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The Brussels Post, 1981-01-14, Page 11BY ALICE GIBB Huron County Federation of Agriculture Tembers are continuing their campaign against the absentee ownership of Ontario farm- land. At their January meeting, held at Clinton Public School on Thursday, members approved a motion asking the provincial government to make funds for programs such as tile loans and capital grants available only to re- sident Ontario farm owners. The resolution stated "whereas limited money is available, for such programs as tile loans, capital grant programs, etc. and whereas Canadian taxpayers should not be supporting absentee investors", the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) was asked to request the government make funding available only to Ontario residents. Tony McQuail, who seconded the motion put forward by Merle Gunby, said since the province isn't getting anywhere very quickly on limiting absentee ownership, the motion's intent was to make sure the limited funding available for Ontario farmers wasn't used up on absentee owners. In response to a query asking if absentee owners have already received funds for tiling, Merle Gunby said no examples of this were known to committee members, but it was a possibility they were trying to head off before it happened. The theme of the federa- tion meeting on Thursday was regulations governing the operation of pits and quarries in the county. Craig Laing, pits and quarries inspector for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Wingham office, outlined the implications of the Pits and Quarries Control Act for farmers with gravel pits on their property. Under the act, which now covers all townships within the area, operators must pay eights cents per metric tonne security fee on extracted gravel, effective Jan. 1, 1981. The fee is paid to the Treasurer of Ontario to guarantee pits, and quarries will be rehabilitated in the future. The deposit is re- turned to operators when rehabilitation is in progress or is complete on a site. Also, effective July 1, 1981, pits and quarries operators must obtain a license from the ministry for their pits, and outline plans for the site, including rehabilitation, or else operations at the pits must cease. Craig Laing told federation members pit operators pay the eight cents per metric tonne deposit on March 31 of the' following year, which means they must keep a record, of the tonnage of gravel removed from their pit during the year. The pits inspector said the eight cent security deposit "reflects more accurately the cost of rehabilitation and will provide incentive for re- habilitation when the pit is still in operation." Operators will be paid a rate of interest on the depoSit equal to the Province of Ontario accounts interest rates, which Mr. Laing called "a little sugar with the bad medicine I guess." Originally operators were to receive only six per cent interest on the security deposit. The inspector also outlined regulations in Bill 127, the Aggregates Act, which the government has been trying to pass for some time to replace the Pits and Quarries Control Act. Under the new act, which has had a second reading, in addition to the eight cents security fee, operators will also have to pay a royalty fund of six cents per tonne, which will be divided between the municipality, the county and the province. The royalty fee won't be returned to operators. Mr. Laing said this money will be used by government to repair roads and implement dust controls, to repair damage by heavy truck traffic around pits. In response to a question from the audience, Mr. Laing said he didn't expect the Ag- gregates Act would be passed until a majority government was in office. The inspector was asked how a stockpile of crushed gravel would be affected by the security fee regulations. Mr. Laing said operators have until July, 1981 to get rid of stockpiles and after that, they must pay the eight cents per tonne fee on re- maining gravel. He said because of the amount of lead time given operators, the ministry felt they should be able to get rid of stockpiles by July. HOW RECENTLY? Another audience member asked how recently pits must have been used to qualify for a license, pointing out that gravel from many farm pits is used only to gravel driveways and farm yards. Mr. Laing said if a farmer can swear the pit was in use continously for a number of years, the license will be granted. The license fee is $25 for individuals, and $100 for corporations operating a pit. Mr. Laing said operators don't have to remove gravel from a pit during the year just because the pit is licensed. No licenses will be issued in Huron County until July 1. 1 s The inspector was also questi6ned about fencing regulations for the pits. Under the act, operators are required to fence around the boundaries of a pit or quarry with heavy duty farm fence. However Mr. Laing pointed out there are allowances for non-compliance with fencing regulations. For example, if the pit is in an isolated location or if fencing completely around the boundaries will take good agricultural land out of production, then fencing regulations can be waived. Mr. Laing said the ministry particularly wants fences around pits bordering roadways or around pits containing water. Another audience member asked Mr. Laing how gravel pits can be, reclaimed. The pits inspector said the land could be reforested, could be returned to farmland or used as a recreational area. He said operators must maintain enough topsoil on the site to complete rehabilitation plans. In response to another question, he said operators can sell any excess topsoil after rehabilitation is complete. PRICE OF GRAVEL Doug Fortune of Turnberry Township asked what the new rules would do to the price of gravel. Mr. Laing said he didn't think there should be an increase in the price but admitted "the money is tied up (in the security deposit), there's no doubt about , that." In response to another question, he, said with , the new regulations, likely some smaller gravel pits that aren't used yery heavily will go out of production. Another man said he could see operators taking pits out of production , now and waiting to apply for a license until the price of gravel goes up. Mr. Laing cautioned it would be more difficult for operators to get a license in the future if they allowed a pit to go out of operation. He said getting the license again would require a bylaw change. Merle Guriby asked the THE BRUSSELS POSt; JANUARY 14, 1981 — 11 No grants to non-residents: HFA inspector what it would cost an average farmer with a one-acre pit on his farm to have a site plan prepared, as required in applying for a license. Mr. Laing said, it would be hard for suryeyors to give an estimate of site plan costs until, they viewed the pit, the topography of the land, ,etc. He did , advise operators to get two or three estimates on site plans since there iequite a difference in price. Federation ' president Gerry Fortune 'asked , Mr. Laing if there is a limit to the number , of wayside pit permits one person will' be issued. Please turn to page 13 DIRECTBUSINESSORY . ... ,_ , filft is) 0 m° Mon., COMPLETE David 87 Tues., . 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