Statement of Concern on Northback Holding’s water term licence request for the Grassy Mountain Project
April 10, 2026
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Looking at Grassy Mountain from Livingstone Range, © C. Hunter.
On March 13, 2026, Northback Holdings Corporation submitted an application (33861750) to the Alberta Energy Regulator for a new water term licence for the Grassy Mountain Project.
Alberta Wilderness Association submitted a Statement of Concern on the application requesting the licence be denied, on the basis that the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB), in which Grassy Mountain is located, has been closed to new water licences since 2007 following the widespread recognition that the watershed had been overallocated; its average natural flow is no longer sufficient to sustain both the instream flow needs of the river and the human demands for water.
Issuing a water term licence would be inconsistent with existing legislation, regulations, and directives, which state that “prioritizing flow restoration and protecting the aquatic environment is the primary lens through which decisions about water management are to be made” in the SSRB.
Northback’s application lacks information and leaves many questions outstanding, like,
- What is the total water balance anticipated for this Project, inclusive of all requirements for the mine site, waste piles, coal processing plant, conveyers, load-out, railyard, and access roads?
- What is the frequency of release, volume, and quality of return flows anticipated?
- What is protocol during drought conditions, when no water can be collected through drainage?
- Why should this Project in particular be exempted from the near 20-year old basin closure over others?
To read AWA’s full Statement of Concern, click here.