Cheviot Coal Mine Case Goes Back to Court

Conservation groups challenge federal approval of mine near Jasper

Sierra Club of CanadaSierra Legal Defence FundNature CanadaPembina InstituteJasper Environmental AssociationAlberta Wilderness Association

Press Release & Backgrounder
www.sierraclub.ca/national/cheviot & click What's New

June 13, 2005

Ottawa: Five environmental organizations represented by Sierra Legal Defence Fund will be in Federal Court in Edmonton tomorrow challenging the federal approval of the controversial Cheviot coal mine located adjacent to Jasper National Park. The groups will be asking the court to order the federal government to undertake an assessment of the significantly modified mine project in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. They are also asking that the authorization for the first part of the mine, the Cheviot Creek Development, be struck down because, contrary to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, it allows the permanent burying of streams that are important migratory bird habitat.

“At stake is a wildland and biological hotspot determined to be nationally significant by the federal and provin­cial governments,” explained Dianne Pachal of the Sierra Club of Canada. “The review of the earlier project found there would be significant environmental harm. With the new mine, Environment Canada raised the matter that with far fewer jobs than originally stated, the previous review’s conclusion that environmental losses could be justified by mine jobs can now be called into question.”

“As for migratory birds, the proponents had five years from the 1999 Federal Court decision in which to change the mine so it wouldn’t bury the stream valleys, but failed to do so,” added Julie Gelfand of Nature Canada.

For photos and further info. see www.sierraclub.ca/national/cheviot or contact:

Sierra Legal Defence Fund: Tim Howard, (604) 313-3132 or Justin Duncan, 416 368-7533 ext 22.
Sierra Club of Canada: Dianne Pachal, 403 234-7368 or Elizabeth May, Ottawa 241-4611 or 1-888-810-4204.
Nature Canada: Ottawa 562-3447 or 1-800-267-4088, Julie Gelfand ext. 231 or Rob Rainer ext. 225.
Jasper Environmental Association: Jill Seaton, 780 852-4152.
Alberta Wilderness Association: Christyann Olson, 403 283-2025.