Weigh in on the future of coal mining in Alberta

Alberta’s Rockies and foothills have some of the most intact landscapes in the entire 3,200 km long Yellowstone to Yukon region.

Now through April 19, the Province of Alberta is currently asking Albertans to share their thoughts on the future of coal development in the Province. We encourage you to take the initial survey by Monday to ensure that the land, wildlife and source waters in the region are protected from threats posed by future coal mining. 

The survey is open to all ages; teenagers and children are encouraged to take part as well, to speak up for their future. 

Y2Y is concerned that the Province is still actively pursuing the expansion of the metallurgical coal mining industry. Despite the consultation currently underway, exploratory activities such as road building and drill holes for several projects continue. Why are these activities occurring if a "new" coal policy might not permit actual coal mines in these areas?  

The structure of the survey and its focus on “coal development” is only somewhat adequate for Albertans to provide their views on the importance of protecting the water, wildlife and treasured recreation areas of the Eastern Slopes. Nonetheless, it’s important to take a few minutes to complete the survey and take advantage of the few long-form responses to share your thoughts.  

Here’s a list of the survey questions, and some key points being considered by Y2Y. These are guidelines only, we strongly encourage you to make responses your own.  

It’s time to let the Province know that coal mining shouldn’t be allowed anywhere in Alberta’s Rockies and Foothills and that we need more protections for these critical landscapes, not less. 

Take the survey now.

Note: We haven’t numbered the questions; your initial response to questions 2, 11, 12, 14 could lead to a long-form (255 word limit) text response that renumbers the entire survey. 

Question: To what extent does the management of Alberta’s coal resources affect you?  

(Personal response at your discretion) or major effect. 

Question: Please describe how you are affected. 

(only appears if you answered the first question)

Coal mining in the Eastern Slopes has far-reaching effects, and is relevant to all Albertans. 

• These regions provide 90% of Alberta’s drinking and irrigation water, as well as into Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Concerns include widespread selenium contamination and reducing available water to the increasingly drier foothills and prairies. 
• Our Rockies and foothills offer abundant recreation and tourism opportunities. 
• Impacts an iconic landscape important to First Nations traditional land uses and Albertan’s identity and values. 
• Threats to species at risk — grizzlies, westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, whitebark pine. 

Question: How important do you think the economic benefits of coal development are to Alberta and its communities. 

• According to Statistics Canada, coal mining employment in Alberta has declined 48% in the past two decades, especially as thermal coal use is being phased out.  
• The future of the metallurgical coal market is uncertain as the steelmaking industry continues to advance efforts to mitigate climate change, with a predicted rise in alternative technologies that require less coal.                    
• Royalties paid to the province from coal mining are low (1% of gross revenue). 
• Lack of comprehensive analysis comparing the economic benefits of coal versus the cost of impacts on water and intact landscapes. 

Question: How familiar are you with the details of the 1976 Coal Policy and regulation of coal development in Alberta? 

(Personal response at your discretion)

Question: How familiar are you with the coal categories? 

The Coal Policy provides this summary from the Policy: 

Category 1: lands where “no exploration or commercial development will be permitted.” (National Parks, Prov. Parks, Wilderness Areas, Natural Areas, Restricted Development Study Areas, Watershed Research Study Basins, Designated Recreation Areas, Designated Heritage Sites, Wildlife Sanctuaries, settled urban areas and major lakes and rivers). 

Category 2: lands “in which limited exploration is desirable and may be permitted under strict control but in which commercial development by surface mining will not normally be considered at the present time.” (generally prohibits surface - open pit, mountaintop removal or strip - mining) 

Category 3: lands “in which exploration is desirable and may be permitted under appropriate control but in which development by surface or underground mining or in-situ operations will be approved subject to proper assurances respecting protection of the environment and reclamation of disturbed lands and as the provision of needed infrastructure is determined to be in the public interest.” 

Category 4: lands “in which exploration may be permitted under appropriate control and in which surface or underground mining or in-situ operations may be considered subject to proper assurances respecting protection of the environment and reclamation of disturbed lands.” 

What these categories do not state is that valuable ecosystem components like intact forest and source water areas are not only found in the more-protected Category 1 lands. 

Question: Are you familiar with uses for metallurgical coal? 

Metallurgical coal is mined primarily to make steel. 

Question: Are you familiar with uses for thermal coal? 

Thermal coal is used primarily to generate electricity. This use is being phased out in Alberta by 2030. 

Question: Please rate your familiarity with coal exploration that is currently underway or has been carried out in the past. 

Coal exploration has occurred for many years throughout the Eastern Slopes. Currently, a number of projects are in the exploratory activities are approved and occurring in the Crowsnest Pass and Nordegg areas, despite the uncertainty of how the current consultation will impact future coal development policies. 

Question: How confident are you that coal exploration in Alberta is regulated to ensure it is safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible? 

The Alberta Energy Regulator, an industry-focused entity, oversees exploration regulation. It is very difficult for non-industry stakeholders to voice concerns, and such concerns are often dismissed due to being assessed as not “directly and adversely affected” by the exploration activities. Numerous projects are posted and approved in 24 hours or less. 

Question: Please rate your familiarity with coal development that is currently underway or has been carried out in the past. 

(Personal response at your discretion)

Question: How confident are you that coal development in Alberta is regulated to ensure it is safe, efficient, orderly and environmentally responsible? 

As stated above regarding exploration, Y2Y is concerned that the regulatory system provides little chance for representation of interests beyond industry. Additionally, recent stories of unreported selenium contamination from currently active mines suggests a weakness in the regulatory process. 

Question: Are there areas in the province that could be appropriate for coal exploration and development? 

Metallurgical coal deposits in Alberta are found in the Rockies and Foothills. Mining in this region should be prohibited due to extensive and irreversible impacts to land, water, wildlife and recreation.

Thermal coal, mined in other regions, is being phased out and is a significant contributor to planetary greenhouse gas emissions. 

Question: Please describe.

(Appears if you answered yes to the immediately preceding question.)

See above 

Question: Are there areas in the province that should not be appropriate for coal exploration and development? 

See above. 

Question: Please describe.

(Appears if you answered yes to the immediately preceding question.)

See above 

Question: As the committee engages with Albertans, what topics do you consider to be the most important when discussing Alberta’s coal policy? Please rank in order of importance. 

Environmental considerations should be prioritized, as per Y2Y's rankings below: 

Question: Do you think there are topics missing from this list? 

Personal yes or no response. If yes, you have more space to elaborate.  

Y2Y feels coal policy discussions should not be a stand-alone process. Instead, it should be part of a much larger discussion on land use planning and a revised policy on all land uses of the Eastern Slopes that assesses cumulative impacts and provides environmental accounting to properly understand the value of water and intact landscapes. 

Question: Public health measures could continue to prevent in person gatherings to some extent for the duration of the engagement. With that in mind, how would you like to engage with the committee? 

This question provides a list of options and is largely subjective.  

Question: What aspects of the 1976 Coal Policy and regulation of coal exploration and development do you want to become more familiar with before participating in the engagement? 

This is an opportunity to select any areas that you feel need further explanation or definition in order to make informed decisions on coal development. 

The final three questions are related to personal information. 

Take the survey now.

Header photo: C. Simmons