Metro Vancouver is not in favour of a proposed mine next to a major recreation and nature conservation park.

The board of the regional district is expected to write the province about its opposition against a quarrying operation on Crown land adjacent to the Sumas Mountain Interregional Park.

The 1,568-hectare park is the first interregional park in British Columbia.

Almost the size of four Stanley Parks, the Sumas Mountain Interregional Park is jointly managed by Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Located in the heart of the Fraser Valley, the park is used by hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and naturalists.

It is a biodiversity hotspot, home to more than 40 species at risk, such as the Peregrine Falcon, mountain beaver and red-legged frog.

The Sumas Mountain is also the cultural home of the Sto:lo people, particularly the Sumas First Nation or the Sema:th.

The Metro Vancouver regional district is not alone in its opposition to the proposed quarry.

“The Semá:th First Nation, City of Abbotsford, Fraser Valley Regional District and outdoor recreation user groups and conservation organizations share concerns regarding impacts of the proposed quarry development from truck traffic, noise, and dust, environmental and visual alteration of the landscape,” according to a Metro Vancouver staff report prepared by Wendy DaDalt, a division manager of regional parks.

The report recommends that the board agrees in a meeting Friday (September 22) to write the province that it does not support the proposed mine.

According to the report by DaDalt, 266531 BC Ltd. applied to develop an aggregate and decorative quarry.

The report noted that the company is asking the province for a permit to mine 59,000 tons annually for a period of 10 years.

The document also recalled that opposition to the project goes back to 2011, when the province made known that there is an interest to mine Crown land next to the park.

The report written by DaDalt noted that the province provided no environmental assessment when it referred to Metro Vancouver the application for the aggregate and decorative quarry.

“In general, aggregate operations create noise, dust and vibration which will negatively impact the regional park,” DaDalt wrote.

DaDalt also noted that in addition to at least 40 species at risk, the site also hosts 27 sensitive ecosystems.

“Research has shown that a full two-thirds of the mountain is considered to be either sensitive or important habitat ecosystems,” the Metro Vancouver staffer wrote.

DaDalt noted that the Fraser Valley Regional District and City of Abbotsford do not support the mine. In addition, the Sumas First Nation and Sto:lo Nation have participated in a previous delegation to then provincial minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations Steve Thomson.

“Early concerns are even greater today given the popularity of trails on Sumas Mountain and the loss of natural areas and values on the mountain through land use change and use pressures,” DaDalt wrote in her report.