Rocky Mountain Coal mining region - The Canadian Press

By Canadian Press

Nearly 1200 Submissions Received

Rockies coal mining report given six-week delivery extension due to volume of submissions

Nov 10, 2021 | 5:14 PM

EDMONTON, AB. – A panel gathering public input on coal mining in the Alberta Rockies will have another six weeks to hand in its report.

Energy Minister Sonya Savage says in a statement that she’s granted the committee’s request for an extension until the end of the year because of the volume of material it has received.

The panel says it has received more than 1,000 emailed documents and 170 detailed written submissions, along with associated materials from 67 meetings across the province.

The five-member panel was supposed to deliver two reports to Savage on Monday one summarizing what it heard and another one with recommendations.

It was originally supposed to deliver the summary report in October, making today’s announcement its second delay.

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The panel was struck in response to a broad public outcry over proposals for open-pit coal mines in the mountains and foothills that are the source of much of Alberta’s drinking water.

Among the voices against coal mining, are University of Calgary researchers, who say the economic, social and environmental impacts of a coal mine on protected land on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains would be negative.

A paper from the university’s School of Public Policy says there would not be an overall benefit to Alberta.

Jennifer Winter says the latest information on coal markets suggests coal a mine would be marginally profitable and its job and tax benefits would be small in relation to Alberta’s economy.

It also says a mine would displace ranching and tourism, damage water and wildlife, and create a risk that taxpayers would end up paying for cleanup.

NDP Critic for Environment Marlin Schmidt issued the following statement in response to the news that the UCP has extended the report deadline from the Coal Policy Committee:

“Today’s news that the UCP has extended the deadline for the Coal Policy Committee to release their report is irritating.

“This is a government that rescinded the 1976 Lougheed Coal Policy, which ensured protections for the province’s most sensitive lands, quietly on a long weekend during a pandemic. Now, they’re planning to release this long-awaited report during New Years Eve celebrations, when they know most Albertans will not be able to read it.

“Albertans have made it very clear that they do not want coal mining in the Eastern Slopes. In fact, a report released today by the University of Calgary concludes that a new coal mine on protected land in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains wouldn’t be an overall benefit to Alberta. It states the economic, social, and environmental impacts of such a development would be negative. This is why we are calling for the UCP to immediately pass Rachel Notley’s Eastern Slopes Protection Act and stop coal mining in the Rockies this fall.

“Enough is enough. The UCP must start listening to Albertans, and start listening to research. They must abandon their misguided attempts to push for more mines in the Rockies, and reinstate policies that will protect our mountains for future generations.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)