Stand up, exercise some ethics and integrity
By Lethbridge Herald on February 19, 2025.
Dear Editor,
Clearly Energy Minister Brian Jean does not operate from a position of ethics and integrity.
Following is a review of facts and time line of the now infamous Grassy Mountain:
1976 –The Lougheed-led provincial government, after consultation with various parties, including constituents/stakeholders, imposed a moratorium on coal mining in the Eastern Slopes.
January 20, 2020 – The coal sector requested removal of the 1976 Coal Mining Policy. (record per Freedom of Information)
March 09, 2020 – The coal industry (Benga Mining?) approached the Alberta Government requesting coal categories be rescinded or significantly updated so that it may have access to a Modern Regulatory System like every other resource industry. The categories where coal mining would be permitted were set out in the 1976 Coal Policy.
May 15, 2020 – On a Friday afternoon prior to the May long week-end, the Alberta Government rescinded the 1976 Coal Policy. This was followed by Australian coal company, Benga, making an application for development of the Grassy Mountain coal mine. The Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) jointly reviewed the Grassy Mountain coal mine application. The joint review panel denied the application in June 2021.
Between June 2021and the fall of 2023, through corporate reorganization, what had been Benga became known as Northback and made a second application, to conduct exploratory deep drilling coal exploration and diversion of water. As indicated earlier, the application for developing the site was previously rejected in 2020.
February 22, 2024 – The AER, who operates independent of the Government of Alberta, but prompted by a letter from Minister of Energy Jean agreed to hear the application by recently formed Northback. The “new” application was materially the same (the end result) as the one rejected in 2020 by a federal and provincial joint panel review. Jean, arbitrarily, in a letter dated November 16, 2023 decided it was an advanced project, and therefore exempt from the coal development moratorium. Despite the AER having independence and ostensibly interference from the government, apparently, Jean’s letter had “significant weight.” The AER decided to hear the matter. One would wonder how a provincial minister has more authority than a joint federal and provincial arm’s length review panel?
The AER hearing commenced on December 03, 2024 in Pincher Creek and continued in Calgary in January, 2025.
December 20, 2024 – The Friday before Christmas break and mid-point of the AER hearings Energy Minister Jean and Environment Minister Schulz held a press conference to announce the introduction of the Coal Industry Modernization Initiative (CIMI). The moratorium was still in place. This move was made without public consultation.
January 20, 2025 – (US President inauguration day) Brian Jean, once again, 30 days after announcing the CIMI, wrote a letter to the AER informing them that the moratorium was lifted. The AER was then directed to give “due consideration” to the new coal policy announced on December 20, 2024. What was the point in the AER completing its hearing?
Minister Jean’s office was contacted by the press, and citizens of Alberta, seeking, a straight from the horse’s mouth comment from the Minister Jean concerning the Grassy Mountain coal mine application. They were informed that Mr. Jean would not make a comment because the coal mining project proposal was making its way through the Alberta Energy Regulator’s approval process. This is rich, Jean had already dictated that they give “due consideration” to the new coal policy and had rescinded the moratorium on coal mining. No interface here!
In closing, we’ve also been informed the government intends on sacrificing, our clean water, air, land and wildlife in exchange for opening up 188,000 hectares/464,558 acres of the Eastern Slopes for coal mining. Our Premier wants to protect taxpayers from the potential liability of 16 billion dollars in lawsuits brought by several coal companies against the government. Does she actually believe if she magnanimously opens up our beloved areas and primary source of water to total devastation that the lawsuit will go away? We’re being held out to ransom.
Madame Premier, you and your cohort of Ministers, can’t hide from this one. It’s not going away. Stand up, exercise some ethics and integrity. You got us into this mess, now get us out unscathed.
L. Patrick Lannan
Claresholm
18-17
The entire UCP and Danielle Smith doesn’t operate from ethics or integrity. Why would anyone be surprised by that now?
Water is the most important concern for us all. I’m originally from a very large farm in eastern Alberta, so I know that.
Peter Lougheed also knew how important that water is for us all, and that’s why he enacted the 1976 Coal Policy. This was to protect the mountains, the environment and the water from damage.
The UCP has done so many very costly debacles and mistakes, which now exceed $80 billion, and all they care about is their rich friends, and how they can make them richer.
Had the UCP campaigned on open pit coal mining in the Rockies of Alberta, they would have been defeated.
The UCP have treated the vulnerable, seniors, medical professionals, teachers, students, rural property owners, the environment and democracy in Alberta with disdain. If Peter Lougheed were still around, he would never support the UCP and Danielle Smith.
Many years ago a group of us attended a talk by University professor David Schindler who was well known for knowledge of what Global Warming was doing to us. He pointed out the Bow Glacier feeding the Bow River would be gone by 2054 and what would Calgary do for what. His speech was frightening but is coming true.
It was a known fact that the UCP were playing games here with this open pit coal mining in the Rockies of Alberta. They wanted it all along, when the majority of Albertans didn’t want it. This shows who they really care about.
Well written and quite correct. Two things: “We the people” elected this mob, or at least the ex Wildrose and MAGA types did. Plus, brace yourself for the usual rhetoric directed at truthful statements pointing out the bleedin’ obvious.
Great comments Patrick and so true. It’s just one more case of Reformers deliberately destroying what Conservatives have created for the good of the people like the former Conservative MLAs taught me they are hellbent on doing.
So just what is the acceptable level of selenium in water, surely one of you anti capitalists should know that.
So, what price can you put on water? What will you do when it becomes even more scarce?
We knew this mindless senior couldn’t resist putting his stupidity in this intelligent conversation didn’t we? It doesn’t matter what the facts are or what people think he is so much smarter than everyone else and a true Reformer through and through. I bet they love him. He’s all they have left in Lethbridge, isn’t he?
The UCP only cares about their wealthy corporate buddies. Albertans are not their concern at all.
For questions like that I use the free app ChatGPT.
Selenium contamination in the Elk Valley, primarily due to coal mining activities, has raised concerns about drinking water safety. Here’s an overview of selenium levels in the region’s drinking water and the capabilities of municipal water treatment plants to address this issue:
Selenium Levels in Elk Valley Drinking Water
• Fernie: The city’s primary water source is Fairy Creek, a watershed unaffected by mining, with selenium concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 µg/L. However, during periods when Fairy Creek’s supply is insufficient, water is sourced from a well in James White Park. In April 2024, selenium levels in this well exceeded British Columbia’s drinking water guideline of 10 µg/L, leading to its temporary closure. 
• Sparwood: Historically, concerns about mining-related selenium contamination prompted the commissioning of a new well in 2020. In 2022, selenium levels in this new well remained below the Canadian drinking water guideline of 50 µg/L. 
Municipal Water Treatment and Selenium Removal
Conventional municipal water treatment plants are typically designed to address common contaminants and may not effectively remove selenium, especially at elevated concentrations. Advanced treatment methods are required for selenium removal, including:
• Biological Treatment: Utilizes non-pathogenic bacteria to reduce selenate and selenite to insoluble elemental selenium, which can then be filtered out. This method has demonstrated high efficiency in removing selenium from water. 
• Adsorption: Involves materials like activated alumina or iron-based adsorbents to capture selenium ions from water.
• Reverse Osmosis: Employs semi-permeable membranes to separate selenium from water, though it can be cost-prohibitive for large-scale applications.
Implementing these advanced treatments can be complex and costly, often necessitating specialized infrastructure and expertise. In response to contamination concerns, municipalities like Fernie and Sparwood have explored alternative water sources less impacted by mining activities to ensure safe drinking water for their residents. 
Residents relying on private wells are advised to regularly test their water for selenium and other potential contaminants, especially if located near mining operations. Collaborating with local health authorities can provide guidance on testing and, if necessary, implementing appropriate treatment solutions.
The acceptable level of selenium in drinking and irrigation water depends on regulatory guidelines set by various health and environmental agencies:
Drinking Water Standards
• World Health Organization (WHO): 0.04 mg/L (40 µg/L)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L)
• European Union (EU): 0.01 mg/L (10 µg/L)
• Indian Standards (BIS – IS 10500:2012): 0.01 mg/L (10 µg/L)
Irrigation Water Standards
• U.S. EPA & FAO: Generally, selenium levels in irrigation water should not exceed 0.02 mg/L (20 µg/L) to prevent soil accumulation and plant toxicity.
• Canadian Guidelines for Irrigation Water: 0.01 mg/L (10 µg/L)
Higher concentrations of selenium in water can be toxic to aquatic life, plants, and humans. If selenium levels exceed safe limits, treatment methods such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, or biological treatment may be necessary.
Would you like information on testing or treatment methods?
Happy to answer. O.05mg/L.
How much selenium are you willing to lick off your dear leader’s boot?
In Canada, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for selenium in drinking water is 50 µg/L (0.05 mg/L), as set by Health Canada and the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
This limit is based on protecting human health, as excessive selenium intake over time can cause selenosis, leading to hair loss, nail brittleness, and neurological effects.
For comparison, British Columbia has a more stringent guideline of 10 µg/L (0.01 mg/L) for drinking water due to regional concerns like selenium contamination from mining in the Elk Valley.
It’s interesting that Provinces can set lower standards. Will Alberta set higher standards to further endanger the people’s health.
On another subject mindless seniors were once again bad mouthing the use of Solar Power on the Calgary Herald Blog yesterday saying it doesn’t work when covered with snow, yet these fools are paying the highest power bills in Canada and those of us who have spent time in Europe and Alaska and talked to the people know its saving them thousands of dollars and more and more farmers in Alberta are using it as we see on their farms. As lawyers have stated over the year “You Can’t change stupid people they won’t listen to true facts, and are more than willing to believe the lies they are fed”.
NAIT in Edmonton has proven these Solar Panels do still work when covered in snow and the people in Alaska knew it was true. It isn’t as good but it still works, and I have talked to people who were generating more than they were using and making money from selling it back to the grid.
Dad was a power plant engineer working at SAIT and showed members of Calgary City Council, including the Mayor how he could produce more electricity than they were using and turn the meters backwards They told him not to do it. Now days they would be encouraging it, wouldn’t they?
The technological advances for solar power keeps on improving, as all things do. For example, if you grew up in the 1950s, you would remember a very large TV set that had no remote control, and you had to wait for the TV set to warm up, before you could watch something. Now, it’s different. If you grew up in the 1950s, you would remember having a very large record player to play the Hank Williams Sr., Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly records you and your friends bought at the store. Now, they have ways of playing music that are much smaller.
Say goodbye to traditional photovoltaic panels – Japan unveils first titanium solar panel – 1000 times more powerful https://unionrayo.com/en/japan-titanium-solar-panel/
You have certainly got that right. I can’t believe how incredible cameras are to day and how cheap large TVs have become and how much clearer they are. I have an old iPod , about the size of a cigarette lighter that I can put 4,800 songs on that are crystal clear.
If you were around in the 1940s, or earlier, you would remember how the cameras were much more bulkier, and bigger than they are now. You had to get a specialist to develop the film. Now, your phone takes the pictures, and you can print them yourself. There were people who were around in the 1950s, and earlier, who didn’t have power, or refrigerators. My dad, who is 95, this year, remembers having an ice house on the farm in Alberta, during the 1930s and the 1940s. If you were around in the 1960s, and you were an accountant, or a banker, you did a lot of transactions without a computer. Computers back then filled a whole room. Now, they have computers that you can take with you, wherever you go, and they are very lightweight, and you can do business transactions with them. With solar technology, and alot of other technologies, Japan is ahead of the game.