Seven individuals from the local community are contesting the provincial government’s decision regarding a gravel pit situated to the west of Cochrane, Alberta. The gravel pit, initiated by BURNCO Rock Products Ltd., a Calgary-based company, in 2016, spans an area equivalent to approximately 100 football fields and is located uphill from the Bow River, with the closest point being a hundred meters away.
In 2023, the provincial government granted approval for BURNCO to expand the pit’s footprint by about five times its original size. BURNCO has assured that it will not extract more than one-sixth of the expanded area at any given time and has plans in place to restore the land gradually to its original state of pasture and farmland.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the operation, particularly regarding groundwater risks. The dispute now revolves around the water use approval granted to BURNCO for the expanded site in 2024, which is being deliberated by the provincial Environmental Appeals Board (EAB). Although a virtual appeal hearing was scheduled for mid-March, it was postponed due to procedural and legal issues raised by all parties, and a new date for the hearing is pending.
Aside from the local residents, the Stoney Nakoda community is also engaged in the appeal process, citing potential adverse effects on groundwater, surface water, and wetlands in their application to participate in the hearing. The Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County, while not opposing BURNCO’s project outright, have sought clarity and assurance regarding the pit’s potential impacts and have been granted intervenor status in the appeal hearing.
While the City of Calgary previously expressed concerns about the pit’s impact on Bow River water quality in 2022, subsequent discussions with BURNCO in the following year led to the city concluding that the risk was minimal. The appellants argue that the current provincial regulations fall short in adequately assessing the environmental risks before greenlighting such projects.
Ann McKendrick McNabb, one of the appellants with family land adjacent to the pit sites, emphasized the need for comprehensive data on potential environmental impacts and criticized the outdated regulations governing such projects. BURNCO has submitted various studies to the province, including wetland assessments and reclamation plans. However, the appellants advocate for an independent, audited environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be mandated for BURNCO’s operations.
Despite gravel pits being exempt from mandatory EIAs since 2020 under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, the environment minister retains the authority to order an EIA if deemed necessary. The appellants have incurred significant costs and invested substantial time and effort in challenging the water use approval, underscoring the challenges faced by ordinary citizens in the appeal process.
Experts and environmental advocates have highlighted the need for a more transparent and community-inclusive approach to such projects, emphasizing the importance of early public participation and clearer regulatory processes. The environment ministry defended the existing rules for gravel pit approvals, asserting that they represent a balanced approach to environmental protection.
The appeal board has so far refused to pause BURNCO’s water use approval, allowing the company to proceed with its operations as the appeal process continues. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas affirmed its support for the current regulations while refraining from commenting on the ongoing Cochrane West gravel pit dispute due to the active appeal process.