NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS
PRAIRIE MINES & ROYALTY LTD.
PAINTEARTH MINE NORTH EXTENSION DEVELOPMENT
HALKIRK AREA

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
APPLICATION NO. 1644990

ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATION NO. 003-11364
WATER ACT FILE NO. 00214629

The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB/Board) has received Application No. 1644990 and Alberta Environment (AENV) has received Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) Application No. 003-11364 and a Water Act Application No. 00214629 from Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd. (PMRL) for approval of a proposed development (the North Mine Extension Development [NME]). This notice is being distributed to advise interested persons that the applications are available and that the ERCB, AENV, and other government departments are now undertaking a review of the applications.

The proposed development would include an amalgamation of existing mine permits, an extension to the northwest of the mine permit, and an extension to the mine pit licence. It would connect to the existing haulroads for coal delivery to the Battle River Generating Station. The proposed development and the current mine site area would be located in the Halkirk area, about 175 kilometres (km) southeast of Edmonton and 25 km southeast of the Village of Forestburg in Townships 39 and 40, Ranges 15 and 16, West of the 4th Meridian, within Paintearth County. It would have the potential to extend the life of the Paintearth Mine by 10 years.

Nature of the Applications
In support of the proposed development, PMRL has submitted the following:

• Application No. 1644990 to the ERCB, pursuant to Sections 11 and 13 of the Coal Conservation Act and Sections 4, 5, and 8 of the Coal Conservation Regulations, for the amalgamation and extension of the permitted mine site areas and for the development, operation, and reclamation of the existing and proposed pit licences.
• Application No. 003-11364 to AENV, pursuant to Section 73 of the EPEA, for an amendment to existing Approval No. 11364 to allow for the opening up, operation and reclamation of the NME and adjacent areas currently not covered under the approval. The proposed expansion area would be located in Sections 22, 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 of Township 40, Range 16, West of the 4th Meridian, and would require about 529.6 hectares (ha) of disturbance. Soil material would be conserved for reclamation. The disturbed areas would be reclaimed to predominantly agricultural development and to a lesser extent wildlife habitat, dugouts and one end pit lake (1603 EPL) with an area of 49.3 ha. The end pit lake will tie into an existing end pit lake (1601 EPL – 37.6 ha) on the west side of Highway 855 as part of the west field, for a combined total area of 86.9 ha.
• File No. 00214629, pursuant to the Water Act, for approval to control surface and groundwater flow within PMRL’s boundaries. The activities in the application include redirecting waterflow, dewatering and sedimentation control and also include details on the construction, operation and maintenance of works required for these activities. The mine would be located in portions of the following watercourses and related drainage areas. The watercourses are: unnamed tributaries to the Battle River, Slough Creek and Paintearth Creek. The approximate groundwater production interval that would be affected is between 740 metres (m) above sea level (ground surface) and 692 m above sea level (bottom of excavation). The total area in hectares for the end pit lake to the east of the extension (1602 EPL) would be about 81.7 ha

To obtain a copy of the application, contact
Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd.
Box 730
Forestburg, Alberta  T0B 1N0
Attention: Grant Boddy, P. Eng., Engineering Manager
Telephone: 403-884-3015
Fax: 403-884-3001
E-mail: gboddy@prairiemines.com

To view a copy of the application and supporting documents, contact
ERCB Information Services
Main Floor, 640 – 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3G4
Telephone: 403-297-8311 (Option 2)
Viewing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Alberta Environment, Central Region
Suite 1, 250 Diamond Avenue
Spruce Grove, Alberta  T7X 4C7
Telephone: 780-960-8600

To File a Statement of Concern
Under Section 73 of the EPEA and Section 109 of the Water Act, any person who may be directly affected by the EPEA application or the Water Act application may submit a written statement of concern. Statements of concern under the EPEA and Water Act must be submitted by August 4, 2010. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeal Board. Please quote Application No. 003-11364 (EPEA) or File No. 00214629 (Water Act) when submitting a statement of concern. If no statements of concern are received, the EPEA and Water Act applications may be approved without further notice. Please submit your statement to

Alberta Environment
3rd floor, Provincial Building
4920 – 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta  T4N 6K8
Attention: David Helmer, Regional Approvals Manager
Telephone: 403-340-7721
Fax: 403-340-5022
E-mail: david.helmer@gov.ab.ca

Confidentiality
In accordance with Section 13 of the Energy Resources Conservation Board Rules of Practice, and Section 35(1) of the EPEA, all documents filed in respect of these applications must be placed on the public record.

For information about ERCB procedures, contact
Oil Sands Branch, Oil Sands & Coal Mining Group
Attention: Greig Sankey
Telephone: 403-297-7202
Fax: 403-297-8122
E-mail: greig.sankey@ercb.ca

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on June 11, 2010.
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
Patricia Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel