Assignment
In much of Canada, the occasionally difficult relationship between the public and the aggregate industry - crushed stone, gravel, sand and clay - has influenced pit operations. The need to meet tighter regulations, developed to protect human health and the natural environment, has made valuations of aggregate resources more complex. Aggregate developers need a clearer idea of the financial viability of an investment, so they can make more informed choices.

Our Role
In helping to set valuations on aggregate properties, Golder delineates the resource and analyses its quality. We also look at potential problems, such as contaminated fill that may have been deposited on site and buildings with environmental liability. Our understanding of environmental and social regulations, and the cost of meeting them, is becoming an important asset for companies seeking to put a realistic value on an aggregate resource/reserve.

Understanding the timelines involved in meeting regulatory requirements, which may involve many months to years of environmental studies, also helps inform and, in some cases, direct the client's cash flow calculations.