Alexis Nakota Sioux maintains intervener status for Vista project

On Jan. 9, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Coalspur Mines Ltd. reached a confidential agreement for the Coalspur Vista project. Alexis Nakota Sioux was the last of three First Nations to relinquish its status as intervener in the upcoming Alberta Energy Regulator hearings.

In early December, Ermineskin Cree Nation and the Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation withdrew as interveners for the project having entered into separate agreements with Coalspur Mines. The agreements provide mutually beneficial opportunities for community development, infrastructure and business opportunities, as well as ensure First Nation participation in ongoing environmental monitoring of Coalspur's operations and mitigate impacts on the First Nations' traditional land uses. Coalspur now has agreements with six First Nations. However, AER still begin its hearing Jan. 13 in Hinton, saying both technical staff and the commission had questions for Coalspur Mines.