Coal mine by Jasper National Park is growing by over 600 hectares | Daily Hive

Coal mine near Jasper National Park being expanded into the 'largest in North America'

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A massive expansion of a coal mine near Jasper National Park has been approved, with Alberta Major Projects stating it could become the “largest of its kind in North America.”

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued permits allowing Coalspur Mines to expand its Vista Coal Mine, located about 10 kilometres east of Hinton.

The existing Vista mine spans approximately 10,000 hectares and is a large-scale surface thermal-coal operation.

The approval took effect on July 20 and will allow Coalspur to expand its mining operations westward. Already the largest coal mine in Canada, the new mining area is expected to cover more than 630 hectares of land.

Alberta Energy Regulator

It would include open-pit mining, highwall mining, and a freshwater pipeline while using much of Vista’s existing infrastructure.

Coalspur plans to operate the original mine and expansion as a single complex. Regulatory documents reviewed by CBC News found that the combined operation could produce as much as 15 million tonnes of clean coal annually and remain active for about 12 additional years.

The coal mined from Vista is transported by rail to west coast ports, then shipped via ocean vessels to foreign markets.

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The AER approved the project without holding a public hearing, CBC News reported, despite objections from conservation organizations.

Those groups warn that the expansion could harm headwater streams in the Athabasca River basin and threaten habitat for endangered Athabasca rainbow trout and bull trout.

The AER told CBC News its review considered the project’s “environmental, social, economic and cultural effects,” as well as the company’s plans to mitigate any potential harm. The regulator found that the operator met all the conditions required for approval.

Under the approval, Coalspur must monitor water quality with consideration for the Athabasca River trout, submit a dust management plan and, among other conditions, prepare an end pit lake monitoring and development plan that includes filling the proposed end pit lake within 10 years after mining operations end.