On June 8, 2010, Parsons Creek Aggregates (a joint venture of Graymont Western Canada Inc. and Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited) filed an application with the NRCB and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) for a proposed limestone quarry project in the Fort McMurray area. NRCB Application #1001 is for an approval to construct, operate and reclaim the proposed Parsons Creek Aggregates Limestone Quarry Project in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

The proposed project site is located on 390 hectares of Crown land located north of the Fort McMurray Urban Service Boundary, east of Highway 63 and along the Athabasca River. The legal land description for the project is Sections 7, 8, 18, 19, 30 and 31 of Township 90, Range 9, and a portion of the NE ¼ Section 36, in Range 10 of the same township, all West of the 4^th Meridian. The project description is set out in more detail in the application materials, supplemental information requests and responses (available online at: http://www.parsonscreekresources.com/limestone.shtml).

The proposed Parsons Creek Aggregates (PCA) project is a reviewable project pursuant to Section 4 of the Natural Resources Conservation Board Act. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) submitted with the application was subject to a detailed review by ESRD, NRCB staff, and other relevant provincial regulatory partners in order to assess the clarity and completeness of the application. A joint Notice of Filing was issued on August 23, 2010.

During review of the EIA and application, supplemental information was requested on five occasions. PCA responded to each information request and on January 15, 2013, ESRD advised the NRCB that it deemed the EIA complete pursuant to Section 53 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

The NRCB issued a Notice of Application on February 18, 2013, inviting written submissions from those who may have concerns about or objections to the PCA project. On July 8, 2013, the NRCB issued a Joint Notice of Pre-Hearing Meeting and Notice of Hearing; the Pre-Hearing Meeting was subsequently held in Fort McMurray on August 14, 2013. On September 5, 2013, the Panel issued its Pre-Hearing Decision Report (Board notices and decisions linked below).

PCA made numerous commitments in its application and supplemental filings; these commitments were compiled into a single document and filed with the Board in November 2013 (see below).

On February 25, 2014, the Board issued its decision on PCA’s application (see Board Decision NR 2014-01 below).