A LUMP OF COAL: PEOPLE VOICING THEIR OPINIONS
We have a page devoted to letters to the editor this week with a few discussing the Grassy Mountain coal situation in southwest Alberta.
EDITOR:
There has been much discussion regarding the Open Pit Coal Mines planned for the Eastern Slopes. Our provincial government has found itself willingly tangled in a net of challenges including Covid-19 issues, parks, teachers pensions, pipelines, rail transport, abandoned wells, health care workers, economy, and have now decided to take on sculpting our Rocky Mountains down to find coal!
Several days were spent listening to the AER Hearings in October that bandied terms like remediation, economic relief, natural impacts and cultural effects as if once ‘rules and policies’ are established, it’ll be just fine. But we’ve seen the end result of some of these projects and it ain’t purty! Another big gamble!
A footprint on a grand scale is already morphing into a monster which is extremely troubling even though it is only in the initial stages of exploration and assessment. Construction that rearranges roads so industry has priority over access to existing residential properties? There are already road closures and access restrictions! Signing over land leases at bargain basement prices - should we have a conglomeration getting those rights? Ensuring remediation is managed to sustain the current flora and fauna and fish and fowl habitat (including those of us who live downwind and downstream) . . . getting dirt to stick to a rock and expect something to grow out of it at that elevation and under those environmental conditions? We enjoy an average of 22 consecutive frost free days annually here, Chinook Winds in excess of 170kmph can rearrange a lot (dust from Mt St Helen’s, for example), extreme temperature fluctuations and precipitation throughout the year so can’t imagine what kind of vegetation specialization will be required under these conditions at higher elevations! Building infrastructure to accommodate the ‘busy-ness’ and business of mining will chase the resident wildlife away to find safer quarters - our back yards! There’s been no effort by the Mining Companies to establish foundation water or air baseline data . . . don’t they need this information to to ensure remediation is done properly? You would have to know the goals required to realize successful results.
Economic stimulus for up to 500 jobs over a 15-20 year tenure (with 3-4 other projects waiting in the wings further N along the Eastern Slopes) while realizing minimal royalty (1%) in return vs water contamination for that portion of the South Saskatchewan system? Are our neighbours to the east willing to take the water we send them in accordance to the Master Agreement on Appropriation (1996) if it’s carrying coal particulates? Should we be contemplating the disemboweling of our ‘water towers’ for a region that is already recognizing this water resource is in short supply? Removing the very pristine peaks in wildlands that make Alberta Rockies a ‘world recognized destination’ and imploding Rocky Mountains to create particulates for future generations to clean up . . . how much are we really willing to risk?
Taking time to share our concerns with Government Representatives, the attached letter has been sent to the Councilors of our MD of Ranchland #66, Provincial Government - Premier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Minister of Energy, Minister of Environment and Parks, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, local MLA; Members of the Opposition; Federal Government - Prime Minister; Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change; as well as a couple of the mining companies, Atrium and Riversdale.
This has been shared with our various collaborative agencies that contribute to local stewardship efforts of the land including Oldman Watershed Council, Cows and Fish Riparian Habitat, AWA, CPAWS, and the like. This letter has been forwarded to other media in the region and you are welcome to share it too.
This is a unique landscape, one that would be difficult if not impossible to replicate. Let’s do this right so we aren’t left in the dust . . . in the coal dust! Tony and Debbie Webster Chimney Rock Bed and Breakfast
P. O. Box 419
Nanton, Alberta