Latest news with #MarlinSchmidt
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Officials under scrutiny after fragile river system suffers damage with little accountability: 'It's quite a small penalty'
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently reported on a "weak reprimand" handed down to a company that contaminated a river with byproducts from its operations. A coal company responsible for releasing more than a million liters of mine-contaminated wastewater into an Alberta river was fined just 9,000 Canadian dollars (about 6,500 U.S. dollars), which critics say is hardly holding it accountable. In March 2023, CST Canada Coal allowed wastewater from its mine to spill into the Smoky River, a major tributary of the Peace River. The leak lasted at least 17 hours and released roughly 9,000 kilograms of polluting sediment into the water — a known threat to fish species such as the local bull trout and Arctic grayling, not to mention the risk to communities downstream. The Alberta Energy Regulator cited the company, but the fine is being called "a slap on the wrist" by environmental groups and former government officials. "It's quite a small penalty for something that was deemed to have moderate potential for adverse effects downstream," said Tara Russell, program director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's northern Alberta chapter, per the CBC. Coal mine wastewater often contains toxic materials such as selenium as well as fine particles that damage fish gills and disrupt ecosystems. In this case, regulators found that CST had inadequate reporting protocols, no qualified staff on-site, and no ice removal equipment to repair the frozen valve that led to the spill. This wasn't the first time CST leaked contaminants into the Smoky River, the CBC revealed. In 2022, the company spilled more than 100,000 liters of untreated wastewater in a similar incident and was fined CA$22,000. Aside from damaging ecosystems, the pollution is harmful to local communities that rely on the ecosystem for water, food, irrigation, and more. Letting polluters off the hook easily can mean they may not feel real pressure to do better. "I can't see that this is going to be an effective enforcement tool," said NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt, per the CBC. "It's not an effective deterrent for the companies and it's an extremely expensive process for the Alberta Energy Regulator." Critics say Alberta needs tougher enforcement and escalating penalties for repeat offenders to truly protect waterways, wildlife, and public trust. "Other operators are looking [at] this fine and saying the AER is not credible when it says that they're going to bring the hammer down on bad actors," said Schmidt. Individuals can help hold polluters accountable by supporting organizations that advocate for stronger environmental regulations, including CPAWS and Ecojustice. You can also take local action by pushing for clean energy policies and voting for candidates who prioritize public health over polluter profits. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Calgary Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Points of order: Who were Alberta's most unparliamentary MLAs this sitting?
Alberta MLAs returned to their constituencies this week following the early Thursday conclusion of what was at times a combative spring sitting of the legislative assembly. Article content Article content Tension often ran high inside the chamber during debates, with MLAs from both parties periodically running afoul of the assembly's standing orders that set out the rules for debate MLAs must follow. Article content Article content Such alleged violations, known as a point of order, are called out in real-time by MLAs and adjudicated by the Speaker, with those found to have have breached the rules typically apologizing and withdrawing their remarks. Article content That analysis shows that violations were most frequently called for making allegations about a fellow MLA, and while members of both parties were found to have broken parliamentary rules, the numbers show the most recurrent violator was Edmonton-Gold Bar representative Marlin Schmidt. Article content Government house leader Joseph Schow was the most frequent MLA to rise and call for a point of order and sometimes joked in the chamber about 'not skipping leg day.' Article content 'This is an important place where we come to work every day, argue and to debate the things that matter most to Albertans. Sometimes those debates get heated,' he said last week. Article content Article content 'It's a unique workplace,' said Opposition house leader Christina Gray. 'Standing up to ask questions while there's a wall of noise of people yelling at you.' Article content Making allegations against a fellow MLA amounted to just under one-quarter of both all alleged points of orders and those that were upheld, with other violations including insulting language, imputing motives, language creating disorder, as well as more minor transgressions such as referring to a member by his or her name rather than riding.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
$9,000 fine for coal mine leak into Alberta river a 'slap on the wrist,' critics say
A $9,000 fine levied against a coal company for releasing mine-contaminated wastewater into a northwestern Alberta river is a weak reprimand for the toxic leak, critics say. CST Canada Coal Limited was sanctioned this week by the Alberta Energy Regulator for an incident in the spring of 2023 when 1.1 million litres of tailings escaped into the Smoky River, a major tributary of the Peace River. Wastewater from CST metallurgical coal mine near Grande Cache, about 430 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, spilled from the site, sending harmful plumes of fine tailings into the river. The company was sanctioned under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for allowing the release to occur and for failing to immediately report the spill to the provincial regulator. 'Half measures' NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt, who previously served as the party's environment critic, said the regulator needs to issue more substantial fines, especially for repeat offenders such as CST. Operators who fail to meet environmental obligations should face increased scrutiny and escalating fines, Schmidt said. "I can't see that this is going to be an effective enforcement tool," he said. "It's not an effective deterrent for the companies and it's an extremely expensive process for the Alberta Energy Regulator. "There's no benefit here to engaging in these piddling half measures." Last year, the AER fined the operator $22,000 for spilling untreated mine wastewater into the Smoky River in December 2022. The company has not commented on the latest penalty. In a brief statement to CBC, the AER said penalties are calculated within a legislative framework that "aims for consistency, transparency, and deterrence." Tara Russell, program director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's northern Alberta chapter, said CST's track record raises serious concerns about its ability to manage mine waste. She described the $9,000 fine as a "slap on the wrist." Russell said the penalty will undermine public trust in the industry and the provincial regulator, and will do little to incentivize the company to better protect the environment. "It's quite a small penalty for something that was deemed to have moderate potential for adverse effects downstream," Russell said. With the Alberta government's recent move to lift the ban on coal exploration in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the case sets a troubling precedent for the industry, Russell said. "This is an indication that companies are going to get a slap on the wrist if they put mine wastewater into the aquatic environment. "This is one mine operator in this watershed and river system … and we're facing that threat of new coal mine development all down the eastern slopes." The latest leak The release occurred March 4, 2023, from the open pit and underground mine. A valve in the site's wastewater system froze, causing a tailings pond to overflow, leaving a sheen across the river's surface. The AER investigation found that the company lacked reporting protocols, failed to have adequately trained staff on site, and did not have ice removal equipment on standby to complete repairs. The mine wastewater spilled into the Smoky River for at least 17 hours. By the time it was contained, an estimated 9,000 kilograms of suspended solids had been released into the river, posing a risk to aquatic life downstream. Coal wastewater frequently contains selenium, a substance toxic to fish, and the regulator found that species near the release site could be harmed by the fine sediments. The plumes could damage their gills and trigger behavioural changes — with Arctic grayling and bull trout most at risk from exposure, the regulator found. Staff on the ground did not immediately notify senior staff, and workers qualified to manage the spill were not on site. AER was not notified until more than seven hours after the release was detected. A troubled mine The mine has a history of operational issues and financial hardships. CST Group, based in Hong Kong and incorporated in the Cayman Islands, bought the mine in 2017 after the previous owner, Grande Cache Coal, went bankrupt, forcing hundreds in the hamlet out of work. It has since faced a series of regulatory investigations. Months before the March 2023 release, more than 100,000 litres of coal wash escaped from the site into the Smoky River on Dec. 29, 2022. That leak, which the company failed to immediately report, was blamed on operational failures including frozen pipes and broken sensors. The following June, heavy rains and regional flooding led to the release of an unknown amount of wastewater from the mine. Inspectors were called to the mine repeatedly in 2023 for "rock-wall instabilities" — one of which partially buried a piece of heavy equipment and the operator inside it. Schmidt said the case demonstrates that the AER continues to adopt a "light touch" with industry. He said he's concerned that political pressure to "roll out the red carpet" to coal development in Alberta has undermined environmental oversights in the industry.
