| Landowners in the picturesque Livingstone Range area in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass are worried about a proposed new magnetite mine and processing plant that may open in their backyards.
Micrex Development Corporation and International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc. are seeking government approval to open a mine, which would excavate about 45,000 tonnes of magnetite per year in the area. The companies also want to open a magnetite processing facility. Magnetite is used in coal production to separate coal from rock.
In a company press release Micrex Development Corporation describes the project as a "low-impact mining operation" that would be the approximate size of a small gravel pit." However, the website also states Micrex owns mineral rights to a magnetite deposit in the area that’s 12 kilometers long and four metres thick, with an estimated 14-million tonnes of the mineral.
"This project represents an excellent source of long-term cash flow for Micrex," says the website.
Local residents are concerned about the size of the proposed mine growing over the years.
David McIntyre, vice president of a local environmental group called Friends of the Livingstone Association, says the Livingstone Range area is renowned for its beautiful scenery and provides important habitat for a wide range of wildlife.
"(The companies) have said they’re just going to open a modest quarry but it’s obvious they have no intention of stopping there," says McIntyre.
However, Jeff Austin, president of International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc., says fears of the mine eventually encompassing all 12 kilometers of the magnetite deposit are unfounded.
He admits there are tens of millions of tones of magnetite that could be extracted but he says there’s a limited demand for the product from coal producers. He says the two companies only plan to mine in a very small area.
McIntyre says regardless of how big the mine is, it will disrupt wildlife and tear up rough fescue grass, which is used for cattle grazing and is notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to reintroduce once it’s removed.
Local residents are also concerned about the increased noise, dust and truck traffic and the decrease in local property values that would result, says McIntyre.
They also question whether the mine will have any economic benefit to Albertans. Micrex is only planning to hire 12 employees, as well as contractors, and the magnetite would likely be used in B.C., not Alberta mines. As well, heavy truck traffic would rip up Alberta roads.
Ranchers in the area are particularly concerned about the water supply for their cattle being affected because Micrex plans to use water from nearby creeks in its processing plant.
"There are just two small creeks and in this part of the world we have drought regularly," says Puff McKim, the owner of DU Ranch.
Rolf Brinkmann, who owns a bed and breakfast near where the proposed mine site, says his business will be destroyed if it proceeds.
"What we promise our guests is nature, being secluded. It is absolutely quiet here. It is paradise actually," he says.
Brinkmann says it doesn’t make sense for the government to "approve one business while ruining another."
Sherri-Dawn Annett, spokesperson for Alberta Environment, says the proposal is still in the early stages and the government is seeking public input. After all the feedback is received, the government will make a decision about whether an environmental impact assessment is needed before the project can proceed.
Meanwhile, Austin says the two companies will do everything they can to minimize its impact on the creeks.
"We’re proposing to work around the flows of the creek to minimize impact," he says.
Austin adds that he doesn’t believe noise from the operation will be an issue for local residents. |
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