Recent comments in the form of opinion pieces from Robin Campbell, of the Coal Association of Canada and Eric Lowther, former MP , have a distinctly sour…
Opinion: Grassy Mountain coal mine proposal was wisely rejected calgaryherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from calgaryherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. The Livingstone Landowners Group says it hopes the Alberta government and province s coal consultation committee will heed the findings of a new report that recommends coal mining in the headwaters of the Oldman River not proceed. “What this is demonstrating is one coal mine is a problem. Two coal mines are a bigger problem,” said LLG Secretary Bobbi Lambright. “And if we got more coal mines, then you’ve got a huge problem,” The study, conducted by scientists and ecologists with the Alces Group, an environmental consulting company, concluded new coal mines on the Eastern Slopes would have a significant and irreversible impact on the Oldman River watershed.
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There’s one sure-fire way to anger Albertans promise us one thing and then renege on the promise.
In the midst of the rage over an extremely ill-considered plan to throw open the eastern slopes for coal mining, we were promised an independent process to provide advice to government on the future of coal. From the terms of reference, we have learned it’s not about an open, unfettered opportunity to tell the UCP government of our concerns about water contamination, of diverting water to wash coal, the reality of recreation, fish and wildlife and sustainable business losses, a real concern over human health, the inability to reclaim or restore mined areas and the overarching issue of climate change. Rather than discussing whether or not coal mining is a good idea, it is about the “where, when and how” of development.