The company said AER was expected to render its decision on Vista within the next 90 days.

It formally requested last week that the AER cancel a scheduled January 13 hearing following its deal with the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, the sole remaining First Nation party that had been granted intervener status by the agency.

However, the AER opted to proceed with the hearing in order to allow an individual not previously granted full participant status to make a 30-minute presentation and to provide the hearing panel and staff opportunity to ask questions.

The gathering in Hinton, Alberta, lasted about five hours.

“The chair of the AER panel committed to making a timely decision and acknowledged the importance thereof to the company,” the company said.

“In anticipation of the AER's decision, Coalspur continues to work with the various regulatory agencies relating to its applications for final environmental, water, land use and development approvals and permits for the Vista project.”

The flagship Vista project covers approximately 10,000 hectares and provides a large-scale surface mineable thermal coal development.

Vista is located adjacent to CN Rail's main line, where it will be taken to west coast deepwater ports.

Coalspur secured a port allocation agreement with Ridley Terminals for the export of coal from Vista, which will send tonnage to Asia Pacific countries for use.