Fall River quarry approval overturned by Andrew Younger

Environment Minister Andrew Younger has revoked an operating permit issued to Scotian Materials Ltd. for a controversial quarry project in Fall River.

In a statement, the Department of Environment said in reviewing one of the appeals filed against the project, Younger found there was a lack of adequate public consultation before the decision was made to issue the approval.

The revocation is effective Tuesday.

The local community has been fighting the project since 2011. The matter had gone through the court process and was in the hands of the Department of Environment.

Approval was originally granted Sept. 15, although initially the decision was not widely publicized. Younger said he learned about the original approval on Facebook.

It looked unlikely that approval for the project would be overturned because if an application meets the requirements, it is given the green light.

The statement issued by the Department of Environment says other appeals against the project will continue to be reviewed.

The local councillor, Barry Dalrymple, said he was pleased with the decision.

"We have won at a number of levels, the UARB, the first couple of court sessions. It was only the last court — the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia — that said these folks could get a permit from the province and not have to deal with the HRM," he said.

"That is also under appeal."

Dwight Eisner, who lives in Fall River, fought the quarry because it's located next to a wildlife sanctuary and he's convinced it would ruin the watersheds of both East Hants and Dartmouth.

He said he's delighted by Tuesday's announcement but isn't sure it's the final chapter.

"Knowing the history of this company we will be going to another step — for sure it'll be appealed," he said.