The Lac Saint Anne Métis Community Association (LSAMCA) says it is “extremely disappointed” that its concerns about a coal mine expansion have been dismissed by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)
Nearly two years ago, LSAMCA president Tracy Friedel filed a statement of concern to the AER detailing potential environmental impacts of a Coal Valley Mine extension project and concerns the project would infringe on Métis rights or traditional land uses.
In a Feb. 14, 2025, notice posted to the AER website, the regulator states it has decided a public hearing on the project is not required, and concerns about environmental impacts had been adequately addressed in the project application.
“We do not agree with this conclusion and in this instance believe the AER has not gotten it right in terms of accounting for assessing cumulative effects or protection of our section 35 rights,” Friedel told Great West Media.
“Approval of this project will increase the existing disturbance and mining footprint of the coal mine, thereby displacing our community’s ability to exercise our Métis right or traditional land use in that same location.”
Coal Valley Mine is a 20,660-hectare surface mine south of Edson owned by Westmoreland Mining subsidiary Prairie Mines and Royalty.
Prairie Mines applied to extend its Pit 26 site in Coal Valley by an additional 68 hectares, including construction of three dump sites and an effluent settling pond. The expansion also involves the removal of a pond outlet channel and relocation of any fish in the channel.
The area has already been heavily affected by coal mining and forestry operations, Friedel said, and remains a culturally important and highly sensitive area for the practice of Lac Ste. Anne Métis culture, including harvesting activities.
The land is also critical habitat for Athabasca rainbow trout, an at-risk species, and other fish species the community relies on for food, she said.
Throughout the application process for the Pit 26 extension, Prairie Mines made “made no effort whatsoever to properly engage with Lac Ste. Anne Métis,” Friedel said. Nor has the company consulted the community on previous expansions or a proposed dump at another pit location in Coal Valley.
“We are extremely disappointed that the AER has not taken our concerns into account in this instance, and fear that a similar outcome is inevitable for a Pit 15 dump which is also planned at Coal Valley,” she said.
Jon Heroux, corporate counsel for external affairs for Westmoreland Mining, said the company filed a pre-consultation assessment request with Alberta’s Aboriginal Consultation Office (ACO), which determined no consultation was required for the project.
“We consulted back when we first opened the mine, and this is a minor revision. We have followed the law and consultation requirements to the letter, and we are very diligent about our environmental impacts, including our reclamation afterwards, and how we do that,” Heroux said.
Coal Valley Mine originally opened in 1978. Westmoreland acquired the mine in 2013.
The AER decision states the mine expansion falls within current Coal Valley Mine boundaries, and Lac Ste. Anne Métis “will continue to have access to the same areas immediately surrounding the project for practice of its Métis Aboriginal rights and traditional land use activities.”
