Alberta government announces tougher new coal rules, Grassy Mountain project still on the table
“We will not put our water at risk in any way. Protecting our waters will be a top priority when considering new mining projects. The Foothills are the headwaters for most of southern Alberta and these waters will be protected. Any existing or new coal project in the Foothills will need to prevent additional selenium leaching into our waters. This can be done. Industry knows how to do it, and we will make sure industry does whatever is necessary to keep selenium out of our water.”
“We will protect the Foothills. We are not allowing mountaintop removal mining, not ever. We will not allow any new open-pit coal mines in the Foothills. Let me repeat, no new open-pit coal mines in the Foothills.”
However, this does not mean there won’t be any open-pit mines like the proposal for Grassy Mountain in southern Alberta, near Blairmore.
“The Grassy mine proposal, of course, was an exempt mine going forward but there are absolutely no exceptions in relation to selenium. And the AER (Alberta Energy Regulator) is, of course, an arm’s length independent regulator and we’re going to make sure that they will be dealing with all of the new mine applications as well as the existing ones and hold them to the highest possible standard. And the water they are using right now is from a contained pond, a tailings pond.”
Minister Jean said the province is looking to update their old policies and substantially increase coal royalties for Albertans.
“We’re bringing coal development in Alberta from the 19th century to the 21st century. This action addresses the 2021 coal policy committee’s recommendations to build a long-term legislative and regulatory framework to guide responsible coal development across our great province and it builds on the 1976 coal development policy that was designed to protect the Foothills while encouraging responsible mineral development.”
The minister said the province will not be pursuing thermal coal, which is used to heat homes, but metallurgical coal.
“What we’re talking about here is mostly metallurgical coal which is absolutely vital for the world for steel making.”
Minister Jean said they are still working on the CIMI and the final plan and “should be ready by next year.”