Since we started issuing Development and Reclamation Approvals for coal mines in 1974 we have issued Reclamation Certificates to Forestburg Collieries Limited at the Diplomat Mine, TransAlta Utilities Corporation on their Whitewood Mine, Cardinal River Coals Ltd. and Coleman Collieries Limited. I would emphasize that our standards for reclamation are not retroactive therefore any one mine might have several areas that would possibly be reclaimed to three different levels depending upon when the disturbance occurred or when the approval was issued. In the issuing of the certificates, because the requirement to obtain a Development and Reclamation Approval did not come into effect until 1974, our decision was based on the criteria in place at the time the disturbance occurred being pre-1963, 1963 to 1973, 1973 to 1976 and 76 to present. Pre-1963 there was no legislation in place, therefore certification was not required for lands abandoned prior to 1963. From 1963 to 1973 basic land levelling and removal of hazards was all that was required. Between 1973 and 1976 more emphasis was on land levelling, erosion control and leaving the land in a condition that would support growth.
I would also like to mention that we are quite pleased with the success rates of reclarnation on non-regulated operations such as wellsites, access roads and small pipelines. Since no Development and Reclamation Approval is required, the minimum Reclamation Requirements for Public and Private lands in Alberta are the criteria used and we found that use of these standards has helped to overcome many of the initial concerns we had regarding reclamation matters.