Shore in the Serpent River watershed must be rejected. There are many reasons why this permit should be denied including: irreversible impacts on the hydrology of this important watershed, destruction of critical habitat for protected species at risk and the violation of Indigenous Treaty rights. 
  • The site of the proposed Darien quarry has been identified as 100 per cent critical nesting, mating and travel habitat to a significant population of Blanding’s turtles in a study conducted by Laurentian University biologists. There is no way this project can be carried out without impacting the survival of this threatened species that is meant to be protected under Ontario and federal laws 
  • Darien Aggregates’ application predicts the full “rehabilitation” of the site would take over 100 years and require a diesel pump to fill two man-made lakes artificially. The potential consequences of this to local water supply is unacceptable. 
  • The proposed quarry site lies on Crown land which is hunting and harvest grounds in Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory. Proper consultation must include all First Nation community members as well as funding for independent studies.
  • The potential devastating and long-term impacts of this project far outweigh any short-term and minimal economic benefits. It is also unnecessary, as a nearby operating quarry already provides the same trap rock product. 
  • Do the right thing, listen to science, Indigenous elders and community members and use your influence to reject the Darien Quarry permit.
Points to Consider:

Feel free to cut and paste the points below in your letter
Do not leave the box empty or your email will be blank!

  • An application (#625990) by Darien Aggregates for a permit to blast a below-water-table quarry In the Township of North Shore in the Serpent River watershed must be rejected. There are many reasons why this permit should be denied including: irreversible impacts on the hydrology of this important watershed, destruction of critical habitat for protected species at risk and the violation of Indigenous Treaty rights. 
  • The site of the proposed Darien quarry has been identified as 100 per cent critical nesting, mating and travel habitat to a significant population of Blanding’s turtles in a study conducted by Laurentian University biologists. There is no way this project can be carried out without impacting the survival of this threatened species that is meant to be protected under Ontario and federal laws 
  • Darien Aggregates’ application predicts the full “rehabilitation” of the site would take over 100 years and require a diesel pump to fill two man-made lakes artificially. The potential consequences of this to local water supply is unacceptable. 
  • The proposed quarry site lies on Crown land which is hunting and harvest grounds in Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory. Proper consultation must include all First Nation community members as well as funding for independent studies.
  • The potential devastating and long-term impacts of this project far outweigh any short-term and minimal economic benefits. It is also unnecessary, as a nearby operating quarry already provides the same trap rock product. 
  • Do the right thing, listen to science, Indigenous elders and community members and use your influence to reject the Darien Quarry permit.