One of the many roles of an aggregate inspector is ensuring the aggregate industry complies with the Aggregate Resources Act, the regulations, the site plan, and the conditions of the licence or permit.
Aggregate inspectors have a range of tools that can be used in response to non-compliance situations found on aggregate operations. These include notices of inspection, rehabilitation orders, suspension notices and, in the most severe cases, revocations.
When the situation warrants consideration of charges under the Aggregate Resources Act, Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers are brought in to take the lead on the investigation and any subsequent laying of charges. Charges are generally considered for serious or repeat offences, but are also used for situations where there is no remedial action that can be ordered to fix the non-compliance, such as exceeding an annual tonnage limit. The chart below illustrates the types of charges laid in the last five years and the amount of fines levied through the courts.
CONVICTIONS UNDER THE AGGREGATE RESOURCES ACT AND ITS REGULATIONS, 2006-2010
| YEAR | TOTAL # OF FINES | INFRACTION | AMOUNT FINED |
| 2010 | Operating a Pit without a Permit | $2,000.00 | |
| 2010 | Operating a Pit in an Unorganized Area | $1,000.00 | |
| 2010 | Not Following Conditions | $8,000.00 | |
| 2010 | Operating Unlicensed Aggregate Site | $2,000.00 | |
| 2010 | Depositing material on Crown Land | $1,000.00 | |
| 2010 | Illegal Aggregate Extraction - operating pit without a permit | $500.00 | |
| 2010 | Operating a Pit While Under Suspension | $20,000.00 | |
| 7 | 2010 Totals | $34,500.00 | |
| 2009 | Operating a Pit without a Licence | $49,000.00 | |
| 2009 | Contravening Licenced Aggregate Pit Site Plan | $10,000.00 | |
| 2009 | Excessive Production | $10,000.00 | |
| 2009 | Fail to Follow Site Plan/Violating Work Permit | $15,000.00 | |
| 2009 | Fail to Follow a Site Plan | $1,000.00 | |
| 2009 | Fail to Submit Annual Compliance Assessment Report (2007 & 2008) and Fail to Submit 2007 Production Report | $2,250.00 | |
| 2009 | Violating Conditions of a Licence | $30,000.00 | |
| 2009 | 2 | Operating a Quarry Without a Licence | $26,000.00 |
| 2009 | Operating While Suspended | $2,500.00 | |
| 2009 | Illegal Aggregate Pits and Road Construction | $8,500.00 | |
| 2009 | Falsifying a Compliance Assessment Report | $750.00 | |
| 12 | 2009 Totals | $155,000.00 | |
| 2008 | Obstructing inspectors | $3,000.00 | |
| 2008 | 3 | Illegal Pit | $5,000.00 |
| 2008 | Operating While Suspended | $10,000.00 | |
| 2008 | Exceed tonnage limit | $20,000.00 | |
| 2008 | Operating a Pit Without a Licence | $16,650.00 | |
| 2008 | Violating Conditions of a Licence | $15,500.00 | |
| 8 | 2008 Totals | $70,150.00 | |
| 2007 | Exceed Tonnage Limit | $5,000.00 | |
| 2007 | Operating While Suspended | $10,000.00 | |
| 2007 | Not Complying With Permit Conditions | $2,000.00 | |
| 2007 | Section 2(3) of the Aggregate Resources Act | $600.00 | |
| 2007 | 3 | Operating a Pit Without a Licence | $13,000.00 |
| 2007 | Illegal Pit | $1,250.00 | |
| 8 | 2007 Totals | $31,850.00 | |
| 2006 | Illegal Quarry | $1,000.00 | |
| 2006 | 8 | Illegal Pit | $29,550.00 |
| 2006 | Failure to Submit Compliance Assessment Report | $400.00 | |
| 2006 | 2 | Tonnage Violation | $11,100.00 |
| 2006 | 2 | Removal Sand From Setback | $8,500.00 |
| 2006 | Exceed tonnage limit | $20,000.00 | |
| 2006 | Section (1) of the Aggregate Resources Act | $600.00 | |
| 2006 | Exceed Tonnage Limit | $2,871.00 | |
| 2006 | Section 2(1)(a) of the Aggregate Resources Act | $700.00 | |
| 2006 | Excavate Below Depth in Site Plan | $20,000.00 | |
| 2006 | Exceed Tonnage Limit | $3,000.00 | |
| 2006 | Illegal Extraction of Wayside Material | $6,727.00 | |
| 2006 | Operating During Mandatory Shutdown | $14,000.00 | |
| 22 | 2006 Totals | $118,448.00 |
