Seven local residents in Cochrane, Alberta, are contesting the provincial government’s approval of a gravel pit expansion operation by BURNCO Rock Products Ltd. The existing pit, initiated in 2016 by the Calgary-based company, spans an area equivalent to approximately 100 football fields and is situated uphill from the Bow River, just a hundred meters away at its closest point.
The provincial government sanctioned a fivefold increase in the site’s footprint in 2023. Despite BURNCO’s assurance that it will only extract a fraction of the larger area at a time and intends to restore the land progressively to its original state for agricultural purposes, concerns have been raised by local residents regarding potential environmental repercussions, particularly concerning groundwater safety.
A dispute has arisen concerning the water use approval granted to BURNCO for the expanded site in 2024. The matter is being deliberated by the provincial Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), with a virtual hearing originally scheduled for mid-March but postponed due to procedural and legal concerns raised by all involved parties. As of now, a new hearing date has not been set.
In addition to the local residents challenging the gravel pit’s water use approval, the Town of Cochrane, Rocky View County, and Stoney Nakoda Nations have been granted intervenor status in the appeal proceedings. While the Town of Cochrane has not opposed BURNCO’s project, it emphasizes the need for additional clarity and assurance to fully comprehend and manage the potential impacts of the pit. Rocky View County’s stance on its participation in the appeal remains undisclosed.
The City of Calgary has not engaged directly in the matter, though it did express concerns in 2022 regarding the pit’s influence on Bow River water quality. Following discussions with BURNCO the subsequent year, Calgary determined that the risk level was minimal.
The appellants argue that the current provincial regulations do not adequately evaluate environmental risks before permitting such projects to proceed. Ann McKendrick McNabb, one of the residents challenging the pit’s water use approval, stresses the necessity for more comprehensive data on potential impacts on local water sources and ecosystems.
BURNCO has conducted various studies, including wetland assessments and plans for stormwater management, erosion control, and reclamation, which were submitted to the province. However, the appellants advocate for an independent, audited environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be mandated for the company.
Gravel pits were exempted from mandatory EIAs in 2020 following a regulation amendment to Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Although the environment minister has the discretion to order an EIA for projects not required to undergo one under the regulations, no such action has been taken for the Cochrane West gravel pit project.
BURNCO asserts that it has adhered to Alberta’s environmental permitting process and that its longstanding operations along the Bow River have not historically resulted in the impacts suggested by the appellants. The residents contesting the water use approval highlight the substantial financial and time investment required to participate in the appeal process, emphasizing the perceived imbalance that places ordinary citizens at a disadvantage.
According to Jason Unger, the executive director of the Environmental Law Centre, the current approvals system may hinder public engagement in the early stages of resource project applications, necessitating residents to independently address environmental concerns.
The Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas refutes claims of unfair burden on citizens and emphasizes the multiple opportunities for public input while maintaining a fair and focused process. The appellants have requested the appeal board to suspend the water use approval pending a final decision from the environment minister after the hearing, a plea that has been declined thus far.
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas defends the existing regulations for gravel pit approvals as a pragmatic approach that safeguards the environment. The ministry refrained from commenting on the Cochrane West gravel pit dispute due to the ongoing appeal process.