Flathead Basin Commission hears of new coal mine

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

Potential mining projects in the Canadian Flathead seem slowed for now, but a new project just outside the Flathead is in its early stages.

A British Columbia representative last week told the Flathead Basin Commission that little has developed with proposed mining projects. At the same meeting in West Glacier, representatives from a third company explained plans for a mine near the Canadian Flathead.

The commission is a multi-agency group charged with protecting water quality in the Flathead River watershed.

Kathy Eichenberger, B.C. liaison to the commission, said there's no indication of movement on Cline Mining Co. project in the Foisey Creek drainage, a tributary to the North Fork of the Flathead.

"It's quiet," she said.

Cline wants to create an open pit coal mine, known as the Lodgepole Mine, near Fernie, British Columbia. The Canadian Flathead lies just north of Glacier National Park in Canada. Unlike in the United States, much of the area is unprotected.

British Petroleum has also proposed developing a coalbed methane mine in the Crowsnest coal field, which is in the Elk River Valley of southeastern British Columbia.

Eichenberger said no decision on the project has been made yet by the Ministry of Environment on the project and no target date for a decision is set either.

Representatives from Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. spoke with the commission on plans for its Crowsnest Coal Project near Fernie. The company is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, an international mining group headquartered in London.

The company is looking to open an underground mine for coking coal in the Elk River watershed. The area is west of the Canadian Flathead.

Sean Whiteford, general manager of exploration, said the company is doing exploration core drilling and a seismic survey has been completed.

Whiteford said the company is in the second step of its five-step exploration process.

"That doesn't guarantee we will mine, but we're hopeful we'll find something," he said.

As part of the exploration process, Whiteford said, the company will also be gathering baseline data on water quality.

"We deal with water issues everywhere we go," he said. "It's not something we take lightly."

Matt Jeschke, community relations manager, said a number of factors are studied before a mine begins operation including environmental and economic impacts.

"We understand what we're doing is not a light or easy activity and has to be addressed carefully," Jeschke said.

Members of the commission asked whether the company might in the future consider projects in the Canadian Flathead.

"We have no interest in going into the Flathead," said Jeschke. "And no interest in coalbed methane."

Whiteford and Jeschke said it will likely take up to 12 years before the mine might become operational and then it could be running for the next 30 to 40 years.

Both noted there is "no chance" the underground mine would change to a surface mine.

Erin Sexton, a researcher with the Flathead Lake Biological Station, cautioned that subsurface mining could still impact water quality.

She said it's still a mystery how water moves through the Elk River watershed and Flathead watershed.

"Drilling underground may effect water that eventually ends up at the surface," said Sexton.

During review of the Cline Mining project, the commission and Montana have been allowed to submit comments on the plan to British Columbia

Rich Moy, with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation water management bureau and member of the commission, told Eichenberger the commission would like to work with the province like it has previously.

"If this project moves forward we would like that opportunity," Moy said.

Also last week, Eichenberger reported that there has been a exploration permits granted in the Hollow Creek and the Twentynine Mile Creek areas.

She said the permits were granted in late June and that reclamation of the exploration sites has been completed or is underway.

Environmental review of the projects won't be triggered on either project until production exceeds a set amount.