Doctors, nurses ask state for full review of mine impacts

SUTTON — About 70 health care professionals including doctors, nurses and other medical professionals sent a signed request to the state of Alaska June 13 asking for a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment of the proposed Wishbone Hill coal mine.

“As medical professionals, we have serious concerns about the potential negative effects of this coal mine on public health in our community,” their letter reads in part. “Numerous peer-reviewed studies in medical journals show that the noise, diesel fumes and coal dust generated by coal mining and transportation are associated with a large range of serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, lung disease, cancer, stroke, heart attacks, exacerbated asthma, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance and mental health disorders.”

The signers request that the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services complete a detailed Health Impact Assessment. The agency recently completed a draft rapid assessment, which identifies a number of possible health risks from water contamination, air pollution, noise pollution, social determinants of health and traffic accidents.

But this assessment also identifies numerous large data gaps that show the rapid assessment was unable to adequately quantify the health risks of this coal mine with the existing data, according to the health care professionals’ letter.

The letter was sent to the state the day after a measure requesting the same in-depth impact assessment was voted down 4 to 3 by the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. The Mat-Su Borough Health and Social Services Board recommended the in-depth impact assessment by an 8-1 vote May 2.

“Without a thorough examination of these health risks, the HIA program does not have enough information to recommend mitigation strategies or changes to the mine plan that would effectively protect public health,” the letter’s signers say.

“We understand that the risks to human health from coal mining and transportation are significant, and the most vulnerable populations — children, infants, the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions, indigenous communities and the economically disadvantaged — will be disproportionately affected. As health care providers, we do not want to see our community bear the burden of the increased mortality and morbidity, as well as the increased health care costs associated with living near or along the transportation route of such a large strip mine. These burdens should be fully assessed and considered by the regulatory agencies throughout the permitting process.”

The letter requests that the state conduct similar comprehensive Health Impact Assessments for other coal mining projects in Alaska.

“Comprehensive HIAs would include measures fully protective of human health that should be incorporated into the mining plan before any final permits are issued,” the letter says.

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.