The draft plan for the Luscar and Gregg River mines was released at an open house in Hinton last Wednesday night (Jan. 27). The vision of the plan is to “conserve wildlife and protect watersheds.”

While conserving wildlife and protecting watersheds is the vision for the plan, the last goal suggests that “coal mining opportunities will continue.” However, this goal also includes logging, as part of the area belongs to West Fraser Mills. Oil, gas and other mineral sub-surface rights have also been issued, and the coal mining organizations will retain the right to the coal that has not been extracted.

The Luscar and Gregg River mines are situated around 43 km south of Hinton and come as close to three km east of Jasper National Park.

Currently, the two mines are still in operation but reclamation of the land is slowly taking place. While both are in the process of closing, the Luscar mine will still dedicate land to the Cheviot mine, which operates about 13 km south, and will be running for another 20 to 25 years.

The area in question is about more than 4,000 hectares with 95 per cent of the Luscar mine already reclaimed and about 50 per cent of the Gregg River mine also reclaimed.

While the evening aimed to put forward the plan and ask the public for their input, according to Sustainable Resource Development spokesperson Kathy Kiel (which is the organization overseeing the project) it also suggested five goals for the plan.

These goals included: ensuring wildlife and fishery resource and their habitats are healthy, productive and sustainable; Water and watershed are healthy, productive and sustainable; Provide sustainable recreational opportunities; Effective education, enforcement, monitoring, and evaluation, and stewardship; Provide commercial and industrial opportunities compatible with the plan.

All goals were derived after field orientation with stakeholders back in October 2008. Afterwards, focus groups were organized and sessions were held on various topics such as conservation, and stewardship; hunting and wildlife management; and motorized and non-motorized recreation.

Jasper National Park, the Foothills Research Institute, Alberta Tourism and other organizations were also consulted during the drafting of the plan.

Throughout the goals of the plan, wildlife management is a reoccurring issue and the importance of increasing public access to wildlife mentioned. The management of bighorn sheep and elk populations, who wander the land, is a high priority but hunting is limited only to when necessary to maintain the populations.

As for recreational activities, many have been classed as “restricted”. For example, overnight camping has been allowed but only in particular areas.
Similarly, mountain biking, equestrian use, commercial tourism, cross-country skiing, and sledding will all be allowed in some areas of the land, and not in others.

Most of these restrictions cite that wildlife disturbance, or with other users, is the main reason for their restriction. For these reasons, “seasonal timing restrictions” may be put in place.

Despite a restricted use of land for recreational activities, an interpretative centre has been proposed. This also follows on with the goal to educate, and inform the public about the special piece of land being discussed.