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By now you've seen panicked posts about Coal Mines being approved in the Rocky Mountains with no public consultation. Where? What? WHY?
Here's a short breakdown along with a great map to visualize how many leases there are in some of the most pristine and fragile environments
Here's a short breakdown along with a great map to visualize how many leases there are in some of the most pristine and fragile environments
-44 years ago Con Premier Lougheed introduced a Coal Policy to protect AB's Rocky Mtns / Foothills. This policy categorized the land to protect the most important and fragile landscapes.
Cat 1 banned coal development.
Cat 2 banned open pit mines
Cat 3/4 were less restrictive
Cat 1 banned coal development.
Cat 2 banned open pit mines
Cat 3/4 were less restrictive
This amazing interactive map provided by @CBCFletch details the coal leases and category of lands.
Use the << in the top left corner to toggle options: https://robsonfletcher.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=356972f3e8aa4b00befdb5ecaa3ffa0b&extent=-122.1676,48.6429,-105.9408,55.0556&zoom=true&previewImage=false&scale=false&legendlayers=true&disable_scroll=true&theme=light
Use the << in the top left corner to toggle options: https://robsonfletcher.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=356972f3e8aa4b00befdb5ecaa3ffa0b&extent=-122.1676,48.6429,-105.9408,55.0556&zoom=true&previewImage=false&scale=false&legendlayers=true&disable_scroll=true&theme=light
On June 1, 2020 after extensive Foreign Lobbying, often spearheaded by the past PC environment minister Robin Campbell, the UCP quietly rescinded the coal policy with no public consultation. This removed the open-pit mine ban on Category 2 lands along the eastern slopes.
Rescinding the coal policy opened the area S of Kananaskis in the Rocky's Oldman/Livingstone Range and N in the area west of Rocky Mountain House. 2 years ago the Gov was planning a Prov Park in this area due to the amount of recreation and enviro concerns in the headwaters.
All restrictions on issuing coal leases within the former coal cat 2 and 3 lands have now been removed and coal exploration and development activities can now be more easily pursued. Roads are being pushed into explore sensitive areas for future mining already.
On Dec 18, eleven 15 year coal leases were sold to two Australian Coal Companies for $36/hectare in the Livingstone–Porcupine Hills of the Rocky Mountains. The Kananaskis region was also included as a 12th lease, but thankfully did not receive any bids at this time.
3 were in a heritage resources management area
4 were in a critical wildlife zone
1 was in a general recreation zone
8 are within key wildlife and biodiversity zones
4 are within mountain goat and sheep areas
11 are within the Livingstone Grizzly Bear Zone
4 were in a critical wildlife zone
1 was in a general recreation zone
8 are within key wildlife and biodiversity zones
4 are within mountain goat and sheep areas
11 are within the Livingstone Grizzly Bear Zone
BC's Teck Mine in the Crowsnest pass uses state of the art environmental controls ($600 million filtration system) yet Selenium pollution has steadily increased downstream.
Selenium is naturally occurring but is concentrated and released in the waste materials from coal mining. Once released into water systems, it can rapidly bioaccumulate and reach levels that are toxic to fish, wildlife, livestock and humans.
BC's Teck mine was fined 1.4 million for selenium pollution that kills more than an estimated 180,000 fish in the Elk Valley every year! https://thenarwhal.ca/b-c-coal-mine-company-teck-fined-1.../
BC’s water quality recommends max selenium levels of 2parts/Billion to protect aquatic life. Water throughout the Elk Valley exceeded 150parts/billion near mining activities. This resulted in major pop. declines of westslope cutthroat trout in three waterways downstream mines.
Dec 11, 2020 the state of Montana worked with the BC government to develop legislation to try and combat unacceptable levels of Selenium entering Montana from the Teck Mines located across the border in BC. https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthenarwhal.ca%2Fb-c-stalling-rules-selenium-pollution-coal-mines%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2O2vz6xpFxB5a_dgjxubQm0Y2Nym44dIusl-XRJ9iVx-P5h61USkwDBWk&h=AT0Pi1lsFFE-EtgIpAbgifDnBnd06EMXnHNMLcTNzAWq8RpXL55i1IBGv_odtB8FNgTQrynQ_eoZPw2b5gRD55PPLvnl2EsRRLqqIuGMrJDc1ouoBSsIgnCs9dic_syBxXtBvxc&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT0_Hee2_DisXM52XLNjRTQeDQVHp6h3runrFFH0M_XGGtVeFC8OipkyUF8LWy_G1Tb0_HsKvQ-aOGVELPTlY_DJPmWg0r47y82PboYEjDDJ_Mjs_hKy2OMv55_ro2uDRCkK3a4LPvwVsyRlMi9b4TQGHmM6ECd9K6G7IP03YKwNQ1SLMkEWAhX86g7-NwBAp4bNNy77YLu_UUsvLOGU9sbZc6kGgpzl92nZVpb4HlL3FoiEqqLisQCrC-9dHpfi1x_umgUeVe8IGD0fVd8c7zFInTKw2-EShJ4FTQ
A great article looking at the Coal History in Alberta by @CBCFletch https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/bringing-coal-back
There are 2 coal leases currently in Kananaskis between Highwood Pass and the Sheep River Valley. These are located in Cat 2 lands - Green in Kananaskis parks and blue outside Kananaskis parks. The two dark squares show the leases. Zoom in to see mountain and location names.
This is the Livingstone area S of Kananaskis. Green/Brown areas = parks. Blue = Cat 2 land that had an open-pit coal mining ban that was recently removed. Dark areas = existing coal leases. Many of these areas now have active exploration in pristine natural areas, our headwaters
Between Rocky Mountain and Banff lies an area that was on the cusp of becoming an Albertan Park due to it's high recreation & enviro value. Blue area indicates Category 2 lands that had an open-pit coal mine ban removed, dark blue indicates the coal mine leases.
A comedic (Warning: vulgar language) look at how Coal Mining has changed and how it creates very little jobs for the residents left living in a polluted ruined landscape. There is so much more potential for Outdoor Recreation/Tourism in these areas
If you're still here, please take a minute to send an auto-generated letter. We reversed the removal of parks... we can reverse this if we stand just as strong! https://action.cpaws.org/page/65675/action/1
