Request for a Federal Impact Assessment for Tent Mountain Redevelopment Project (No. 81436)

In July of 2021, the Minister of the Environment at the time, the Honourable Jonathon Wilkinson stated the following:

“For any new proposed metallurgical coal mine or the expansion of an existing coal mine that is not already described in the Physical Activities Regulations and that has the potential to release selenium into water bodies, it is my intention to designate such projects for entry into the impact assessment process using my authority under the IAA. In the context of such a review, it will be important to assess potential impacts of selenium discharge in particular on the specific receiving environment in question”.

Can it be proven that this proposed project will NOT result in the release of selenium? If not, the Agency is obligated to conduct an Impact Assessment.

A thorough Impact Assessment should be required given the anticipated widespread and long-lasting impacts of the proposed project on the region’s biodiversity, air, land and water. Additionally, in light of new research by the University of Calgary regarding the high costs and low benefits of metallurgical coal mines in the Eastern Slopes, no proposed coal mining project should be exempted from comprehensive federal review.