Alberta’s coal mine reclamation standards failing to protect water, fish: study

CALGARY – Alberta regulations meant to keep old coal mines from polluting streams and lakes are failing, suggests a study by government scientists.

The study says high levels of numerous contaminants are having grave outcomes for aquatic life and their ecosystems.

One of the authors, a former Alberta government scientist in charge of environmental monitoring, says the paper speaks to “regulatory inaction.”

“These results suggest current reclamation practices and regulatory requirements for water quality and aquatic ecosystems are not meeting the desired objectives,” the authors write at the end of the report.

The peer-reviewed study is by three Alberta government scientists and the former government scientist, who is now an environmental consultant.

They took samples from rivers near