2012-09-19 AWA Letter: Eastern Slopes Coal Development
AWA letter to the Government of Alberta and the ERCB outlining our concerns about the renwed interest in coal mining in Alberta's Eastern Slopes. AWA has a long-standing interest in the protection of Alberta’s Eastern Slopes. We have been involved throughout the past 45 years with work done to develop policy statements for the Eastern Slopes and we worked extensively to help develop the 1976 Alberta Coal Policy.
Coal Mining on Caw Ridge (Photo Credit: L. Smandych)
The Hon. Alison Redford
Premier of Alberta
Room 307, Legislature Building
10800 – 97th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Email: Premier@gov.ab.ca
Honourable Diana McQueen
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
#132 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Email: draytonvalley.devon@assembly.ab.ca
Honourable Ken Hughes
Minister of Energy
#132 Legislature Building
10800-97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Email: calgary.west@assembly.ab.ca
ERCB
Dan McFadyen, Chairman
Telephone: (403) 297-2215
E-mail: Dan.McFadyen@ercb.ca
September 13, 2012
RE: Eastern Slopes Coal Development
Dear Premier Redford, Minister McQueen, Minister Hughes and Chairman McFadyen:
As you know Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) has a long-standing interest in the protection of Alberta’s Eastern Slopes. We have been involved throughout the past 45 years with work done to develop policy statements for the Eastern Slopes and we worked extensively to help develop the 1976 Alberta Coal Policy.
It has come to our attention that coal companies are renewing interest in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes metallurgical coal as part of new global demand.
AWA would like to remind you and newer government employees of the 1976 Alberta Coal Policy developed under Premier Peter Lougheed.
This policy consists of four land categories designed to guide development:
- Category 1 prohibits surface disturbance in some of the most scenic and valuable lands for wildlife habitat and watershed protection.
- Category 2 allows only for underground operations and
- Category 4 allows either underground or open pit operations but only in proximity to existing rail lines.
- Category 3 lands may be evaluated for inclusion into one or another of the other three categories.
AWA would like your confirmation that the spirit and status of Premier Lougheed’s policy for coal development on our Eastern Slopes remains intact. AWA has had problems knowing that Category 1 was not always applied to lands where it is obvious it have been. A prime example of this missed categorization is Caw Ridge near Grande Cache. The ridge is not only highly aesthetic but is one of Alberta's most important wildlife habitats for most of our Eastern Slopes large mammal species.
Overall, we believe it is critical that the categories defined in the 1976 policy be enforced. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely yours,
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
Christyann Olson,
Executive Director
