Coal Mining Development and Reclamation

Indicator Type: Pressure Indicator

This indicator shows the extent of disturbance and progress in reclaiming coal mines throughout Alberta from 1999 to 2006. The indicator tracks three elements: the active operational area (including forest clearing, site preparation, mining, plant sites, roads, etc), the area that is under reclamation but hasn’t yet been certified (net reclaimed), and the area that has been certified as reclaimed.

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Trend: Proportionally more reclamation occurring than disturbance

What does the indicator show?

The indicator shows that an area of almost 24,000 hectares has been disturbed for coal mines in Alberta by the end of 2006 (currently operating mines). Slightly over 11,000 hectares of that land area was under reclamation, and almost 2000 hectares have been certified as reclaimed. The bulk of the certified land has been done by the senior operations: Paintearth near Forestburg, Whitewood and Highvale near Lake Wabamun, as well as Tent Mountain and Cardinal River Coals in the Coal Branch south of Hinton.

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Why is this indicator important?

In addition to supplying metallurgical coking coal for export to the world steel industry from the mountain mines, the prairie coal mines supply the majority of fuel for electrical power generation in Alberta. As the demands for steel and power increase, additional mining area will be required for coal production. In order to ensure that reclamation liability associated with the mining operations is limited, progressive reclamation (reclaiming mined out areas) is required to minimize this liability to the company and to the province. Progressive reclamation is also required to meet the objectives of equivalent land capability and to ensure that conservation and reclamation outcomes for the mined areas are achieved.

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What actions are being taken?

Current issues in coal mine operation and reclamation deal with selenium in aquatic systems, regional groundwater hydrology, vegetation and wildlife, wetland compensation and mitigation, as well as increasing demands for recreational access in many of the reclaimed mine areas.

A Selenium Working Group has been formed to address concerns and issues with selenium in aquatic systems such as rivers and end pit lakes, as well as terrestrial concerns with vegetation and wildlife.

Increased understanding of the importance of wetlands has led to more reclamation involving wetland construction. This watershed perspective also relates to a more intensive look at regional surface and sub-surface hydrology, and the influence of a reclaimed mine site on watershed integrity.

Most end land uses have been for agriculture (cropping or grazing on the prairie mines), or forestry and wildlife for the mountain mines. Population growth and recreational demands for fishing, hiking, camping and other such activities are starting to result in multiple land use objectives for the reclaimed sites.

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Links to additional information

Land reclamation (Alberta Environment)

Coal Association of Canada (Reclamation)

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Feedback

E-mail the SOE Coordinator: SOE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca or complete this short on-line questionnaire to provide your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/
survey.zgi?p=WEB224DW6P3E2K.

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