Rockies coal mining report given six-week delivery extension due to volume of submissions

Nov 10, 2021 | 12:53 PM

EDMONTON, AB. – A panel gathering public input on coal mining in the Alberta Rockies will have another six weeks to hand in its report.

Energy Minister Sonya Savage says in a statement that she’s granted the committee’s request for an extension until the end of the year because of the volume of material it has received.

The panel says it has received more than 1,000 emailed documents and 170 detailed written submissions, along with associated materials from 67 meetings across the province.

The five-member panel was supposed to deliver two reports to Savage on Monday one summarizing what it heard and another one with recommendations.

It was originally supposed to deliver the summary report in October, making today’s announcement its second delay.

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The panel was struck in response to a broad public outcry over proposals for open-pit coal mines in the mountains and foothills that are the source of much of Alberta’s drinking water.

Among the voices against coal mining, are University of Calgary researchers, who say the economic, social and environmental impacts of a coal mine on protected land on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains would be negative.

A paper from the university’s School of Public Policy says there would not be an overall benefit to Alberta.

Jennifer Winter says the latest information on coal markets suggests coal a mine would be marginally profitable and its job and tax benefits would be small in relation to Alberta’s economy.

It also says a mine would displace ranching and tourism, damage water and wildlife, and create a risk that taxpayers would end up paying for cleanup.

by The Canadian Press