Coal Conversations Presentation and Links
March 1, 2026
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AWA’s Coal Conversations, held on February 28, was an afternoon dedicated to increasing awareness, fostering advocacy, and supporting action to protect Alberta’s Eastern Slopes. During the event, we covered how we got here, why it matters, and what Albertans can do about the threat posed by coal. To start the event, Kennedy Halvorson, one of our conservation specialists, presented an overview of key coal events, policies, projects, and research in Alberta. The small-group discussion portion that followed this overview presentation was not recorded. Please note: Coalspur’s Vista Coal Mine was mislabeled in this recording and is actually 24 km NW from what was shown (Coal Valley Mine). This has since been corrected in the Google Earth Tour.
To view the interactive satellite maps featured in the presentation, click the slideshow button in the following links:
- Coal Mines in the Eastern Slopes of Alberta Map – Google Earth
- Elk Valley Mines Research Map – Google Earth
Links to the news articles and research discussed during the presentation can be found below.
Research:
- Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO3–, and SO42– into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA–Canada)
- Evidence of Long-Range Transport of Selenium Downstream of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley, Canada
- Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution from Mountaintop Coal Mining
- Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Contaminates Snowpack across a Broad Region
- The geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused when limiting global warming to 2°C
- Legacy coal mining impacts downstream ecosystems for decades in the Canadian Rockies
- Fish remain high in selenium long after mountaintop coal mines close
- Initial environmental impacts of the Obed Mountain coal mine process water spill into the Athabasca River (Alberta, Canada)
- Downstream water quality impacts persist despite mountaintop coal mine reclamation in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
- Water quality in the McLeod River as an indicator for mining impacts and reclamation success (2005 to 2016)
- Ground deformation due to natural resource extraction in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin
News Articles:
- B.C. fines coal miner $3.6M for treatment delays, toxic breaches – Business in Vancouver
- B.C. fines Teck Coal over $220K for unauthorized waste spills | CBC News
- B.C. fines Teck Coal more than $16M over Elk Valley infractions | Globalnews.ca
- Timeline of the coal industry’s lobbying campaigns in Alberta – The Albertan News
- Alberta cancels recently issued coal leases in response to public outcry | Globalnews.ca
- Alberta faces backlash after move to scrap coal policy, ease restrictions on mining – The Globe and Mail
- More Alberta towns ask for coal consultations, pause on exploration | CBC News
- ‘It’s sickening’: Future generation worried about inheriting legacy of coal mining | Globalnews.ca
- Majority of Albertans opposed to expanded coal mining operations: poll
- Alberta reverses direction on coal development and reinstates 1976 policy, for now | CBC News
- ‘Serious concerns’: Alberta First Nations oppose coal expansion in Rocky Mountains | CBC News
- Alberta environment minister tells rural areas coal mining doesn’t threaten water | CBC News
- Alberta announces committee to consult public on future coal mining policy | CBC News
- Alberta’s mountaintop mining ban won’t affect proposed Rockies coal mines
- Alberta keeps decades-old coal policy in place, 4 advanced projects to continue regulatory process | CBC News
- Coal Valley Mine company lobbying Alberta government for favourable definition of open pit mine
- Alberta pays out $143 million to company over coal policy reversal
- Alberta to pay $95M settlement to another coal company over policy change | CBC News
- An Australian Coal Speculator Flouts More Alberta Laws | The Tyee
- Inside an Australian Miner’s Brawl with Alberta Regulators | The Tyee
- Forsaken and ‘Urgent’: Alberta’s Eroding Coal Roads | The Tyee
- Alberta’s Vista coal mine seeks expansion | The Narwhal
- Coalspur Vista Coal mine expansion at odds with federal coal commitment: environmental advocate
- $9,000 fine for coal mine leak into Alberta river a ‘slap on the wrist,’ critics say | CBC News
- Coal mining company fined $22,000 for wastewater spill into Smoky River – St. Albert News
- Regulator investigates Alberta coal mine after worker nearly buried | CBC News
- Documents related to Summit coal decision raise more questions about Alberta Energy Regulator’s independence – The Globe and Mail