Photo by Jon Martin © 2021.
Editor’s Note:
If you are just getting caught up on the topic of coal mining, you will want to read our first and second coal blogs before reading this one.
What happened?
After extensive public outcry from citizens, ranchers, First Nations, environmental groups, municipalities, and artists, yesterday Alberta’s Minister of Energy, Sonya Savage, announced the 1976 Coal Policy was reinstated and issued a directive to the Alberta Energy Regulator.
The directive states that:
“No mountaintop removal will be permitted and all of the restrictions under the 1976 coal categories are to apply, including all restrictions on surface mining in Category 2 lands.
All future coal exploration approvals on Category 2 lands will be prohibited pending widespread consultations on a new coal policy.”
The announcement confirmed that the sale of coal leases on category 2 lands remains on pause. Minister Savage announced that a “vigorous and lengthy” public consultation process will be rolled out in the coming weeks to inform the development of an updated Coal Policy for Alberta.
Does this mean coal mining in the Oldman watershed is cancelled?
No. The proposed Grassy Mountain and Tent Mountain mines are still being reviewed by regulators and are not affected by the announcement. Both proposed projects would be on category 4 land, where surface mining has always been a permitted land use.
Additionally, coal exploration is still ongoing in the Oldman watershed. While Minister Savage stated that no new exploration permits will be allowed on category 2 lands, all previously approved permits are still in place. New exploration is still—and will continue to be—possible on lands classified as category 3 and 4.
If mountaintop removal is banned, doesn’t that mean no coal mines?
No, it doesn’t. The directive states that mountaintop removal is only banned on category 2 land. In the Oldman watershed there are large areas of land designated as category 3 and 4 where mountaintop removal could still be approved by regulators.
A coal mine that digs into the surface of the land can be called an open-pit mine, a contour mine, a strip mine, as well as other names. The naming depends on the method of coal extraction. By any name, any type of surface mining essentially involves removing large amounts of soil and rock to access the desired coal or other minerals. As such, the impacts on the watershed are similar.
Photo by Jon Martin © 2021.
What does public consultation look like?
We don’t know yet. Minister Savage said the process will be unveiled in the coming weeks, saying that it will be lengthy and allow Albertans to have a full discussion on “all views related to coal”, with a promise that the government will be “very, very open and will listen.” She stated that she wants to hear from everyone and make sure she ‘gets it right’.
What does the OWC think about this announcement?
The OWC is pleased that the Government of Alberta is listening to the concerns of Albertans and First Nations, and was encouraged to hear Minister Savage say that protecting headwaters is a priority. The eastern slopes of the Rockies are the headwaters of the Oldman watershed, providing 90% of water to the Oldman River downstream. The headwaters are sacred to Indigenous People and their rights must be respected.
The Oldman Watershed Council fully supports a robust and meaningful consultation process with Albertans, and First Nations, to determine the future of coal mining along the eastern slopes. We look forward to actively participating in the process and providing apolitical, science-based information to our stakeholders so that everyone can participate and be informed with accurate and factual information.
We will be advocating for effective protections for the watershed and for all those who depend on it. There are many potential impacts from any type of coal mine, each of which will need to be addressed by the new coal policy to alleviate the concerns of stakeholders and to protect the source of our water supply.
