Application 1725257 Notice of Application – Coal Valley Mine

Notice of Application
Application No. 1725257
Coal Valley Resources Inc.
Coal Valley Mine

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has received Application No. 1725257 and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) has received an environmental impact assessment (EIA) from Coal Valley Resources Inc. (CVRI) for approval of the proposed Robb Trend Project at the Coal Valley Mine (CVM). The AER, ESRD, and other government departments are reviewing the application. The ESRD has deemed the EIA complete.

CVRI currently owns and operates the CVM, which has been in operation since 1978. The mine supplies thermal coal for overseas and domestic markets and employs both truck/shovel and dragline mining methods. The mine is located about 100 kilometres (km) south of Edson in the Coal Branch area of Alberta.

Description of the Application
CVRI has applied under part 4, section 13 of the Coal Conservation Act, and part 1, section 5 of the Coal Conservation Rules, to amend its existing permit (Permit No. 2005-6) to extend CVM’s existing mine site permit area (the Robb Trend Project). The project would be located in Townships 46, 47, 48, and 49, Ranges 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, West of the 5th Meridian, and covers about 10 113 hectares.

CVRI’s total mineable reserve estimate for the project would be about 177.5 million tonnes of raw coal. This additional tonnage would allow CVRI to continue operating at its projected rates of production until 2038. Revisions to the application resulted in the total mineable reserve estimate being reduced by about 3.4 million tonnes of raw coal. These revisions removed mining areas to mitigate environmental concerns related to fisheries and other concerns.

CVRI has also submitted an EIA report. This EIA forms part of the application to the AER.

For a copy of the application, contact
Coal Valley Resources Inc.
Coal Valley Mine
Box 5000
Edson, Alberta T7E 1W1
Attention: Les Lafleur
Telephone: 780-794-8108 (main office)
780-794-8131 (field office)
Fax: 780-865-8630
E-mail: llafleur@westmoreland.ca

To view the application and supporting documents, use the Integrated Application Registry (IAR) available under Systems & Tools on the AER website www.aer.ca or contact

AER Information Management Branch
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311 (toll free; option 2)
E-mail: infoservices@aer.ca
Viewing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Copies of the application are also available for viewing at

Coal Valley Mine Site – Reception
About 100 km south of Edson on Highway 40

Coal Valley Resources Inc.
1100, 10235 – 99 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1
Telephone: 780-420-5810.

Hinton Public Library
803 Switzer Drive
Hinton, Alberta T7V 1V1
Telephone: 780-865-2363
Fax: 780-865-4292

Edson Public Library
4726 – 8 Avenue
Edson, Alberta T7E 1S8
Telephone: 780-723-6691
Fax: 780-723-9728

Refer to this notice when making requests for information to expedite the response.

Requirement to File a Statement of Concern
If you are interested in this matter, you must file a statement of concern as described below. If you do not file a statement of concern, the AER will continue to process the application and may approve it without further notifying you.

How to File a Statement of Concern
For your statement of concern to be considered, it must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on July 9, 2014.

Send one copy of your statement of concern to CVRI at the name and address above and one copy to

Authorizations Review & Coordination Team
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Fax: 403-297-7336
E-mail: ARCTeam@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 you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the application;

b) the nature of your objection to the application;

c) the outcome of the application you advocate;

d) the location of your land, residence or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource that is the subject of the proposed application; and

e) your contact information, including your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, e-mail address or, if you do not have an e-mail address, your fax number.

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.

Questions of Constitutional Law
In addition to giving notice according to section 12 of the Administrative Procedures and Jurisdiction Act and schedule 2 of the Designation of Constitutional Decision Makers Regulation, you must include the following information in your submission and file it according to the dates listed under How to File a Statement of Concern if you intend to raise a question of constitutional law:

a) the constitutional question you intend to raise,

b) the legal argument you intend to make, and

c) the evidence you intend to rely on in support of your legal argument

Under section 21 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, the AER does not have jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of Crown consultation associated with the rights of aboriginal peoples as recognized and affirmed under the Constitution Act.

For information on AER procedures, contact the authorizations specialist, Fares Haddad, by phone at 403-297-5366 or by e-mail to fares.haddad@aer.ca.

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on June 4, 2014.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR

Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel