Notice of Application
CCA Applications 1909172, 1909173, and 1909174
EPEA Application 004-00301345
WA Applications 004-00311965 and 003-00311969
Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd.
Vista Coal Mine
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has received Coal Conservation Act (CCA) applications 1909172, 1909173, and 1909174; Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) application 004-00301345; and Water Act (WA)applications 004-00311965 and 003-00311969 from Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd. (Coalspur) for its Vista coal mine.
This notice sets out the deadline for filing a statement of concern on any of these applications. See the section below on how to file a statement of concern for filing dates.
Description of the Applications
Coalspur has applied to amend CCA permit C2011-5B, licences 2014-4A through -7A, and coal processing plant approval C2011-3B; EPEA approvals 00301345-00-00 and -01; and WA approvals 00311965-00-00 and -01 and licences 00311969-00-00 and -01. The changes requested are as follows:
- decrease the projected annual mine production from 6.5 million clean tonnes to about 5.2 million clean tonnes of coal
- update the capacity and annual production numbers associated with the coal processing plant and modify the location of an office building
- revise the boundary for the north dump that will be used to dispose of plant rejects
- decrease the surface disturbance area from 1957 hectares to 1581 hectares
- reduce the volume, height, and physical disturbance of the south dump, north dump, and subcrop dump
- increase the north dump by three legal subdivisions
- for pit development, use cast blasting (to remove overburden) and highwall mining
- increase pit boundary by two quarter sections
- increase the rate of progressive reclamation
- eliminate an end-pit lake from the reclaimed landscape
- decrease the projected mine life from 20 years to 14 years
Coalspur has also applied under the CCA for a coal mine licence for its proposed centre dump.
Coalspur’s Vista coal mine is located about 10 kilometres east of Hinton, Alberta, and 280 kilometres west of Edmonton, Alberta, in Townships 50 and 51; Ranges 22, 23, and 24; West of the 5th Meridian.
For a copy of the applications, contact
Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd.
Box 6146, 110 MacLeod Avenue
Hinton, Alberta T7V 1X5
Attention: Curtis Brinker
Telephone: 780-740-2452
Cell: 780-817-4666
Email: cbrinker@coalspur.com
Or you can submit an information request, as outlined at www1.aer.ca/ProductCatalogue/ordering.html, to
AER Order Fulfillment
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311
(toll free; option 0)
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 notification.
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 June 7, 2018. Send one copy of your statement of concern to Coalspur 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
a) why you believe that you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the applications;
b) the nature of your objection to the applications;
c) the outcome of the applications that you advocate;
d) the location of your land, residence, or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource activity that is the subject of the applications; and
e) 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 numbers 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 authorizations specialist, Rabin Thanju, by phone at 403-297-7593 or by email to rabin.thanju@aer.ca.
Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on May 7, 2018.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR
Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel
