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Energy and Mines > Mining and Mineral Development > Quarries > Quarry Resources

Quarry Resources

Quarry resources are materials used in their natural form for civil construction or agricultural purposes such as rock, clay, sand and gravel and peat. Newfoundland and Labrador, quarry resources are used in a wide variety of applications such as breakwaters, winter sand, damn construction, asphalt, concrete production, as well as large export operations for chemical grade Limestone. Note that topsoil is NOT permitted to be removed from a quarry and must be stockpiled on site for use in rehabilitation.

In Newfoundland and Labrador the word “Quarry” can mean the excavation of sand and gravel or bedrock, or both. We do not make a distinction between a “pit” or “quarry”. Unconsolidated material (loose), such as sand and gravel, as well as consolidated material (solid) such as bedrock are regulated the same.

  1. How Quarries are Regulated

    • Quarry resources are regulated by the Mineral Lands Division under the Department of Energy and Mines under the Quarry Materials Act, 1998 and Quarry Materials Regulations.

    • The legislation allows us to:

      • Issue quarry permits, leases, quarry material exploration licenses, and exploration approvals.
      • Inspect quarry operations, respond to complaints.
      • Enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of permits and leases.
      • Ensure rehabilitation is completed on sites.
      • Collect fees and royalties.
      • Establish policies and guidelines governing the management of quarry resources in the Province.

  2. What You Need to Operate a Quarry

    • A quarry permit or lease is required to operate a quarry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
    • Quarry permits and leases can be issued to both individuals and companies. Companies must be registered and in good standing with the Registry of Companies. You can check the status of your company registration using the Companies and Deeds Online service.
    • A quarry permit or lease is required to operate a quarry on both Crown land and private land. To operate a quarry on private land, you must own the land or have written permission from the property owner. Written permission is also required if access to a quarry requires travel across someone else’s private land.
    • Regardless of whether your quarry is on Crown or private land, there may be other restrictions and permitting requirements that must be considered before a permit or lease may be issued (e.g., municipal zoning restrictions, protected road zones, protected areas, forestry activities, etc.). that must be considered before a permit is issued and for which additional approvals may be required. Many, but not all land use considerations maybe observed using the Provincial Land Use Atlas.
    • Quarries located in Labrador Inuit Settlement Areas (“LISA”) are co-regulated by the Province and Nunatsiavut Government. All applications for quarries in areas designated as LISA in accordance with the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act are reviewed and approved by both the Province and Nunatsiavut Government.
    • Quarries located on Labrador Innuit Lands (“LIL”) are regulated by the Nunatsiavut Government. Applications for quarries in areas designated as LIL in accordance with the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act must be forwarded to Nunatsiavut Government consideration and approval.

  3. Other Approvals

  4. Application and Permitting Information

    • To obtain a quarry permit, lease or a subordinate permit you must apply by submitting the appropriate application form listed under the Applications, Forms and Guides section of this website.
    • Before a quarry permit can be issued, the applicant must submit a Site Plan detailing how the quarry will be developed over time.
    • Quarry Permits are not transferable; however Quarry Leases are.
    • There is a non-refundable quarry application fee of $100.
    • Quarry Permits are issued for up to 12 months and must be re-applied for within two months of the expiry date listed on the permit. Rea-pplication submissions must also pay a $100 application fee.
    • Quarry Leases are issued for a period of 5 years up to a maximum of 20 years.
    • Prior to issuance of a quarry permit or lease, the permittee must pay a rental fee of $120 per hectare, per year.
    • The total volume of material extracted from the site during the term of the permit, or per calendar year for leases, must be reported annually. The royalty, $0.75 per hectare, must be paid online.

    FEES AND ROYALTIES FOR QUARRY PERMITS AND LEASES
    Application Fee $100.00
    Rental Fee $120.00 per hectare, per year
    Royalty $0.75 per cubic metre

  5. Application & Referral Process

    • Upon receipt of your quarry application, it will be reviewed to ensure the required set-back distances to wetlands, waterbodies (ponds, streams, etc.), roads, transmission lines, etc. have been incorporated into the proposed boundary, and to ensure there are no overlaps with existing quarry permits or leases. During this review, you may be contacted to revised your boundary.
    • After the review of the application and boundary, the quarry application is sent to other government departments, agencies and stakeholders for comment. Referred agencies are given a standard 21 days to respond, but in some instances, extensions may be provided.
    • Once all referral responses have been received, you may be contacted to amend the application or proposed boundary based on the referral responses received.
    • If there are no significant issues raised through the review and referral process, you will be contacted to prepare a Site Plan. A Site Plan is a site schematic that shows the way in which a quarry will be developed including details such as:
      • quarry boundary and access route,
      • direction of development,
      • natural drainage direction,
      • location of access restrictions (i.e., gate, boulders, etc.),
      • location of stockpiles and equipment (e.g., screeners, crushers, etc.),
      • and other features detailed in the Guide to Preparing a Quarry Site Plan

  6. Indigenous Community Consultation

    • All quarry permit and lease applications located in Labrador are referred to the Office of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for comment and guidance on consultation with indigenous communities.