Coal mining bad for the Valley

To the editor,

Valley residents need to know about the Alaska Mental Health Trust’s proposed lease of land to Usibelli Corp. for an access road for coal mining at Wishbone Hill. We should oppose this as a matter of public health and quality of life for all of us. The responsibilities of the Mental Health Trust must go beyond the immediate “bottom line.” Once the coal is being mined, the effects on the health of the public will include blown coal dust (a health hazard), heavy truck traffic (a safety risk and a source of stress), and blasting and mining noise (a constant source of stress) -- and the effects on climate change when the coal is burned. All of this indirectly creates mental health risks as well, ironically enough. We have only a few days left to have our voice heard on this. Public comments can be submitted via email to mhtlo@alaska.gov by 4:30pm on Jan 19.

Phil Somervell

Palmer