Firm wants fresh start on controversial Nova Scotia quarry project

The company behind a controversial quarry proposal in the Fall River, N.S., area says it is abandoning a judicialreview of the province's decision to revoke its operating permitso it can focus on a new application for the same project.

Robert MacPherson, president of ScotianMaterials, said Fridayhiscompanyhasreached an agreement with the governmentto nolonger pursue a judicial review of a2015 decision by Andrew Younger, who wasenvironment minister at the time.

• Fall River quarry approval overturned by Andrew Younger

Younger revoked an operating permit that had been granted two months earlier due to a lack of adequate public consultation.

The proposed quarry, southwest of the Aerotech Business Park, has beenunpopular with the local community. People havebeen fighting the project since 2011, fearing damage to local watersheds.

'The right thing to do'

MacPhersonsaid in a statementthecompany submitted a new application to the Environment Department last Januarythat it hopes will be evaluated "based on science, evidence and the rule of law."

The company determined it was no longer necessary to move forward with a judicial review.

"ScotianMaterials therefore felt that the right thing to do was to not take up any more of the time and resources from the court, the government and the community in proceeding further with this legal review," the statement said.

MacPherson said the company has donemore for theproposed quarry than any other quarry of similar size in the province, including holding a two-day open house andallowing people to ask questions through itswebsite.

"It's the degree of study it's much more in-depth analysis than theprevious application," he told CBC News, adding the company went "above and beyond" to "make sure no questions were left unanswered."