The COAST Hotel ballroom was filled with people from across southern Alberta for the provincial event on Water Availability Wednesday night.
Mariah Fitzpatrick is one of the first speakers to go up to the microphone, the Lethbridge resident credited the community and province for the work that has been done to conserve water but continued by saying she is concerned about the possible water contamination that could be the result of coal mining on Grassy Mountain. She finished her statement by saying conserving water is “no good if it is conserving poisoned water.” Numerous others stepped up to the microphone to speak to the panel that included Minister of Enviroment and Protected Areas Rebbeca Schulz, stating their concerns about the possibility of dangerous amounts of selenium entering the river water and groundwater.
The conversation about coal mining and the Grassy Mountain coal mining project stems back nearly a decade to when Benga Mining Limited, now known as Northback Holdings, proposed to build and operate an open-pit coal mine near the Crowsnest Pass, just north of Blairmore. Since 2020 the project was deemed as not being in the Public Interest by a Joint Review Panel that was acting for the Alberta Energy Regulator, it has been rejected by the Federal Government with Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson saying at the time the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and in November received a 72 per cent vote of support from those living in the Crowsnest Pass. The vote of support came from a question the municipality asked its 6,000 residents, “Do you support the development and operations of the metallurgical coal mine at Grassy Mountain?” According to reports 53.6 per cent of those eligible to vote in the community turned out for the vote.
Minister Schulz told those in attendance Wednesday the government, spearheaded by Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean, will be working on creating guidelines that include “robust monitoring and testing” to protect Albertans from many of these concerns.
Following the event Schulz tells mylethbridgenow.com any of the feedback received from the community during the forum will be taken back to the other ministers she works with so they know “what issues were top of mine for people,” adding when it comes to the coal mining conversation she believes opinions were heard on both sides of the issue.
“People want to continue to see development happen, in all industries across our province, but also [are] wanting to make sure that our water is safe, not only today but for future generations and our government and certainly Minister Jean are working to ensure that is the case in any and all developments in energy and related industries,” Schulz says.
MLA for Taber-Warner Grant Hunter also served on the panel Wednesday night and says he knows Minister Jean has heard many of these concerns and is listening to them. However, on the flip side of that, he explains that the coal mining being discussed is for metallurgic coal, which is needed in order to build steel which is used to build infrastructure such as bridges, high-rises, high-density houses, and more. The local MLA says he believes moving forward the focus is to find the balance.
“I don’t want to have selenium, high levels of selenium in the water because that will affect our ability to feed the world,” Hunter says. “If we can do it safely, let’s do it safely. But let’s make sure that the science is right.”
Hunter says Minister Jean and Minister Schulz are working to ensure that the environmental impact of these mines is minimal. He adds he knows Schulz will “make sure that whatever happens is done in a very environmentally friendly way.”
The answers provided however did not mitigate the concerns of those in attendance. Member of the Board of Directors for the Eastern Irrigation District John Ketchmark says even though his irrigation district is away from the possible issues that could be possible with coal mining, he understands why so many showed up and were concerned.
“There’s always holes in science and everybody can tell you all the dreams and the hopes and wishes that they want. When the facts come down, it only takes one mistake and the water’s ruined,” Ketchmark says
Lethbridge County Reeve Tory Campbell was also in attendance Wednesday night and heard the concerns of not just local ratepayers on this issue, but ratepayers from across Southern Alberta. He says for many this is a real concern and not only that but with the drought the area has had over the past couple of years he thinks many peoples eyes have been opened the the importance water has on our way of life.
“I think it’s paramount that we have a reliable, safe source of water, so no matter what the threat is to our water, I think it’s important that we advocate,” Campbell says.
On December 20th the province announced they would be developing rules and regulations that will support responsible mining practices while prohibiting mountaintop removal mining and banning new open-pit mines in the foothills.
The announcement says the provincial government’s goal is to make sure the province’s waters are protected from mining contaminants such as selenium. In the announcement, Minister Jean states that a modern coal policy in the province will balance responsible resource development with strong environmental protections.
The statement reads, “Our job now is to develop a policy that respects the natural spaces in the foothills and protects water while allowing for responsible coal development that can attract investment and create jobs.”
The work on the new policy and regulatory framework is said to focus on being “based on the intent of the 1976 Coal Development Policy and picking up on the coal development work done by the 2021 Coal Policy Committee.” It also reportedly will focus on protecting the environment but still allowing coal development in the province.
In December the province said the ministry will start targeted engagement early this year and from this will create new coal regulations and legislation will be drafted for approval later in 2025.
