Legacy properties

Once a site reaches the end of its lifecycle, it begins the active closure or care and maintenance processes. Decommissioning a closed facility can take years of work to complete and is a coordinated effort across teams and specialists to ensure a responsible transition to the closure phase.

At Glencore, we require our industrial assets to implement closure planning requirements that align with our commitments to international good practice and meet the respective ICMM Performance Expectations. We look for ways to improve our land stewardship activities to enable sustainable conditions within the ecosystems in which we work, and for the communities and species that depend on them. Further information relating to our land management can be found here: Land management (glencore.com)

These legacy operations were not in operation at the time of Glencore’s acquisition of the steelmaking coal business.

Coal Mountain

The Coal Mountain site is currently in a care and maintenance phase and plays a critical role as a training campus for new employees as part of our efforts to support the industry and continuing to build a pipeline of Canadian mining professionals.

Coal Mountain transitioned to the care and maintenance phase in 2019.

Coal Mountain Training Campus

The Coal Mountain Training Campus provides a standardized orientation training program for new hires. The comprehensive program spans a week and offers interactive, instructor-led training sessions with a primary focus on health and safety.

Additionally, new hires requiring specialized training in areas such as compliance or haul truck operation undergo an additional week of training at the Campus.

To foster a deeper understanding of the business, employees receive training and participate in daily knowledge checks on business fundamentals, including:

Health and safety
Mine operations and maintenance
Water quality management
Equity, diversity and inclusion
Human resources
Finance and operational excellence
Engineering
Standard practices and procedures

Cardinal River

The Cardinal River operation, located near Hinton, Alberta, ceased mining operations in June 2020. A major producer of steelmaking coal from 1969-2020, it has since transitioned into active closure, with an ongoing focus on post-closure reclamation.

After reaching its end of mine life in June 2020, Cardinal River entered active closure. This phase of mine life begins when mining has been completed. Active closure includes the responsible decommissioning of site facilities and infrastructure, final land reclamation, and, where required, remediation activities.

Reclamation at Cardinal River mine will aim to conserve and enhance biodiversity as part of our commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible transition, and EVR intends to invest at least C$200 million on rehabilitation and post-reclamation monitoring.

As part of the closure efforts and undertakings at Cardinal River, disturbed land will be returned to a state of equivalent land capability supporting various end land uses. To achieve this, there are five different values for the reclaimed landscape to include: watershed function, fisheries habitat, forest establishment, traditional uses, and recreational uses.

Areas of the site are planned to be reclaimed as follows: (1) Cheviot Mineral Surface Lease (MSL), (2) Cheviot Main Access Road, (3) Luscar Mineral Surface Lease.

In any given area, earthworks and initial revegetation can take a number of years, followed by a period of monitoring and possible refinement before reclamation is considered complete by the Alberta Energy Regulator.

A key outcome of the feedback received from regulators from the Cheviot permitting process is the need to use native plant species in reclamation. We have incorporated this approach into reclamation planning for the Cardinal River mine.

EVR remains committed to engaging with Indigenous Peoples and other communities of interest on the development of ongoing reclamation plans. EVR also holds annual community update meetings and will continue to hold these throughout the reclamation process.

EVR adheres to multiple regulatory approvals that outline responsible closure activities and submits annual monitoring reports to the Alberta Energy Regulator. These are publicly available on the Alberta Energy Regulator website.

The Cardinal River site provides Indigenous Peoples, local residents, and communities of interest with information on the status of EVR’s closure and reclamation activities, including changes to public access. Although Cardinal River is no longer in operation, site maintenance and active reclamation and closure activities continue. To ensure public safety, there are Designated Access Trails (DATs) through and around the Mineral Surface Lease (MSL). DATs are intended to provide safe access to areas popular with outdoor enthusiasts and are designated for Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use or non-motorized access (foot or equestrian). Public access maps are available online or can be requested from the Cardinal River mine.

Public access is prohibited in the following areas:

All areas outside of the marked DATs; including, but not limited to; the active mine access road, unless otherwise accommodated through designated underpasses and crossings.
The dividing berm along the western edge of the Grave Flats Road.
Overnight camping, staging, and hunting is prohibited within the MSL.

Cardinal River mine hosts an annual meeting to discuss changes to public access in and around the mine. For more information about the annual meeting or public access please contact 1-855-806-6854 or email feedback@evr.com.

Access to Drummond Ridge Trail Designated Access Trail:

Due to active reclamation activities, Drummond Ridge Trail has been temporarily relocated and will require escort through a portion of the Mineral Surface Lease. Please respect instructions located inside the radio control shack located at the staging area. The staging area is located at the same location as the Cadomin Mountain staging area. Please follow posted signage.

For questions about access to Drummond Ridge please contact the EVR Feedback Line at 1-855-806-6854 or email feedback@evr.com.

Access to Powerhouse Creek and Mackenzie Creek Designated Access Trails:

Portions of this DAT network are temporarily closed to facilitate reclamation efforts. Please respect all signage located at the Powerhouse Creek staging area. EVR will provide an update on public access as reclamation work is completed. For questions, please contact the EVR feedback line at 1-855-806-6854 or email feedback@evr.com.

Grave Flats Road:

A section of the Grave Flats Road, approximately 22 kilometers south of Cadomin, along the Cardinal River, is washed out and is not passable. Grave Flats Road is under the jurisdiction of Yellowhead County. Please direct questions about this road to Yellowhead County.

Mountain Park Town Site Area (West of the McLeod River):

The Designated Access Trail off the Grave Flats Road that provides access to the former Mountain Park area west of the river is closed.

Mountain Park Cemetery Area:

Public access to the Mountain Park Cemetery is not interrupted by closure activities.

Prospect Creek Area:

Public access into the southwest tributary of Prospect Creek is restricted.

The Prospect Creek DAT is open. Please note that as a portion of this trail crosses through the active Mineral Surface Lease, it is important that all signage is obeyed, and users stay on the DAT. Prospect Creek is a non-motorized (foot or equestrian) DAT.

Harris Creek Valleys:

Closure activities in the Harris and McLeod pits require temporary access closures for safety. These closures have impacted public access into the Harris Valleys.

In 2014, a clean water diversion was built. The clean water diversion, as well as other closure activities, has closed the original Designated Access Trails to Cadomin Mountain and the Harris Valley trails.

An alternate route to Cadomin Mountain has been established and this DAT is open. Please note that there are portions of this trail outside the MSL that are extremely steep and this trail should be used with caution.

Mile 12 Cabin Staging Area:

An interim staging area at the Mile 12 Cabin has replaced the closed Mountain Park Staging Area. This area is 19km southeast of the historical Mountain Park town site, over the Cardinal Divide. The staging area is clearly marked, and infrastructure includes washrooms and 12 camping sites with fire pits. Due to the washout of the Grave Flats Road, approximately 22 kilometers south of Cadomin and along the Cardinal River, access to Mile 12 Cabin Staging Area is via the Pembina River Road. For updates on EVR, Cardinal River mine and public access please contact EVR by phone at 1-855-806-6854 or by email at feedback@evr.com.

Please refer to the North and South Access Maps for more information on restrictions within the Mineral Surface Lease area. The maps also provide coordinates for the Mineral Surface Lease. There is also a file available for download of the coordinates, intended for handheld GPS units.

Cardinal River Operations North and South Map

Cardinal River Operations Boundary Coordinates Google Earth

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) is responsible for land management plans. EVR has shared feedback related to land management with EPA and will continue to do so. For questions related to the Luscar and Cheviot land management plans, please contact Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.

Bullmoose

The Bullmoose Operation is located about 45 kilometers northwest of Tumbler Ridge in the Peace River Coalfields district of northeastern B.C. The mine was operated between 1983 and 2003 and is currently in a care and maintenance phase as part of EVR’s responsible transition process.

Following the mine’s closure, EVR introduced several monitoring studies to enhance environmental conditions at the site and surrounding area for fish and wildlife, and recreational users continue to use the public access sections of the site.

For more information, please email feedback@evr.com.