Decision on Grassy Mountain coal mining project expected in June

The Alberta Energy Regulator is expected to make a decision on a proposal to explore for coal in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains by early June.

A statement from fifth-generation rancher Reata Schlosser sums up her opposition to the possibility of coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in southeast Alberta.

“It’s the most valuable resource in the entire world — we know there is a shortage of it in the world, and lucky to have the fresh water that we have in our country,” Schlosser said.

“And to be ignorant enough to just be willing to sacrifice that, I think, is very shortsighted.”

Schlosser, whose family grazes cattle in the headwaters of the Oldman and Livingstone river watersheds joined about a hundred other ranchers, environmentalists and concerned Albertans at a protest Tuesday, March 4, outside the downtown Calgary offices of the Alberta Energy Regulator.

Inside the AER was hearing final oral arguments from proponents and opponents of Northback Holdings plans to exploratory drilling for coal at Grassy Mountain, about seven kilometres north of Blairmore in the Crowsnest Pass — an area Northback says was the location of a previous coal mine, owned a different company, in the late 1950s.

Northback’s Rina Blacklaws defended the company’s plans as only exploratory drilling.

“One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to what we’re doing here today is this is for applications related to a very straightforward exploration drilling program that’s going to have very minimal environmental effects,” said Blacklaws.

“It’s on previously disturbed plans — it will pose no risk to public safety and can be done following the regulations of the AER.”