A local rancher is very afraid of the consequences of a string of open pit mines slated for the Eastern Slopes stretching from Longview to the Crowsnest Pass.

Mac Blades, who own's the Rocking-P Ranch west of Nanton has great fears for what the mines are going to do to not just his water supply but anyone downstream.

"It will mess up everybody's water. I mean all downstream. They have not been able to take the selenium out the water over in Teck (Sparwood, B.C. area open pit mine) and they've spent, not quite, but close to a billion dollars trying to get the selenium out of the water and they can't do it."

Blades says the mines will contaminate the Oldman River watershed with selenium and other chemicals affecting the drinking water for a huge number of people.

"Apparently it'll affect two million people along the Oldman River drainage and also irrigation and agriculture, the cattle feeders, the farmers, the barley producers, everybody. And if this coal mine goes through, good luck getting rail cars to haul our barley to market."

Blades, along with a handful of other ranchers are leading the charge against the mines by launching an injunction against the Province from leasing anymore land.

Mac & Renie Blades are hoping to put the brakes on mining projects along the eastern slopes. Photo courtesy Mac Blades.

However, he says the Province is already fighting back as they're trying to strike down the injunction.

"We've already had one small hearing on that, it was about three hours long and I guess there's two more days of that."

Blades says that hearing goes again Tuesday, January 19 and Wednesday, January 20 in Calgary.

However Blades says his isn't the only injunction being filed.

"There's also four Indian Bands launching another judicial review, same as ours, against the government."

Blades says at least one of the mines will tear the top of a mountain on Cabin Ridge.

He says what he really finds frustrating is there was absolutely no consultation with landowners or the public.

Read More: Opposition To Proposed Coal Mines Grows

Alarm Growing Over Potential Coal Mines

 

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