Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – It was an issue many thought had been settled, but the debate over open-pit mining in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes has been reignited.

In 2020, public outcry forced the province to put a moratorium on nearly all new coal exploration and development in the Eastern Slopes. However, Alberta’s energy minister, Brian Jean, lifted the moratorium last month to help reduce regulatory confusion around coal mining.

Rancher Kelly Hall, owner of the Timber Ridge conservation site west of Nanton, worries about the potential contamination of the water supply if mining proceeds.

“We’re extremely concerned because of the health risks that are involved,” says Hall. “Selenium and other heavy metals like arsenic could be present in our water system.”

Beyond drinking water, Hall warns of impacts on irrigation and the economy.

The irrigation systems provide an enormous amount of food and an enormous amount to the GDP of this province. The health risk is to everything including wildlife, agriculture and irrigation.”

READ MORE: Changing the conversation: Cattle, grassland, and the environment

A petition has been launched and Hall says the fight will continue for as long as it takes.

“There’s not a lot of foresight about the future of water in this province and the importance of water in this province by some politicians,” she says. “Nobody can quite figure it out because the science is speaking for itself. And the science is government science that shows that we shouldn’t be doing this.”

The UCP government has said the environment remains at the forefront of all discussions. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said that when the decision was made to lift the moratorium, the province had taxpayers in mind, citing five lawsuits filed by coal companies against Alberta. The companies say they’re owed $15 billion in costs and lost revenue.