Comments on: Cline Mine: What’s Next?

By Matt Brake on 05-24-07

A quick google search reveals that coal prices in March of this year ranged from approximately $9 to $45 per ton (http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/coalnews/coalmar.html) and that the Iraq war is costing us $200 million per day(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11880954/).  So, 40 million tons would cost us the equivalent of 1.8 to 9 days of Iraq war funding to buy the coal outright and keep it in the ground depending on the quality of the coal. 

From the above figures we should subtract the cost of environmental degradation due to at least two factors.  First, watershed impacts resulting from the mining itself which will impact Montana/US water quality/fisheries, and second, air pollution impacts from burning the coal in highly polluting Chinese smelters.  Mercury from China is already acummulating in our oceans, snowpack, rivers, lakes, and resevoirs as you read this and their CO2 emissions are growing rapidly, largely due to the burning of coal. 

There’s an old saying-’this is because that is’.

By Peter on 05-27-07

I think your information is incorrect.  The world price of metalurgical coal is > US$90 / tonne.  The prices quoted above likely apply to thermal coal used for electricity generation.

Cost of coal production in the area is CDN $42/tonne, trasportation CDN$35/tonne. Those costs includes 2200 direct jobs in the area, triple that with service companies and spinoffs. Average income is about CDN$90k/yr.
http://www.fording.ca/data/2/rec_docs/2834_060921FactSheet.pdf In comparison, tourism generates a few hundred jobs in the area, most at-or-near minimum wage.

Consider what fuels the demand for steel and coking coal:  A typical windmill is constructed of 270 tonnes of steel.  That requires about 170 tonnes of hard-coking coal.  Similar ratios apply to the steel in a hybrid car, or light-rapid transit, or high-rise apartment building.  The demand for a higher standard of living in China, which will fuel better human-rights and environmental standards, are driving demand for steel in that country. 

I have a problem with the ‘antis’ who are so busy being against everything, there’s needs to be more thought and energy into how to make the world better.  Education and health care and environmental improvment are made possible through the wealth of nations.

I’m not sure of the relavence of the war in Iraq.  Canada is not a participant of that war.  Please consider what Canada spends it’s GDP on, it’s not war!

Met Coal from the SE BC coal fields typically ships to Japan and Korea.  There may be some small amounts to China.  China has it’s own sizable met-coal mining projects with deplorable safety records. 

Canada in general, and BC in particular have strict environmental standards and requirements relating to mining and forestry.  The premise that Canada would allow more polution into a US-destined watershed than their own is preposterous.  There are 5 operating mines, more than 10 times the size of the proposed Cline project in the Elk River watershed.

The water quality and fishery in the Elk River is world-class.  G-bear population and trend in the Flathead is positive, mortality is low.  95% of the province of BC is public land, over 16% of the East Kootenay is already protected.  There are over 2200 Elk in the Elk valley, several hundred resident in the no-shooting zones around the mines.  Bighorn sheep and bears abound.  Why do we need another park?

By Farnam on 05-27-08

Thanks Peter for writing down what I had in my head. Well done and well explained. If the world was in the hand of “antis”, we would still travel with horses…

Your Comment