Canadian group chimes in on coal plans

Sometimes there is a moment in the history of a province — a pure, perfect moment — to do something extraordinary, like building a world-renowned children's hospital or hosting a green Olympic games.

Those moments define us. They uplift us. And they change us.

Part of governing this lovely province is recognizing and seizing those moments — elevating the stature of British Columbians, inside and outside our borders.

Today, there is a "moment" lingering in the corner of our province, tucked deep into the Rocky Mountains. It is called the Flathead Valley, and this wild place hosts the densest concentration of grizzly bears in the interior of North America.

But the growls of those grizzly bears seem tame in comparison to the international roars over proposed mining and energy activity near this special place. These international roars from powerful politicians and quiet conservationists are not without merit. The proposed industrial development could devastate something quite special.

British Columbia's Flathead Valley is strategically located. It sits like a puzzle piece beside a large, renowned park that straddles the Alberta/Montana border. Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a World Heritage Site and United Nations Biosphere Reserve. It is precious. And 75 years ago, Alberta and Montana had a "moment" when they joined these lands together to create the world's first peace park.

B.C. decided not to include our Flathead Valley in that "moment." Even today, quite shamefully, it remains largely unprotected. And it is not overstating to say that this specific valley, in this specific location, can't be more crucial for the continued functioning of one of the world's great protected areas.

Thus, the roars. Mining and industrial activity pose a clear and present danger to this strategic valley and the river that runs through it. The Flathead River forms its headwaters in our strategic Flathead Valley before wending its way through the American side of the peace park. Any pollution entering these headwaters or tributaries risks tainted water running through huge tracts of this United Nations protected area. Without question, this river must be protected at all costs.

Because of this obvious sensitivity, the nearby open-pit mine and coal-bed methane projects proposed in B.C. are both riddled with environmental problems. They are also riddled with political problems, as polluting a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve would cause immediate, overwhelming and justified condemnation from the international community.

To make matters worse, Canada and B.C. currently insist that these proposals should not be subject to the highest level of review under Canadian law or involve the participation of American scientists. That secrecy leads to suspicion and hard, lingering doubts over the integrity of future findings.

But, as the difficult rhetoric increases between our countries, B.C. remains cleverly poised to find a far-reaching solution — a solution that could involve a great "moment" for the province.

B.C.'s deft diplomacy must start by abandoning these inherently risky coal and coal-bed methane projects near the Flathead River. Then the land-use planning for the area must change, as industrial desires and those of the strident hunting community currently override any and all thoughts of conservation.

It's not impossible to have mining in the region — there is lots of coal — but it must be extracted in balance with conservation and local interests. The time has come to bring important conservation to the Flathead Valley and economic diversity to the dangerously resource-dependent economies of the Kootenays.

The question of how much conservation is needed in the area sits squarely with our provincial government as this current international debate rages around them. Their decision over the Flathead Valley, made in the quiet offices of our provincial legislature, could signal one of the great "moments" of this province's history, on this, the 75th anniversary of our neighbors' cherished Waterton-Glacier Peace Park.

Our Flathead Valley, whether convenient or not, is forever part of this stunning peace park that hosts one of the last intact, natural carnivore-prey relationships in North America. All the natural beasts still exist in this rugged, snowy place. This park, coined the "Crown of the Continent" in a recent National Geographic magazine, also supports the most varied collection of vascular plants in Canada. And yet, climate change is taking its toll, melting the American glaciers and fundamentally altering this Park's ecosystems.

The United Nations can't protect Waterton-Glacier from these profound changes, but British Columbia can help mitigate the damage. The beasts in this biosphere need to move north and south, and they need the remote Flathead Valley for the migration through this uneven Rocky Mountain corridor.

It is exactly the "moment" to fully protect the Flathead Valley, with a diplomatic flourish, and formally fasten B.C.'s jewel onto this Crown of the Continent.

Full federal park status will not hurt B.C.'s industrial interests, as there is currently no coal or coal-bed methane production in the valley itself. An addition to this renowned park will attract jobs and tourism to the Kootenays. And it would highlight B.C.'s newfound, much-touted commitment to climate change.

Chloe O'Loughlin is the executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, B.C. chapter.