Alberta says ‘modernized’ coal policy will come by late 2025

The Alberta government says it is developing rules that will shape the future of coal mining in the province, but some high-profile projects remain exempt from the new plan.

In 2020, the province moved to rescind a 1976 policy that limited coal development in the Eastern Slopes region. This decision has opened previously off-limits areas to potential development and has led to ongoing public opposition.

In response to the retreat, Govt It reinstated this policy in 2021 And off I went Alberta Coal Policy Commission. That committee It issued its final report In December 2021, Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said the plan aims to address its recommendations.

“If coal mining is allowed, it will only be allowed to the highest possible standards,” Jan told reporters on Friday. “Alberta’s new coal mining standards will be among the best in the world, and the best in Canada.”

As part of the announcement, the Alberta government said it would significantly raise coal royalty rates on new coal mines.

Under what the government calls the Alberta Coal Industry Modernization Initiative, the province has said it will allow coal mining if it meets certain criteria:

• Any mountaintop removal mining will not be permitted as a coal extraction method.
• No new open pit coal mining will be permitted on the Eastern Slopes, in relation to all four categories of the 1976 Coal Development Policy, “subject to any other regulations arising from land use planning work being undertaken”.
• New coal mining proposals will be needed to use technologies that use “best aquatic practices and prevent the addition of selenium to waterways.” New proposals will either need to be underground mines or use mining techniques such as automated underground mining.
• The rules continue under the 1976 Coal Development Policy for National Parks, Provincial Parks, Wildland Parks, Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves and Provincial Recreation Areas.

However, the new rules do not apply to what are referred to as “advanced” coal projects. This includes the long-controversial Grassy Mountain project in southern Alberta.

Alberta Energy The ministry said The Grassy Mountain project is considered an “advanced coal project” because the project summary and environmental impact assessment were submitted to regulators several years ago.

But some legal experts He doubted This designation is the original Grassy Mountain project It was rejected It no longer exists.

Ranchland Municipal District, where the mine is located, Argue Against the project moving forward, the Alberta Court of Appeal A ruling was issued in August Pointing out that she will listen to arguments on this issue.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the announcement “a giant lump of coal right before Christmas.”

“They have released a plan to increase coal mining in Alberta, and to do so in a way that has very little economic benefit and very high environmental risk,” Nenshi said.

“For farmers, ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, the agriculture industry, and people who live downstream, this couldn’t be a worse announcement.”

The government will work with the coal industry to develop regulations but will not consult the general public again. Quoting post done Under the Coal Policy Committee. A new coal policy will be in place by late 2025.

Katie Morrison, executive director of the southern Alberta branch of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), said she hopes the announcement will prevent new open-pit coal mines from being built in Alberta’s foothills in key watersheds.

“But I think some of the wording is definitely a problem in the ad,” Morrison said.

“Even the definition of open pit coal mine, we’ve played this game before, where the government plays with definitions to create loopholes for the industry.”

Northback Holdings, the company leading the Grassy Mountain project, wrote in a statement that it looks forward to working with the county as it moves forward with policy updates.

“Today the Government of Alberta confirmed the Grassy Mountain Project at Northback as an opportunity to restore a formerly mined area and demonstrate modern, responsible mining practices for critical raw materials,” Northback spokeswoman Rina Blacklaws wrote.

CBC News has requested comment from the Canadian Coal Association.