Isn’t it DEC’s obligation to protect the health of Alaskans?

To the editor:

I am in disbelief that the state of Alaska and Department of Environmental Conservation granted Usibelli a permit for Wishbone Hill coal mining. It doesn’t matter how much monitoring and reporting is “required,” nothing would be able to fix it when “a problem is discovered,” and there will be problems with people’s health. With the kind of wind that the area is known for, lung disease will take its toll on a large portion of Southcentral Alaska. This year, the Mat-Su Valley has already had 11 air quality advisory days. With toxic dust from a coal mine, every week would have air quality advisory days. Once it is done, it will be too late. You can’t put it back together. Aaron Simpson, air permit writer for DEC stated that it is the state’s “regulatory obligation to issue the air permit.” Isn’t it DEC’s obligation to protect the health of Alaskans? In addition to lung disease, the huge increase it traffic would be a real hazard and expense. There would be huge increases in highway maintenance due to heavy truck traffic. More than two out of three people who commented opposed this permit. There had to be incredible political pressure to get this permit pushed through. A coal mine would jeopardize everyone’s quality of life and health. Apparently the local/state governments have no concern for the people who live here. We need to remember this when the elections come up.

Cathy Teich

Talkeetna