Anyone who wants to remove, for commercial sale, not more than 5,000 cubic metres, or 7,000 metric tonnes of inland aggregate (fill, gravel, class 'A' gravel, sand, riprap stone, armour stone and marble chips) from provincial Crown Lands in Nova Scotia.

N.S. Department of Natural Resources

Eastern Regional Office (Coxheath, Cape Breton)
Regional Director
N.S. Department of Natural Resources
300 Mountain Road
Sydney, NS B1L 1A9

Tel: 902-563-3370
Fax: 902-567-2535

OR

Any of the Local or Area Offices of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources. (See Offices, N.S. Department of Natural Resources.)

An application form can be obtained from the nearest Local or Area Office of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources. When the application is completed, it is submitted to the same office, along with the applicable fees

An evaluation will be made to ensure that the aggregate can be removed without serious damage to the Nova Scotia environment.

If all requirements are met and the application is approved, the applicant will be notified by the Area Supervisor.

20 business days

The permit is valid for up to 12 months from the date is it issued. It is not renewable.

1. Initial Application: $5.87
   plus $153.35 deposit
   plus stumpage for any wood products cut
   plus royalty per tonne or cubic metre of aggregate removed.
   Disturbance of Crown Land permit (if required) - $249.22
   Crown Land lease for exclusive use of land (if needed) - $747.83
   Tax is charged on stumpage and royalty (aggregate rates);
    
   Note: "stumpage" equals the current rate by timber product (adjusted annually) times the amount of each timber product cut.
   
   
2. Aggregate rates are set periodically in each local region to current reflect local market values, based on aggregate type, quality and accessibility of material.

Current stumpage rates and aggregate rates may be obtained by contacting any local or area office.

1. Environmental Assessment Approval, Department of Nova Scotia Environment
   
   
   
2. Pit and Quarry Guidelines, Nova Scotia Environment (formerly Nova Scotia Environment and Labour) (Revised May 1999)

Aggregate rates are set per cubic metre for material in a loose condition.  Material may also be sold per cubic metre "in ground" or "in place" in a compacted condition.  A conversion factor may be applied in this case to determine the applicable equivalent price.

Weight may also be an acceptable alternative measure to the department in approved cases.  An equivalent per tonne rate may be set using a conversion factor applicable to the type of aggregate material and it's moisture content.

Crown Lands Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 5, Section 31

Environment Act, Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1994-95, Chapter 1