Notice of Filing
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Application No. 1271519

Alberta Environment
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATION NO. 003-11851

transalta Utilities corporation
Whitewood mine no. 1757/West; Licence No. C 97-32
wabamun ARea

Take Notice that TransAlta Utilities Corporation (TransAlta) has applied to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and Alberta Environment (AENV) for approval to continue to operate a surface coal mine in the Wabamun area. This surface coal mine development is located north of Wabamun Lake in Parkland County, within Township 53, Range 4, West of the 5th Meridian. The Whitewood Mine currently produces 2.8 million tonnes of sub-bituminous coal annually, which is supplied as fuel to the Wabamun Thermal Generating Station. TransAlta requests a term and area extension of Mine Licence No. C 97-32 from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2012; as well as, to adopt the planned cut sequence to prepare for the advance of mining in Sections 19 and 30, Township 53, Range 4, West of the 5th Meridian, from the subcrop in a southerly direction. 

This Notice of Filing is being distributed to advise interested persons that the applications are available, and that the EUB, AENV and other government departments are now undertaking reviews of the applications.

Nature of Applications

In support of their proposal, TransAlta has prepared and submitted the following applications:  

·        Application No. 1271519 to the EUB, pursuant to Sections 13 (1) of the Coal Conservation Act, to amend the licence to extend the term and area of the surface coal mine and reclamation operations over a ten year period as well as to adopt the planned cut sequence to prepare for the advance of mining from the subcrop in a southerly direction.

•  Application No. 003-11851 to AENV, under EPEA, for a renewal of an existing approval for the continuation of mining at the Whitewood Mine.
  
  
• Application No. 003-11851 to AENV, under EPEA, for the addition of lands in Section 19 and 30, Township 053, Range 4, West of the 5th Meridian, to construct, operate and reclaim a coal mine.  

Additional Information

To obtain additional information or a copy of the application, free of charge, contact:

TransAlta Utilities Corporation
110 – 12th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2M1
Attention: Mr Paul Clark, Director of Fuel Supply
Telephone: (403) 267-7325
Fax: (403) 267-3726
Email: paul_clark@transalta.com

For information about EUB procedures contact:

EUB Applications Branch, Resource Applications
Attention: Mr. Greig Sankey
Telephone: (403) 297-7202
Email: greig.sankey@gov.ab.ca

To File a Submission

Should you have a statement of concern to the EPEA Application No. 003-11851, please submit your written statement to: 

Director of Central Region
Alberta Environment
Regulatory Approvals Centre
Main Floor, 9820 – 106th Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J6
Telephone: (780) 427-6311
Fax: (780) 422-0154 

Pursuant to Section 73 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), any person who is directly affected by Application No. 003-11851 may submit a written statement of concern regarding this application. Statements of concerns must be submitted in writing by August 14, 2002. Please quote Application No. 003-11851 when submitting a statement of concern. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeal Board. Note: Any statements filed regarding this application are public records, which are accessible by the public. 

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on June 24, 2002.

ALBERTA ENERGY AND UTILITIES BOARD
Michael J. Bruni, Q.C., General Counsel