Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton | Moh’kinstsis/Calgary, AB
On September 24, 2025 the Regulatory Applications branch of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issued approvals for Summit Coal’s Mine 14 Applications, an underground metallurgical coal mine near Grande Cache Alberta.
The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Northern Alberta Chapter (CPAWS Northern Alberta) are disappointed in the approval of these applications in the absence of a public hearing. Our organization’s robust written submissions raised many concerns and deficiencies within the mine applications. According to the AER these submissions were considered in the application approvals. While we hope that they strengthened the environmental conditions of approval, the process was ultimately subverted by the CEO of the AER asserting that he had the authority to cancel the public hearing.
These approvals do not impact AWA and CPAWS Northern Alberta’s appeal with the Alberta Courts, challenging the CEO’s decision. If the Alberta Court of Appeal determines that the CEO of the AER lacked authority to cancel the public hearing for Mine 14, there was also a lack of authority to have Summit’s applications decided by the Regulatory Applications branch. Approvals for Mine 14 should not be granted without a due hearing process.
On November 6, 2025, the AWA and CPAWS Northern Alberta will present their case requesting permission to appeal the decision to the Alberta Court of Appeal. If the Court grants permission, our appeal will move forward through the legal process.
The following approvals for Summit Coal’s Mine 14 were granted:
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Water Term Licence – 33544347
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Water Act Approval – 00496729-001
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Coal Mine License Amendment – 1945553
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Coal Mine Permit Amendment – 1945552
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EPEA – 00496728-001
For more information, contact:
Tara Russell, Program Director, CPAWS Northern Alberta, [email protected]
Tara Russell, Program Director, CPAWS Northern Alberta, [email protected]
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