Kananaskis Country on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is popular with cross-country skiers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. (Lauren Krugel/Canadian Press)

Alberta regulators have approved 11 sour gas wells on the eastern slopes of the Rockies despite strong opposition from landowners, ranchers, and environmentalists.

Petro-Canada's Sullivan Creek project received conditional permission from the Energy Resources Conservation Board on Tuesday to drill the wells and build a battery and two pipelines in the area.

The 40-kilometre pipeline would run from the Longview area to Coleman through largely untouched wilderness in Kananaskis Country, southwest of Calgary. The area is popular with cross-country skiers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The ERCB included 15 conditions in its 161-page decision, including:

• Tightening emergency planning procedures.
• Introducing enhanced environmental protection measures.
• Increasing noise and groundwater monitoring.

The ERCB held three months of public hearings after years of regulatory developments.

People who live in the area have fought the project since 2008, arguing that the project would hurt the area's ecosystem and endanger their lives if a well blew out.

The ERCB said it also made recommendations to Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development about water crossings and wildlife protection.