Health is our greatest gift

To the editor:

Most would agree good health is our greatest gift. But, for those living in the shadows of three potential industrial-scale coal mines, health seems anything but important to their elected officials.

Most individuals attending last Tuesday’s Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting supported a resolution seeking a comprehensive health impact assessment for 20,000 acres of local land that Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority has leased to multi-national coal companies for development. But, the assembly dismissed their constituents health concerns in a 4-2 vote. The health assessment would have had no monetary cost to the borough, so I surmise most of the assembly is not working for their constituents and derelict in their duties of protecting the taxpayers from future health related litigation. What health issues will residents confront with neighboring coal mines disrupting the Mat-Su Valley’s watersheds that also provide hunting, fishing and recreation? Obviously, good health and the general wellbeing of the area and its residents pale in the face of reckless development driven by blindfolded greed.

Lorraine Krueger

Eagle River