‘Facts’ are ‘facts,’ but what’s the truth?

Recently, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman presented the laudable request for civil discussion of the topic of coal mining in the Mat-Su Valley. Certainly, a laudable goal, but I believe unattainable.

Why can’t we have civil discourse? The Frontiersman posed that all we needed was to agree on some facts. Facts! Sometimes, facts get in the way, or in this case the lack of facts, in the search for the truth.

There are only three facts we the people are allowed to know at this juncture about the proposal to resume coal mining in the Valley (Although Usibelli and certain government folks certainly know more of the “facts”) everything else is conjecture.

The first fact — Usibelli Coal Mine Inc., an Alaska corporation, (1760D) has leased properties in the Valley.

The second fact — Usibelli has applied for permits to mine two of those properties at Wishbone Hill, which according to United States Geological Survey contain 14 million tons of recoverable coal.

And third — coal mining has an irrefutable worldwide history.

We could try to wheedle more facts out of Usibelli but we know they have trade secrets and confidential arrangements. Despite all the malarkey about family owned (most, if not all, of the stock is owned by family) it is still a corporation, bound by law to do what ever is necessary to maximize profits for shareholders. That is why they have “spokespeople.” Doesn’t every “Mom and Pop” have “spokespeople?”

My involvement in this coal issue began with a brochure I picked up at a meeting Usibelli had in town. I went to question Usibelli because of what appeared to be misleading statements. Usibelli has told us all, now, that what is in that handout are the facts. Again, they aren’t “facts,” they are a pleasing story of how Usibelli is good for us. One possible future, which I don’t think is true. I for one could not accept this brochure as “fact” to start a discussion.

So we go to government. The borough has its ISER document. This is presented as science that is factual, but it is far from it. In fact, it is pretty much make believe.

For instance, on the traffic issues, “Authors of the traffic analysis are unknown.” I would hope so the numbers are so wacky! Or on land values, “Two realtors were contacted to inquire regarding their opinion” very scientific. Or on revenues, “not all of the wharfage fees go to the borough” or perhaps, none?

One could go on rebuking each of the points the document presents but the point is there aren’t any facts here either. And there are no facts in the mayor’s resolution either. It presents one possible future, which I don’t think is true, and it contains a lack of facts for our discussion.

Then we go to the third set of facts, the history of coal mining and its historic impacts on communities. Here the “other side” comes up with the all Alaska argument, “It is different in Alaska!” This has never been shown to be true but it does mean what “facts” might be available for discussion have already been dismissed.

There is the jobs issue, a very emotional issue, too. But “facts?” I would interpret the few numbers available that Usibelli will pull out of Healy and move to Sutton and that doesn’t mean any more or less jobs in the state. Again all conjecture. Where are the “facts?”

We are presented with a great many numbers perhaps instead of “facts” maybe we can agree on numbers? That might be a place to begin. The problem there is vetting the numbers; that is a truth issue.

Say Usibelli called up our discussion moderator and said, “If we actually and really do decide to mine Wishbone we promise we will mine only 500,000 tons a year.”

We could have a discussion then because we would know there would only be a coal truck every two minutes running through town, we could presume they will be mining for about 30 years, we could extrapolate that only 30 people would be hired. All kinds of stuff can be determined by the affirmation of a couple numbers. Facts? No, but a place to begin and discuss.

Of course, hard, deep, investigatory journalism to find the “facts” would be helpful.

But without a place to begin, without those “facts” and a third party to assure the “facts” are facts, how can we have a discussion — a meaningful discussion? I don’t know. I know the problem, but not the solution. I would support the Frontiersman in this venture with our neighbors for our community.

Without facts we fall into “beliefs” and feelings and finally, personalities, and become limited to the raging argument on worldview rather than careful consideration of the “facts” to find the truth. The truth being the real goal, isn’t it?

Gregory Gusse is a Palmer businessman.