Alberta (Rural Rooys Canada) – Alberta’s Energy Regulator (AER) has approved a coal mining exploration project in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, despite fierce opposition from nearby residents.

In a decision released on May 15, the AER announced its approval, with conditions, for Northback Holding Corporation‘s application for a coal exploration program, deep drill permit, and temporary water diversion license at the Grassy Mountain site.

“We are satisfied that throughout the proceeding and in our decision, we have considered the purposes and factors identified in the relevant enactments, and we find that the applications meet all the regulatory requirements,” reads the decision.

In a statement to Rural Roots Canada, Northback says it’s pleased with the decision.

“Northbank thanks the Alberta Energy Regulator for this decision,” it says. “With this outcome, Northback continues our commitment to bring benefits to Albertans while adhering to the highest environmental standards.”

RELATED: New Poll Finds Little Support for Coal Mining in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes 

In its decision, the AER says Northback must adhere to several conditions, including:

• Managing all drilling waste, or ensuring that the handling and disposal of drilling waste, including drilling fluids and cuttings, meets the satisfaction of the AER.
• Providing its project-specific erosion and sediment control plan to the AER before the start of any exploration activities.
• Ensuring all exploration activities are conducted in accordance with Northback’s Integrated Weed Management Plan.
• Ensuring all environmental mitigation measures implemented during the project are consistent with the recommendations outlined in Nortback’s predisturbance site assessments.
• Meeting all the conditions required by Alberta Forestry and Parks for Crown land reservations in the area.

“An applicant must comply with conditions or it is in breach of its approval and subject to enforcement action by the AER,” it adds.

Along with the conditions, Northback also made several commitments to the Piikani Nation, including:

• All data collected by Northback as part of the exploration program is made available to the Nation for their review and analysis, and may be subject to a confidentiality agreement.
• Northback will retain Piikani members as cultural and environmental monitors for the duration of the program.
• Northback will provide to the Piikani Nation, upon request, any information obtained from Northback’s trail cameras located near the lands where the program would be carried out for the duration of the exploration.

The Piikani Nation has previously indicated it supports the limited proposed drilling program for the purposes of obtaining further data about the coal available and how it could be mined, but stressed it had not entered into any agreements with Northback to support any commercial mining or other operations at the Grassy Mountain site. It adds that it will not determine its position on any future projects, including any commercial mine applications, until those applications have been filed and after it has reviewed all available information and data, along with proper consultations.

Laura Laing, co-owner of the Plateau Cattle Company and member of the Pekisko Group, an association of families opposed to coal mining in the Rockies, tells Rural Roots Canada that she is disappointed but not surprised by the decision. She says it’s not in the public’s interest to mine the Grassy Mountain site.

“How can we possibly allow this to happen in the headwaters of our province and agricultural corridor?” she asks. “How can decision makers turn a blind eye to our government’s own research showing Grassy (Mountain) is a heavily burdened area with impacts to water and ecosystems already from legacy mines?”

Liang says she can’t imagine this project won’t cause any disturbance to the landscape, and vows to keep fighting against it.

“We plan to continue to advocate for the protection of the eastern slopes of our Rocky Mountains, watershed, and native grasslands against new coal development,” she says. “It appears decision makers aren’t listening to Albertans nor their own science. We will all need to turn up the volume to ensure Grassy and other areas of the eastern slopes don’t become industrial wastelands.”

You read the full decision on the AER website.