Firm pushes ahead for B.C. coal mining

A Canadian mining company is proceeding with plans to develop a coal mine in British Columbia's Flathead Basin, heightening concerns about mining development expanding well before an adequate assessment of the basin's water, fisheries and wildlife can take place.

At a meeting in Fernie, B.C., last week, Cline Mining Co. officials confirmed plans to pursue a "small mines" permit that would allow extraction of up to 250,000 tons of coking coal annually from a site on Foisey Creek, a tributary to the North Fork Flathead River and Montana's Flathead Basin.

Those plans were revealed months ago in company securities documents, along with a stated intention of eventually expanding mine production to 2 million tons annually.

The company now intends to file an application for its small-mine permit at the end of November, drawing rapid opposition on both sides of the border. The Flathead Coalition, a transboundary group based in Montana's Flathead Valley, and a Canadian conservation group called Wildsight are calling on the British Columbia government to deny the permit.