Chuitna mining will hurt salmon

To the editor,

As an Alaskan, I’ve seen firsthand that salmon are one of Alaska’s main resources. Our state’s economic future depends on how we manage our state resources. PacRim wants to coal mine 13.5 miles straight up the Chuitna River, draining 20 square miles of all 5 species of Salmon spawning waters and destroying the Salmon habitat. Mining for coal will pollute the Chuitna with chemical drain off, exposing any new fish that eventually make it back to that area post mining. Destroying one natural resource to gain access to another is not the proper way to manage Alaskan resources. Salmon and coal cannot coexist; you either have coal or you have fish you can’t have both as Deantha Crockett with Alaska Miners Association suggests you can. If this mine goes in it would strip away 13.5 miles of middle creek from bank to streambed completely obliterating the water flow and there is no proof that it could ever be restored to what it is now.

The state of Alaska needs to stay consistent with its history of not allowing any salmon spawning streams to be disturbed.

Christian McHenry

Palmer