Western Standard - Coal, Culture, and Conflict - Grassy Mountain Coal Project in #CrowsnestPass Documentary

00:00:00.000 Crowsness Pass, Alberta. A region rich in history, beauty and natural resources. For generations,

00:00:17.840 the people of this valley have depended on the land around them. First through coal mining,

00:00:22.800 and today through a blend of tourism, outdoor recreation and a deep connection to their

00:00:27.760 environment. But now, the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project has reignited a debate in the heart of

00:00:34.080 this community. Is coal mining the key to economic revival, or a dangerous gamble with our future?

00:00:42.960 Crowsness Pass has a long and storied history of coal mining. It built the foundations of this

00:00:48.880 community, putting food on the table for many families. The coal mines were once the lifeblood

00:00:54.640 of the economy. But after the last mine closed in 1983, the region began to shift.

00:01:01.840 I am proud to say I'm a coal miner's daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter. I grew

00:01:08.160 up in the Crowsness Pass, which was formed by coal. So as you can imagine, I am very much in favour

00:01:18.160 of the coal mine going. I would not be standing here supporting it if I thought for one second my

00:01:28.480 home was going to be damaged. So I'm very passionate about this.

00:01:32.320 Crowsness Pass is a historic mountain pass located in southwestern Alberta, near the border with British 0.66

00:01:38.880 Columbia. It has long been a key corridor for transportation, first used by the Indigenous peoples,

00:01:45.280 and later by European fur traders and settlers. The pass became especially important in the late

00:01:51.200 19th and earliest centuries, with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1898, which opened the

00:01:58.000 region to mining and other industries. The area around Crowsness Pass is rich in natural resources,

00:02:04.880 particularly coal, and became a hub for coal mining. Towns like Blairmore, Coleman, and Bellevue

00:02:11.680 grew up around the mines, creating a vibrant and diverse community. One of the most significant

00:02:18.720 events in the Crowsness Pass history was the Frank Slide, which occurred on April 29, 1903.

00:02:26.000 The disaster happened when 110 million tonnes of limestone broke off from Turtle Mountain and buried

00:02:33.040 part of the town of Frank in the deadliest rock slide in Canadian history.

00:02:36.880 It covered the town in a massive debris field, killing an estimated 90 people. The cause of the

00:02:44.480 slide was a combination of geological instability, mining and water infiltration that weakened the

00:02:50.800 mountain structure. The town of Frank never fully recovered from the disaster, but the event is a major

00:02:57.280 part of the region's history and legacy. The legacy of mining and the resilience of the local communities

00:03:03.840 remained strong in this area, making Crowsness Pass a site of both historical significance and ongoing

00:03:10.800 environmental and economic discussions. Today, this area survives on a different kind of wealth,

00:03:16.960 natural beauty and tourism. Residents of the pass say it's challenging to make a living locally,

00:03:23.600 often requiring them to travel long distances far from their families to earn an income.

00:03:28.400 For locals, you'd be straight off the bat, there'd be an influx of guys and girls that work in

00:03:35.440 Sparwood North coming back to Alberta, so there'd be less travel. That'd be way better family life,

00:03:41.760 increased local economy, local businesses. It'd be definitely, definitely good, good for locals.

00:03:50.080 The Crowsness Pass has had its ups and downs. The biggest change, we've had industry, we've lost

00:03:55.840 industries, so we had peaks and valleys over the last quite a few years. Right as of now, we're reliant

00:04:05.360 on residential taxes because we really don't have no industries left here now. The Crowsness Pass area

00:04:13.280 faces numerous social challenges. Despite its natural beauty, the region has experienced a significant

00:04:20.000 decline in its historic infrastructure, with many buildings and town centres in need of restoration

00:04:25.680 to regain their former glory. Many residents believe that with an ageing population, it's vital to

00:04:32.320 create accessible job opportunities to help young people stay, work and thrive in the community.

00:04:38.400 It wasn't that long ago that the population of the Crowsness Pass was substantially larger than it is now.

00:04:43.920 And they had, you know, a couple of coal mines or the guys drive out to BC to work the mines there.

00:04:50.560 You had the Devon gas plant, you know, and there was, you know, a couple hundred jobs. Then, you know,

00:04:57.040 like Atlas Lumber and Burma had a sawmill and then Cowley Forest Products. You know, there was all of these

00:05:06.480 local sawmills. But then as legislation changes and how just the world has went, all the local sawmills have

00:05:14.960 been bought up. So now we don't really produce anything. The Grassy Mountain Coal Project proposed

00:05:21.200 by Northback Resources, an Australian owned company, aims to access the coal rich seams of this long

00:05:27.680 neglected mining site. The company pledges to create jobs, boost economic growth and implement

00:05:33.680 a comprehensive reclamation plan to restore the mountain to its former aesthetic beauty.

00:05:38.080 Grassy as you probably know it and Grassy as I want it to be. And we saw what happened through the

00:05:44.800 GRP. And there's a lot of good information in that report about what Riversdale could have done better,

00:05:54.080 particularly selenium and water and fish. And so as we started looking at the old design,

00:06:01.280 we decided we're going to start again.

00:06:02.800 Grassy Mountain, it's a really unique project because it's already a mined area. This is an

00:06:08.720 area that was mined for decades, and it's been left for the last 60 years. And it's been left

00:06:13.760 unreclaimed. So as you can see behind me here, this is an area that what we'd like to do is go in,

00:06:20.080 we'd like to re-mine it, and then we'd like to reclaim it. And we can start with progressive

00:06:25.280 reclamation. And then of course, when the project's all done, it'll be fully reclaimed.

00:06:29.360 So when it comes to the type of mining that we're doing here in the area,

00:06:33.840 it would be open pit mining. It's a common misconception that we'd be removing the tops

00:06:38.320 of mountains. Mountaintop removal mining is not allowed in the province of Alberta. And it's

00:06:43.200 different than underground mining of the past. This is open pit mining. And as you can see,

00:06:47.840 we follow the coal seam, which you can see behind me actually, because of the exposed former mining area.

00:06:53.520 We want to design a way to earn the trust of Albertans about how we manage water and dust

00:07:04.720 and selenium and fish. So this area was actually formerly mined. And then throughout the years,

00:07:11.280 it's just been collecting surface water. And so that's where it is. So it's quite a deep area. And

00:07:16.720 this pit has collected water. And if we do get approval, then this is some of the water that we'd

00:07:23.200 be able to use. We're doing what's called habitat banking. And so we're looking at ways of extending

00:07:28.880 the habitat, protecting the habitat. And that's at the forefront. And so, as you guys would know,

00:07:35.840 there's a ridge that runs up the middle of the deposit. And one side drains to Gold Creek,

00:07:40.240 one side drains to Blairmore. And so that gives you the opportunity to protect Gold Creek and

00:07:46.640 and protect Blairmore, but ensure that you are not doing anything to harm Gold Creek.

00:07:52.160 And selenium is a big capital S word. And that's where you really have to put a lot of it in mind.

00:07:59.360 What you're doing, what you're doing to eliminate that, there's no problem. We're not in Saskatchewan,

00:08:04.400 we're right there closer to the situation. So I applaud the work and the studies you're doing.

00:08:10.960 Find a solution, but you've got my hope. So when it comes to selenium, then there are

00:08:16.720 different levels. We are waiting to hear what the federal regulations would be for selenium. But

00:08:23.840 in municipal drinking water, it's around 50 parts per billion. And we expect that we would have to have

00:08:30.720 selenium levels below about 10, about 10 parts per billion or perhaps below that prior to releasing

00:08:37.840 water. So when it comes to selenium, we have to capture, test, treat, if necessary, the selenium

00:08:46.400 before it can be released to its natural environment. What makes coal so essential? And why is the Grassy

00:08:52.560 Mountain Project so important? Metallurgical coal, unlike thermal coal used mainly for power generation,

00:08:59.600 is a key ingredient in producing high grade steel. The Grassy Mountain Project aims to supply the

00:09:06.400 crucial resource to global markets, positioning itself as a leading player in the industry while

00:09:12.560 contributing to regional economic growth. So Northback is looking to develop the Grassy Mountain

00:09:18.560 Project, which is a steel making coal project. This is very different than other types of coal mining of

00:09:24.640 the past. This is, it's not thermal coal, it's metallurgical coal, which is used to make steel. And

00:09:30.880 currently metallurgical coal, it makes about 70% of the world's steel. So steel has great recycling

00:09:36.560 properties. Steel using metallurgical coal is created in a blast furnace, and that's what creates about 70%

00:09:42.720 of the world's steel at this time. It takes about 770 kilos to make one ton of steel. But there is still

00:09:50.000 another way to make steel using an electric arc furnace, but that's predominantly used to make

00:09:56.080 recycled steel. Opposition groups argue that steel market projections for the Grassy Mountain Project

00:10:02.080 are misleading. But let's consider, what is steel really used for? Massive industrial wind projects,

00:10:08.720 both onshore and offshore, depend heavily on steel. Add to that bridges, ships, trains,

00:10:16.400 high rises, and you can see how urbanization drives demand. As cities expand and infrastructure grows,

00:10:24.000 so does the need for steel, making the Grassy Mountain Project an essential piece of that puzzle.

00:10:30.160 So sure, if people stop building cities and wind farms, maybe the demand for steel will decrease.

00:10:36.320 I'm Carmen Linderman, and our organization is Citizen Supportive of Prosness Coal.

00:10:41.840 After the coal policy's decision to stop all coal mining and exploration, people started losing their

00:10:47.760 jobs. So citizens came together and we made Citizen Supportive of Prosness Coal. It's a non-profit

00:10:54.400 organization that supports the responsible mining of our resources here in the past, which is metallurgical

00:11:01.440 coal. So Met Coal is used for making steel, which we use in everything from wheelchairs to trucks. And

00:11:09.600 it'll also be used for making all the windmills and solar panels. So the need for Met Coal isn't going

00:11:15.680 anywhere anytime soon. The demand for steel is expected to increase, according to some studies,

00:11:22.000 and that's something that we would like to extract responsibly here at Grassy Mountain. It's available,

00:11:28.320 we can do it responsibly, and then we can reclaim this land that has been left unreclaimed.

00:11:32.880 So we have an absolute inside track on what their requirements are going to be in Japan and Korea

00:11:38.720 going forward.

00:11:41.760 It's clear that both within the community and beyond there is significant opposition to the

00:11:45.920 Grassy Mountain project. In summary, the Municipal District of Ranchland submitted the following

00:11:51.440 statement to the Alberta Energy Regulator. Based on the AER's previous findings regarding global demand

00:11:57.280 for steel-making coal, Northback's claim that global demand for seaborne metallurgical coal

00:12:02.880 will remain strong for decades, should be approached with caution. Therefore, the MD urges the AER to

00:12:08.960 dismiss these assertions. Opposition groups such as the Livingstone Land Owners Group are also vocal

00:12:15.040 about their concerns. According to their website, their mission is to advocate for responsible planning,

00:12:20.880 use, and protection of the ecological sensitive land and water resources in southwest Alberta.

00:12:26.720 Their website states strong opposition to mountaintop mining, wind turbine projects,

00:12:32.080 and transmission lines. Many residents and groups in Alberta have expressed concerns about mountaintop

00:12:37.920 removal and its impact on the landscape and future developments. However, the Alberta Energy Regulator

00:12:45.040 confirms that mountaintop removal is not a practice used in Alberta. Mountaintop removal is a method that

00:12:51.440 removes the top of a mountain to expose the coal seams. It results in a relatively flat landscape

00:12:56.800 where the summit of a mountain existed. The discussion doesn't stop there. Territorial and

00:13:02.320 treaty rights have taken center stage in this debate. Recently, the Sisika Nation and the Kainine Blood Tribe

00:13:09.120 have raised issues regarding potential impacts on water sources, air quality, and the local ecosystem.

00:13:16.160 According to submissions made to the AER, the Kainine Blood Tribe concluded that the project

00:13:21.120 substantial negative impact on surface water quality and the West Slope Cutthroat Trout outweighs the

00:13:27.040 project's moderate economic benefits. The Sisika Nation also determined that the project is not in

00:13:33.520 the public interest. In making this decision, they acknowledged that the expected jobs, associated

00:13:39.040 spending, and economic benefits for the region will not materialize. It's important to highlight that

00:13:45.120 the Pekani Nation, part of the broader group of Blackfoot-speaking First Nations, has more at stake than

00:13:50.960 any other community or First Nations impacted by the project. The Pekani Nation offered valuable

00:13:57.520 insight into the economic challenges facing their community. The nation is continuously striving to

00:14:03.760 break the cycle of poverty and dependency to become economically self-efficient. Key strategy for

00:14:09.600 achieving this is by utilizing the land and resources within Pekani Territory to improve the community's

00:14:15.840 health, education, and social and economic conditions. The Pekani Nation supports the project because it will

00:14:22.800 provide much-needed employment opportunities to its members who face high unemployment and limited job

00:14:28.640 prospects on the reserve. Northback has already made investments and continues to show a willingness to

00:14:35.280 invest in the Pekani Nation. This project offers a unique chance for the community and its members to benefit

00:14:41.440 economically from the resources in the territory and gain access to employment and training opportunities.

00:14:47.920 Therefore, the Pekani Nation submits that the applications should be approved.

00:14:53.120 As the debate over coal mining in the Crow's Nest Pass continues, it's clear there are economic benefits

00:14:59.040 for the region. For generations, the people of the pass have relied on natural resource development

00:15:04.640 to sustain their families and communities. The Grassy Mountain Project promises not only jobs,

00:15:11.440 but a future that could revive the local economy, bring back prosperity, and address long overdue reclamation

00:15:18.080 efforts. The community right now has got a lot to offer as it is. I mean, we've got good recreation

00:15:23.440 areas and good whatever, but we don't have good paying jobs. I mean, it would bring them good paying jobs right

00:15:30.160 to our community. Well, I think from a local perspective, many of the people here work in the

00:15:35.520 coal mines and they understand coal mining because we've been doing it for so long and many, many families

00:15:41.840 work on the BC side of the border. However, the concerns they would have, of course, would be for the

00:15:49.120 environment and for the water. But we know that it could be mitigated. But I mean, our kids, our families,

00:15:57.440 we swim in the rivers, we fish, we hike, we mountain bike. That's why we live here. So that's certainly

00:16:02.480 a concern. But I think it's not as much a concern when you start thinking of things like dust,

00:16:08.400 dust control, noise control, sort of the general impact of the busyness and all that. So I think

00:16:14.080 people are cautious about that. And optically, they want to ensure that the beauty stays in the

00:16:19.600 closest past. Coal mining today is not what it was decades ago. Advances in technology,

00:16:26.160 strict environmental regulations and corporate responsibility have all changed the industry.

00:16:32.640 As the world continues to demand steel for essential infrastructure, from wind turbines

00:16:37.520 to urban centres, projects like this could play a pivotal role in meeting that need while supporting

00:16:43.600 communities like the Crow's Nest Pass. Now we're environmentally responsible, where before the big

00:16:50.480 thing was, okay, let's get the coal, let's get out and who cares what things look like.

00:16:55.440 Just because we support coal mining doesn't mean that we support the destruction of the environment.

00:17:01.520 A future where economic growth and environmental stewardship coexists may seem unattainable to extreme

00:17:07.840 opposition groups. However, there's a clear hypocrisy in the situation. Many of the same organizations

00:17:14.880 outside the community opposing the project are also advocating for increased wind and solar energy

00:17:20.240 development. As we've established, one cannot coexist without the other. Both require significant

00:17:27.360 industrial resources like steel, often sourced from projects like this. The question remains,

00:17:34.080 will the public support this project and recognize that Alberta's resource development is essential for

00:17:39.840 future growth? Or will we let the past determine the future of the Crow's Nest Pass community?

00:18:10.080 How does that work?

Western Standard - October 30, 2024

Coal, Culture, and Conflict - Grassy Mountain Coal Project in #CrowsnestPass Documentary

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript