From the CPAWS Southern Alberta website:
On June 1st, a provincial Coal Policy that has been in place since 1976 was rescinded by the Government of Alberta. The cancellation of the policy removed land zoning that restricted open pit coal mining and coal exploration in some of Alberta’s most environmentally sensitive areas. Read more about Coal? Are you serious?
EDMONTON, AB – CPAWS applauds the decision by the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, to approve the request for a federal impact assessment for a proposed thermal coal mine expansion near Hinton, Alberta. The decision shows Minister Wilkinson understands the serious need to assess adverse environmental impacts that result from outdated thermal coal mining. Read more about Canada agrees federal impact assessment necessary for mine expansion near Hinton, Alberta
CALGARY – Ecojustice lawyer and climate program director Alan Andrews issued the following statement in response to Minister Wilkinson’s decision to designate Coalspur’s Vista coal mine expansion for a federal impact assessment: Read more about STATEMENT: Vista coal mine expansion to undergo federal impact assessment, Ecojustice reacts
On July 9th, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) denied Horn Ridge Resources Ltd.’s application to explore for coal in the Kakwa wilderness, west of Grande Cache.
AWA commends the AER for refusing this application as it poses a significant risk to valued wildlife populations and the ecological integrity of sensitive alpine and sub-alpine landscapes. Read more about Alberta Energy Regulator Rules that Coal and Wildlife Don’t Mix
The Alberta Wilderness Association has posted their letter to Premier Kenney requesting that the provincial government reinstate Alberta's Coal Policy. The text of the letter is copied below.
Read more about Letter to Premier Kenny: Reinstate Alberta’s Coal Policy
Calgary – The Government of Alberta has rescinded A Coal Development Policy for Alberta (1976; the Coal Policy). CPAWS Southern Alberta is concerned about the impacts this will have on Alberta’s treasured mountains and foothills along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. “There are currently no other land use plans or policies that directly replace the environmental zoning and restrictions under the Coal Policy” says Katie Morrison, Conservation Director for CPAWS Southern Alberta. “This leaves sensitive headwaters regions and treasured landscapes that provide habitat for species like grizzly bear, elk, and threatened native trout, at risk to the disturbances that come with surface coal mining and increased exploration.”
Since 1976, the Coal Policy has provided important land use zoning frameworks which have informed management and development of coal mines along the eastern slopes region of Alberta.
The Coal Policy’s Land Classification System prevented coal development on Category 1 lands and restricted development to underground or in-situ mining under Category 2 lands along the eastern slopes. The Coal Policy Category 2 covers 1,458,000 ha of the headwaters areas that provide the majority of drinking water to downstream communities in Alberta and across the prairies. With the removal of the coal policy, open-pit coal mines will now be permitted on these sensitive lands. Read more about Rescinding the Alberta Coal Policy opens headwaters in the eastern slopes of the Rockies to open-pit coal mining
Coal Policy land zones, which have protected important mountain and foothills headwaters and wildlife habitat from open pit coal mining since 1976, were stripped away in a recent move by the Government of Alberta.
This policy change, made without any public consultation, has the potential to open up over 4.7 million hectares of environmentally sensitive lands to boom-and-bust coal developments, further jeopardizing headwaters integrity, wildlife security and the recovery of species at risk. Read more about Alberta Strips Away Significant Mountain-Foothills Protection To Encourage Coal Mines
Joint letter submitted on behalf of 18 Alberta environmental and community groups the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and all members of the Canadian federal cabinet. The 18 signatories to the letter are Alberta environmental and community groups that urge the cabinet to not approve the proposal for Teck Resources' Frontier Oil Sands Mine.
This month the Government of Canada will approve or reject the massive 290 sq-km Teck Frontier oil sands mine project in northern Alberta. This project is a serious danger to our boreal forest and poses risks that cannot be ignored. If approved, the mine will threaten Wood Buffalo National Park, key species at risk, and Canada’s ability to reach its climate commitments. Nature can’t afford to support this project.
Read more about Action Alert: Tell the Government to REJECT Teck Frontier Mine
CALGARY – Environmental law group Ecojustice and the Pembina Institute are concerned about the potential climate impacts of the Teck Resources’ Frontier oilsands open pit mine, following the release of a Joint Review Panel report today that recommends its approval.
Despite finding that the mine would have significant adverse impacts on the environment – including the irreversible loss of 14,000 hectares of wetlands – the Panel concluded that those impacts are justified and that the project is in the public interest. Moreover, despite previous legal precedent, the Panel failed to recognize the adverse climate impacts or explain why the emissions impacts of this project are not significant. Read more about Pending approval of new oilsands mine cause for concern
