Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta won't allow open-pit mines, pleasing environmental groups
Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta won't allow open-pit mines, a stance that has drawn praise from environmental groups.
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Smith, speaking Saturday on her weekend radio show, said the province has heard 'loud and clear' that Albertans do not want to mountaintop removal or strip mining.
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'They're concerned that when you do that, it exposes the rock face to when it rains, selenium getting into the water system. So we've put a policy in place — you can't do these things,' said Alberta's premier.
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'You can't do open pit mining, you can't do strip mining, but if you can find techniques that allow you to do new underground mining, then we're going to be open to approving those projects.'
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On Thursday, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) approved Northback Holding's applications for a coal exploration program, deep drilling permit and temporary water diversion licence at Grassy Mountain, on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
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'My understanding is that the AER just approved some test well site drilling for Northback at Grassy Mountain to allow them to see if they have the ability to do that underground mining.
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'You have to be at a certain depth to make it profitable, and I'm just going to watch and see the outcome of that.'
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The premier also said she hopes that people would have an open mind about mining and that minerals in the ground need to be extracted 'for our own collective prosperity.'
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'If you're going to have the new economy, you're going to have to dig out of the ground the things you need for that,' said Smith.
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'You can't build wind turbines without steel. Steel comes from coal. You cannot build the polysilicon panels for solar panels without coal. You cannot build batteries without zinc and copper and all the other rare earth elements that you need to dig out of the ground.
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'So I understand that people are concerned about it, but do know that we've got to find the balance. We've got to be able to extract things and also be able to do it in a way that limits the impact on the environment. We're all trying to find the pathway.'
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