Consider their votes when you vote

To the editor:

On Sept.18 there was a Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting. Assemblyman Warren Keogh introduced Resolution 12-108, which would have required a Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment (CHIA) for three proposed coal mines in the Valley on 20,000 acres, about 31 square miles.

Assemblyman Keogh’s family could be heavily impacted along with hundreds of other Valley residents from the proposed mining projects. A CHIA study is one of the best ways to find out what possible health and safety impacts large-scale industrial strip mining may have on communities.

There were 22 people who spoke in favor of the resolution, three against. Assemblyman Keogh received 78 emails supporting the resolution and nine opposed.

An elderly man in his 80s who spoke against the resolution said he had worked in the Jonesville mine, his sons work at Usibelli, and he never knew of anyone who had died from black lung and seemed skeptical that coal dust even causes black lung.

I’m glad this man has had the opportunity to watch his sons grow and become men. If he has grandchildren, it’s a comfort to know he has had the opportunity to cherish them and watch them grow.

My father-in-law was a miner. He died from black lung. He didn’t get to see his sons grow or play with all of his grandchildren.

Lung disease from coal dust and mining was first diagnosed in 1822. It was called miner’s asthma. It wasn’t until 1831 that medical professionals would discover the blackening of miners’ lungs and changed the name of the disease to black lung.

The people who spoke at the meeting were asking for this study for the health and safety of everyone in the valley. Their concerns were ignored and disrespected.

This disrespect couldn’t have become more obvious than when Mayor DeVilbiss started coughing and said, “I’m choking on coal dust here.”

I hope you never have to watch a family member gasp for air, DeVilbiss. Your comment was heartless and appalling.

Dismissing public testimony, assemblymen Noel Woods, Ron Arvin, Steve Colligan and Darcie Salmon voted to postpone Resolution 12-108 indefinitely. Koegh and Jim Colver voted opposed. The resolution failed 4-2. Vern Halter was absent.

Woods, Arvin, Colligan, Salmon and DeVilbiss have made it clear to the public that its health and safety is not worth asking for a Comprehensive Health Impact Assessment.

It’s important to remember Arvin and DeVilbiss are running for re-election. Arvin is running against Michelle Church, and DeVilbiss is running against Mark Masteller.

Residents of the Valley deserve better representation than what they are getting.

Bonnie Zirkle

Palmer