M a y 2014 C a n adi a n M inin g J o ur n a l 1 9 CO A S T AL CO AL H i s t o r ic a l l y t h e D o minio n C o a l B lo c ks w er e a c q u i r e d b y t h e G o v e r nm e n t o f C a n ad a in 1905 in ex c h a n g e f o r f in a n ci a l s u p p o rt f o r r a i l w a y co n s t r uc t io n t hr o ug h t h e Cr o w s N es t P a s s a n d if t h e s a le p r o ce e d s i t w i l l o p en 20235 h e c t a r es o f l a n d t h a t h a s b e en o f f limi ts f o r co a l minin g f o r w e l l o v er a cen t ur y Th a t s a n o t h er s ur e sig n t h a t co a l min in g in B r i t i s h C o l um b i a i s s t i l l a h o t t o p ic a n d w h en t h e F e dera l g o v er nm en t s h o ws in t er es t t h e p r os p e c ts f o r t h e f u t ur e o f t h e in d u s t r y lo o ks e v en m o r e p r o mi sin g E v en des p i t e a r e cen t h e ad lin e in Th e G lo b e a n d M a i l s R ep o r t o n B u sin es s s a y in g P r ice s l um p hi ts B C co a l min er s t h e co a l s e c t o r s t i l l r em a in s r e a s o n a b l y s t r o n g t h a n ks t o t h e co m p a nies t h a t h a v e h e l p e d k e ep t h e p r o v in ce s co a l p r o d uc t io n b et w e en 22 a n d o v er 30 mi l lio n t o nn es f o r t h e p a s t 20 y e a r s A s m en t io n e d e a r lier e a sy acces s t o t h e va r io u s si t es m a k es t h e p r o v in ce s co a l dep osi ts a t t rac t i v e t o minin g co m p a nies b u t t h e p r o v in ce s exp o r t inf ra s t r uc t ur e i s w h a t h a s h e l p e d p u t B C o n t h e w o r ld m a p in s o fa r a s de li v er y i s co n cer n e d C o a l p r o d uce d in m uc h o f t h e s o u t h e a s t er n r eg io n i s t ra n s p o r t e d b y ra i l t o W es ts h o r e a n d N ep t un e t er min a l s in t h e V a n co u v er a r e a f o r exp o r t w hi le co a l f r o m min es in t h e n o r t h w es t p a r t o f t h e p r o v in ce i s t ra n s p o r t e d b y ra i l t o t h e R id le y T er min a l s n e a r P r in ce R u p er t s e e p h o t os o n P a g es 1617 Th er m a l co a l f r o m t h e Q uin s a m min e o n V a n co u v er I s l a n d a n d f r o m t h e B a sin min e mid wa y in t h e p r o v in ce n e a r t h e U S b o r der i s s hi p p e d t o in t er n a t io n a l m a r k ets f r o m faci li t ies o n T exad a I s l a n d in t h e S t ra i t o f G e o r g i a a n d N ep t un e B u l k T er min a l s in N o r t h V a n co u v er D o m es t ic m a r k ets a r e s u p p lie d b y t r uc k a n d b a r g e S imi l a r l y o n t h e E a s t C o a s t N o va S co t i a s t w o m a in co a l min es in t h e C a p e B r et o n a n d P ic t o u C o un t y r eg io n s a r e Mine site rehabilita tion particularly with coal mining where it s often misperceived as being dirty simply because of the dark and ominous colour of the product is an area where most mining companies make a concentra ted effort to be a good neigh bour by c leaning up after themselves In today s society however it s not a matter of volunteering to rehabilitate a site upon completion of mining it s required by many mining jurisdictions through bonds to ensure that costs as sociated with reclamation are covered And as mine operators will attest those bonds are substantial In fact se curing bonds for mine reclamation can amount to millions and millions of up front dollars that are often diffcult to secure but in the end are critical to the successful and proftable operation of the mine T ransforming a spent mine back into a site with an alternative use is no easy task but through imagination and com munity involvement many mines have been restored for innov ative recreation al purposes that provide many tangible and intangible benefts to communities Reclaimed mined lands include wild life habitat forestry farming residential andor other industrial developments but regardless of their use mine operators from coast to coast know that reclamation is an integral part of mining and theyre taking that responsibility seriously CO AL MINE REHABILIT A TION ITS SERIOUS BUSINESS Rugged mountains and oceans provide scenic back drops for two of Canada s prime coal regions A perfect example of minesite rehabilitation