Alberta Ends Coal Mining Ban in Rocky Mountain Foothills, Raising Concerns

The government cites legal pressures and regulatory clarity, while critics warn of environmental and community risks.

The Alberta government has lifted a moratorium on coal exploration and development in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, originally imposed in 2022 after public backlash.
Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Minister Brian Jean emphasized the decision was necessary to address $15 billion in lawsuits from coal companies over lost revenues and sunk costs.
Critics, including environmentalists and local ranchers, argue the move jeopardizes watersheds, ecosystems, and Indigenous lands, with some labeling it as a return to 'open season' for coal mining.
The government has reinstated the 1976 coal policy, which categorizes land for coal development, while promising stricter rules on selenium contamination and banning new open-pit mining, though critics say these policies remain vague and incomplete.
Conservation groups and opposition politicians have condemned the decision as premature, warning it could undermine long-term environmental and community health.