Notice of Application
CCA Applications 1927365, 1927366, and 1927367
EPEA Application 008-00301345
Water Act Applications 005-00311969 and 005-00311965
Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd.
Vista Coal Project
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has received Coal Conservation Act (CCA)applications 1927365, 1927366, and 1927367; Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) application 008-00301345; and Water Act (WA) applications 005-00311969 and 005-00311965 from Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd. for the approval of an underground mine next to the active Val d’Or surface mining pit.
This notice also sets out the deadline for filing statements of concern on these applications. See the section below on how to file a statement of concern for filing dates.
Description of the Application
Coalspur has applied under the CCA for a new mine licence to conduct underground mining within the boundaries covered by mine permit C2011-5 and to amend surface mine licences C2014-5 and C2014-7 and coal processing plant approval C2011-3 to accommodate the construction of the underground mine’s face-up area, the disposal of additional waste rock and tailings material as well as to increase the production plant capacity. Coalspur has also applied to amend EPEA approval 00301345-00-06, WA approval 00311969-00-03, and WA licence 00311965-00-02 to incorporate
- the construction, operation, abandonment, and reclamation of the new underground mine and associated infrastructure;
- areas of the underground mine into an expanded EPEA approval boundary;
- an increase of the coal processing plant production capacity to 7.572 million tonnes per year for a period of three years as a result of the additional underground coal production;
- an increase in the total amount of coarse and fine tailings disposed of as a result of the additional underground coal production;
- changes to topsoil stockpile areas;
- an additional surface disturbance area of approximately 2.5 hectares;
- the addition of a new raw coal stockpile;
- underground dewatering activities;
- the construction of ditches and flumes; and
- the consumption of water for underground mining activities and the associated mine yard and office buildings
The mine will target the Val d’Or 5 coal seam and is expected to produce about 3 million tonnes of raw coal over a three-year period. Existing surface mining infrastructure will be used where possible; however, additional support infrastructure for the underground operations will be constructed at the mine site, including a mine yard area with various temporary service facilities and buildings as well as surface water management infrastructure and underground mine ventilation systems.
Subject to regulatory approval and economic conditions, the underground mine is scheduled to begin construction in 2020.
The Vista mine currently consists of two parallel open pits, a coal processing plant, and various mine infrastructure located east of the town of Hinton, in Townships 50 and 51, Ranges 22–24, West of the 5th Meridian.
For a copy of the application, contact
Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd.
PO Box 6146
Hinton, AB T7V 1X5
Attention: Andrew Hutchison
Telephone: 780-260-9800
Fax: 780-865-331
Email: ahutchison@bighornmining.com
Or you can submit an information request, as outlined at www1.aer.ca/ProductCatalogue/ordering.html, to
AER Information Distribution Services
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311 (toll free; option 0)
Fax: 403-297-7040
Email: InformationRequest@aer.ca
Refer to this notice when requesting information for a faster response.
Requirement to File a Statement of Concern
If you have concerns with these applications, you must file a statement of concern as described below. If you do not file a statement of concern, the AER may approve the applications without further notice.
How to File a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on March 30, 2020. Send one copy of your statement of concern to Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd. at the name and address above and one copy to
Authorizations Branch
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Fax: 403-297-7336
Email: SOC@aer.ca
Contents of a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must include
- why you believe you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the application;
- the nature of your objection to the application;
- the outcome of the application you advocate;
- the location of your land, residence, or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource that is the subject of the application; and
- your contact information, including your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, and email address or, if you do not have an email address, your fax number.
The AER also requests that you include the application number in your statement of concern.
Confidentiality
Section 49 of the Alberta Energy Regulator Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice) requires that all documents and information filed in a proceeding be placed on the public record. If you file a submission, you must not include any personal information that you do not want to appear on or are not authorized to put on the public record. Section 49(2) of the Rules of Practice states how to apply to the AER for an order to keep information confidential. The Rules of Practice is available on the AER website at www.aer.ca.
Jurisdiction
Submissions relating exclusively to compensation for land use are not dealt with by the AER and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.
Under section 21 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, the AER does not have the jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of Crown consultation associated with the rights of aboriginal peoples as recognized and affirmed under the Constitution Act, 1982.
For information on AER procedures, contact the regulatory applications specialist, Corey MacGarva, by phone at 780-642-9342 or by email to Corey.MacGarva@aer.ca.
Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on February 28, 2020.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR
Charlene Graham, General Counsel
