Supporters, opponents of Alberta coal mine square off at public hearing [Video]

It was a packed house at the community hall in Pincher Creek, Alberta on Tuesday as the Alberta Energy Regulator held the first day of hearings over a controversial application to explore for coal in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Northback Holdings has applied for three new exploration permits for a coal mine at Grassy Mountain in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass, even though the same project has been previously rejected by both federal and provincial environmental review panels.

Supporters say the project would provide much needed employment and argue modern mining methods are subject to much more stringent regulations than they have been in the past.

But local ranchers, landowners, First Nations members and environmentalists who are concerned about it’s impact on the Oldman and Crowsnest River watersheds and communities downstream.

About 40 participants are registered to present their arguments to the AER panel.

Northback spokesperson, Rina Blacklaws estimates about half of the participants intend to speak out in support of the …