In June 2014, the MRC signed an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife (MRNF) entrusting quarrie and sandpit management on public lands.
This new responsibility will increase the MRC’s regional development and promotion autonomy. This agreement also provides for the MRC retaining 50% of revenues from the rights to extract sand and gravel on public lands. For taxpayers and operators, this new assignment of responsibility will simplify procedures by providing a single source of information and services on public land use.
Compliance with the guidelines and principles pursued by the government in planning, management and development of public land is central to the exercise of the new powers delegated to the MRC. Aside from the organization that enforces them, the operating rules for the occupation of public lands remain unchanged.
Sand and Gravel
In terms of land management, the powers and responsibilities delegated to the MRC include the following:
- Management of sand and gravel leases, which allows operators to extract the materials after obtaining a permit or lease from the MRC;
- The grant, renewal, revocation and recording in the mining and real property registry of extraction permits and operating leases of sand pits and quarries, as well as obtaining authorization certificates in accordance with Article 22 of the Environment Quality Act;
- Inspection and control of sand and gravel extraction on public land;
- Collection of rent and royalties;
- Restoration of sand and gravel pits after extraction.
