News 2020
December 2020
December 2020
Coal mining now permitted in all areas except Category 1 lands.
The Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition is asking concerned Albertans to tell Jason Kenney Whoa to motorized recreation in the Castle Parks.
Mac Blades (foreground) carries on his family’s 100-year ranching tradition on the slopes of Alberta’s Rockies. He and his wife Renie joined a lawsuit to stop open-pit coal mining in the area after restrictions were lifted. Photo by Callum Gunn.
Monica Field performs her original song written about coal mining in the Eastern Slopes.
The Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition is asking concerned Albertans to tell Jason Kenney Whoa to motorized recreation in the Castle Parks.
August 2022
July/August 2020
August 2020
July 2020
Teck Coal Mine in the Elk Valley, B.C. Narwhal photo
Kevin Van Tighem
June 2020
June 2020
May 2020
May 2020
May 2020
Obituary notice in Shootin’ the Breeze, May 20, 2020
May 2020
April 2020
May 2020
Photo courtesy of Jayce Hawkins and the Narwhal
March 22, 2020
Province rewriting water rules to support coal mines in the Eastern Slopes
In its push to drive mountain top removal coal mining into the formerly protected areas of the Eastern Slopes, the Alberta government is now looking to change current rules in the water-scarce region to allow more industrial water use. The plan would allow coal mines to pull water directly from the Oldman River headwaters above the dam.
CBC explores the issue in an article published on Dec. 7, 2020. Read the full article here.
Grassy Mountain Hearing has concluded.
The Public Hearing into the proposed Grassy Mountain coal project has concluded. The online hearing took place Oct. 27 - Dec. 2. A Youtube link is still available for the public to review the hearing proceedings. Full filed documentation can be accessed at the JRC site. The joint review panel is expected to submit its report to the Federal Minister of the Environment by mid-year 2021.
Alberta Government offers more of the Eastern Slopes for Coal Mining
The province is offering more of its Rocky Mountain landscapes to coal mining after rescinding a decades-old policy that protected them.
In documents released in early December, Alberta Energy is giving miners until Dec. 15 to bid on nearly 2,000 hectares on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Surface mining on those lands would have been prohibited under the former coal policy rescinded in May. Read full story here.
Tell Jason Kenney Whoa! to Motorized Recreation in the Castle
After an extensive and exhaustive review of the conservation science, and after the largest public consultation in Alberta’s history, the Castle Management Plan (CMP) was finalized in May 2018. One very important provision of the CMP is the complete phase out of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in the Castle. The Kenney Government has put this phase out on hold.
LLG Congratulates Andrew Nikiforuk on Being Named ‘Commentator of the Year’
Independent journalist Andrew Nikiforuk is recipient of this year’s Webster Award, BC’s top journalism prize, for Commentator of the Year. The award recognizes his in-depth analyses related to the pandemic published in The Tyee.
Andrew has also written numerous articles on a wide range of subjects, including energy and the environment. Check out his recent article titled: Threatened by Coal, Ranchers Take the Kenney Government to Court. Alberta is poised to let miners destroy mountaintops and vital watersheds grazed for a century.
Trading Mountain Beauty for Beautiful Lies
During the Grassy Mountain Hearing many local residents shared their perspectives on the proposed mine. Perhaps the most unique approach was offered by LLG member Monica Field who composed and performed an original song for the hearing panel. Monica and her husband David McIntyre spoke to the panel on Thursday, Oct. 29. To view the hearing use this link (you can watch archived video from the hearing)
Tell Jason Kenney Whoa! to Motorized Recreation in the Castle
After an extensive and exhaustive review of the conservation science, and after the largest public consultation in Alberta’s history, the Castle Management Plan (CMP) was finalized in May 2018. One very important provision of the CMP is the complete phase out of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in the Castle. The Kenney Government has put this phase out on hold.
Swimming For Southern Alberta’s Headwaters
Nichole Robinson, 26, swam the length of the Oldman Reservoir on Saturday, Aug. 22, to alert the public to the danger of water pollution from the open pit coal mines proposed in the South Eastern Slopes. For more photos and information, including media coverage click here.
Coal Mining Issue Attracting Increased Media Attention
A cross section of concerns are being raised in numerous media articles and opinion editorials as more people become aware of the risks associated with proposed coal mining in the Eastern Slopes. Click here to read a number of recent articles and opinion pieces related to coal.
AESO Intends to File Transmission Need Application
The Alberta Electric System Operator has announced plans to file a need application for the Chapel Rock-To-Pincher Creek Transmission project in late 2020. AESO is still considering a northern and southern option with details on the proposed routes to be released by AltaLink later this month. Read AESO letter here.
Bringing coal back
In a desperate economic moment, Alberta is abruptly reshaping a decades-old balance in the Rockies and Foothills, chasing opportunity in the volatile market of coal exports, at the risk of the very land that defines the province and its people.”-- CBC Article Published July 7, 2020
2020 Winner of the Robert Bateman Award
Congratulations to author and longtime LLG member Kevin Van Tighem for winning the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Robert Bateman Award for his writings. The award is to recognize those who, through artistic expression, have furthered the awareness of and appreciation for Canada’s wildlife and habitats and their conservation. Read more.
Hearing for Grassy Mountain Coal
The federal/provincial joint review panel announced on June 25, 2020 it is ready to move to a public hearing on the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project. LLG has sent a letter asking the panel to clarify participation and funding and to hold a pre-hearing meeting to address procedural issues. LLG also asked the panel to require Benga to create a single, readable response from more than 17,000 pages of documents.
Proposed Coal Mining Activity in the Livingstone Region
Cancellation of Alberta’s previous Coal Policy has opened the door to a series of mountain top removal coal mines in the Livingstone Region. LLG and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) - Southern Alberta Chapter are working together to oppose these industrial projects given the risk to water and air quality, wildlife habitat, recreation value and rural quality of life. We have also created a new joint website dedicated to the coal issue: www.ab4coalfreesw.ca.
Read CPAWS/LLG news release here
Alberta Government Changes Coal Restrictions To Ease Development
On May 15, 2020 The Alberta government announced it is changing coal policies to make it easier to develop open-pit mines in sensitive areas on the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. The changes, to come into effect June 1, abolish graduated protections that have been in place since 1976 for land in Alberta’s southwestern foothills. LLG spokesman Kevin Van Tighem comments in a Canadian Press news article. See also CBC video May 22 and CTV news video aired May 24, 2020
Alberta Energy Regulator temporarily suspends some environmental monitoring
A recent Globe and Mail article raises questions about a recent Alberta government decision to temporarily suspend a list of environmental monitoring and reporting requirements by industry.
Farewell Friend
The LLG Board of Directors and members are deeply saddened by the loss of Ted. His commitment and contributions as a long standing LLG member, board director and past president cannot be replaced.
Ted’s contributions to the community were lifelong and his tenacity and commitment on pursuing issues were a guiding light for all of us.
We send our sincere condolences to his wife Heather and their family. We are very grateful for the wisdom, experience, common sense and friendship he brought to our group.
LLG Annual General Meeting - May 2020
COVID-19 Restrictions are forcing us to take a non-traditional approach to our Annual General Meeting normally held in early May. This year we will be conducting the meeting through an email process. Members will be sent key documents by email and will have an opportunity to nominate Board Members and vote on AGM items in the same way. See message from the LLG President.
Cumulative Effects Study (ACTWS) - April 2020
The Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society (ACTWS) has released its Cumulative Effects of Land Uses and Conservation Priorities in Alberta’s Southern East Slope Watersheds analysis.
The study considers the complex cumulative effects of increasingly intensive land use in the East Slopes.
Grassy Mountain Coal - Public Input
A controversial coal mining project, Grassy Mountain Coal, in the Crowsnest Pass is being reviewed by a Joint Federal/Provincial Panel. LLG submitted response May 2, 2020 to Benga’s 1,322 page Addendum to its Coal Environmental Impact Assessment Read more.
LLG is working collaboratively with Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and other stakeholders. A Mining Engineer has been engaged and the next step is to hire Health Specialists to address the sufficiency (or insufficiency) and technical merit of Benga’s plan. Donate now to help us hire appropriate experts and prepare crucial evidence.
Finding Water: Healthy Land, Healthy Stream
LLG is proud to introduce our new educational tool for water stewardship produced with financial assistance of The Land Stewardship Centre. This 25-minute video was written and narrated by LLG Board member, Kevin Van Tighem.
Filmed and edited by videographer Yvan Lebel, the new film features never before seen underwater images of westslope cutthroat trout and the bull trout- both of which are classified as species at risk.
Banner photo by David McIntyre