Alberta promises close watch on new mines but cuts oversight of coal-polluted rivers by Bob Weber, The Canadian Press Posted Feb 1, 2021 4:00 am EDT Last Updated Feb 1, 2021 at 4:14 am EDT EDMONTON — Alberta government documents show repeated cuts to environmental monitoring despite contaminants in some waterways that exceed thresholds that are supposed to trigger increased scrutiny. The province’s 2019 five-year monitoring plan shows stations on two rivers and a creek polluted with selenium from coal mines were mothballed. That was despite more than two decades of readings that Alberta Environment guidelines suggest should have led to closer attention. The only station still operating is on the McLeod River about 200 kilometres downstream of the old Cheviot mine.