Timeline — Grassy Mountain Coal Project
GRASSY MOUNTAIN COAL PROJECT
—A TIMELINE—
On June 17th, 2021, Benga’s Grassy Mountain Coal Project was denied by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) as a part of the Joint Review Panel process. The panel's report concluded that the coal project’s environmental effects were NOT worth the low-moderate economic benefits, and that the project would result in the loss of lands used for traditional activities by Indigenous peoples.
CPAWS has been involved in the fight against the Grassy Mountain Coal Project since 2015, and this outcome was an important win. The rejection of the project by the AER means that no federal decision is necessary and the project cannot go ahead. While Riversdale Resources (Benga) has since stated that it is "reviewing its options" for the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, it is unlikely that an appeal can be made. We’ve created this timeline to provide a clear history of the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, and the actions we took that helped inform the AER’s decision to ultimately deny the project.
1913-1958
The Greenhill Coal Mine, operated by Western Canadian Collieries in the south end of the Grassy Mountain region, produces a total of about 8 million tonnes of coking coal in its 45 years of operation.
1970-1972
Scurry Rainbow conducts a coal exploration program in the Grassy Mountain region using drilling and trenching
1973-1975
Consol Energy Inc. conducts a drilling program and a bulk sample extraction of 54,000 tonnes.
2013
Nearly 40 years after the cessation of coal activity in Grassy Mountain, Benga Coal Mining Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian Riversdale Resources Ltd.) purchases coal leases and land in the region, and initiates coal exploration.
March 20, 2015
Benga submits a Project Description for its proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). The proposed coal project would remove the top of Grassy Mountain, span 2,800 hectares, and have a yearly production capacity of 4.5 million tonnes over a mine-life of 24 years (2021-2045).
April, 2015
CPAWS submits comments on the Project Description and requests a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project.
May 14, 2015
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announces that a federal environmental assessment will be required for the project to move forward.
July, 2015
CPAWS submits a request for federal funding, indicating the organization's intention to engage in the Environmental Impact Assessment and the eventual project hearing.
July 16, 2015
The Minister of Environment announces the decision to refer the Grassy Mountain Coal Project hearing to a joint federal-provincial review panel.
July 17, 2015
Local resident Mitch Bonertz launches an official complaint with Alberta Environment and Parks after finding coal mines deposits that had coated the bed of Gold Creek and settled in the deeper pools. Preliminary findings indicate that the material came from previous mining operations on Grassy Mountain.
November, 2015
Benga submits Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for provincial and federal review.
January, 2016
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) determines that the Grassy Mountain Coal Project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is not complete. “Major deficiencies” are cited in the conservation and reclamation plan, biodiversity impact assessment, and much more. These issues need to be addressed before the project can proceed.
August, 2016 - Present
The media shares the risks of Grassy with the general public. The first article of many to come appears in Alberta Venture.
2016-2020
Over the course of four years, Benga submits 12 Addendums to its EIA to meet the requirements of their Terms of Reference.
October 31, 2017
Benga submits applications to the Alberta Energy Regulator for approval under the Coal Conservation Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, and Public Lands Act.
December, 2017
CPAWS submits a Statement of Concern to the AER regarding Benga's 2017 applications, focusing on the project's impacts on westslope cutthroat trout, selenium pollution, limber pine, whitebark pine, and wildlife habitat and connectivity.
August 16, 2018
A three-member Joint Federal-Provincial Review Panel is established to review Benga’s proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project. The panel will conduct a review of the potential environmental effects of Grassy, alongside possible mitigation measures, and determine whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
January, 2019
CPAWS submits a review of the updated Grassy EIA, supplying recommendations and requests for additional information.
September, 2019
CPAWS submits recommendations to the Joint Review Panel following a Grassy Mountain site tour.
October, 2019
CPAWS retains the Public Interest Law Clinic as legal representation on Grassy Mountain and the future public hearing for the project.
May, 2020
CPAWS and the Livingstone Landowners Group launch ab4coalfreesw.com, which originally focused only on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project. The site is soon expanded into ab4coalfreerockies.com to include the coal policy rescission and coal issues in the entire Eastern Slopes. The site includes information blogs and letter writing tools.
June 2019-2020
CPAWS and Livingstone Landowners Group distribute “Say No to Grassy” postcards to fly-fishing shops and businesses, and work with landowners to erect large signs along Highway 22.
June 1, 2020
The Government of Alberta rescinds the 1976 Coal Policy. This does not directly affect the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project because Grassy is on "Category 4" lands that were not sufficiently protected under the 1976 Coal Policy.
June 25, 2020
The Joint Review Panel determines that the information in the EIA, the Addendums, and the Supplemental Information Requests (including five from CPAWS) is now sufficient to proceed to the public hearing.
July 17, 2020
CPAWS confirms participation in hearing and starts to retain experts in selenium mitigation, coal quality, and adaptive management.
October 27 - December 2, 2020
Benga's Grassy Mountain Coal Project undergoes a hearing on its Environmental Impact Assessment by the Joint Review Panel. The hearing process is a key part of the government process to make a decision on whether the mine will be approved or not. CPAWS, Livingstone Landowners Group, Alberta Wildlife Association, MD Ranchlands, and Timberwolf Society all participate as intervenors, retaining experts to present on environmental, economic, community, and Treaty rights concerns, and to make recommendations to deny the project.
November, 2020
Niitsitapi Water Protectorsform, expressing concerns over Grassy Mountain Coal Project’s lack of engagement of First Nations community members and the proposed projects impacts on treaty rights.
December, 2020
CPAWS holds webinar with Niitsitapi Water Protectors, Trails End Beef and recreation representatives.
January, 2021
Niitsitapi Water Protectors hosts a webinar with CPAWS' support on Indigenous concerns surrounding coal mining.
November, 2020 - June, 2021
Increased public awareness on coal risks in the Eastern Slopes brings more public attention to Grassy Mountain and increases pressure to reject the project.
January 15, 2021
Final intervenor statements for the hearing and public input submitted to the Joint Review Panel.
February 8, 2021
The 1976 Coal policy is reinstated by the Government of Alberta in response to public backlask. This has no effect on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project as it is on Category 4 lands, which were no sufficiently protected under the 1976 Coal Policy.
February 11 - March 13, 2021
Latasha Calf Robe and the Niitsítapi Water Protectors gather 18,333 signatures on their federal petition to halt a decision on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project until a thorough Regional Assessment is done that looks at the cumulative impacts on all coal activity in the Southwest Eastern Slopes. The petition is read in the House of Commons on March 22, 2021.
October, 2020 - May, 2021
Nearly 5,000 letters demanding a stop to the Grassy Mountain Coal Project are sent to the government using the CPAWS “Say no to Grassy” letter writing tool.
June 17, 2021
Benga’s Grassy Mountain Coal Project is denied by the Alberta Energy Regulator as a part of the Joint Review Panel process. The panel's report concludes that given the coal project’s environmental effects and the loss of lands used for traditional activities by Indigenous peoples, compared to the low-moderate economic benefits, the project is not in the public interest.
The rejection of the project by the AER means that no federal decision is necessary and the project cannot go ahead.
Thank you to everyone you donated, rallied, wrote letters, and rose awareness to achieve this in incredible win in the fight for a coal-free Rockies. If you appreciate our contribution, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation. Your gift goes a long way in helping us protect Alberta’s wilderness.