Rehabilitating Ontario's Pits & Quarries

Ontario Law and Rehabilitation of Aggregate Pits & Quarries

The Ontario Aggregate Resources Act (ARA), Section 2(a), states that a purpose of the ARA is "to require the rehabilitation of land from which aggregate has been excavated."

ARA Section 48(1) states that "Every licensee and every permittee shall perform progressive rehabilitation and final rehabilitation on the site in accordance with this Act, the regulations, the site plan and the conditions of the licence or permit to the satisfaction of the Minister."

So, there is little doubt about the law: It requires rehabilitation, both progressive and final rehabilitation.

Since less than one hectare out of each two newly excavated hectares is being rehabilitated, it seems clear that the law is being routinely violated.