Proposed coal mine in Crowsnest Pass moves ahead to public hearings in October

Jul 6, 2020 | 10:47 AM

BLAIRMORE, AB – The Grassy Mountain Coal Project has passed its environmental assessment and will move to the stage of public input.

A joint panel looking into the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project has reviewed the assessment and said they have sufficient information to continue along the process.

Benga Mining Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Riversdale Resources Limited, is proposing to build an open-pit metallurgical coal mine approximately seven kilometers north of Blairmore.

It would produce a maximum of 4.5-million tonnes of coal per year over its lifespan of 25 years.

Exact dates for the hearings have not yet been announced, but the plan is to hold public hearings in primarily local areas in October 2020.

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“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panel will follow the recommendations of public health authorities and will prioritize the safety of all hearing participants,” reads a statement from the panel. “The Panel is currently considering all reasonable options to ensure that the hearing is accessible to all participants, including the potential for electronic hearing sessions using digital communication tools.”

Some of the groups already identified as being directly affected by the proposed mine include the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, several First Nations in the region, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the Livingstone Landowners’ Group, and the Coalition of Alberta Wilderness Association and Grassy Mountain Group.

Requests to participate in the public hearings must be submitted to IAAC.GrassyMountain.AEIC@canada.ca no later than July 20. More details here.

by David Opinko