Proposed Chuitna mine would imperil Cook Inlet salmon stocks

To the editor:

PacRim Coal, a Delaware corporation funded by Texan investors, is pushing to develop Alaska’s largest coal strip mine 45 miles west of Anchorage, less than 20 miles south of the Susitna River mouth near the communities of Tyonek and Beluga. PacRim Coal has already submitted numerous permit application documents to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The proposed mine would be located in hydric soil, drilling 350 feet to soft bituminous coal of such poor quality that it could not be used or sold in the U.S, so it would be shipped to China. From there, atmospheric mercury from the burning of this coal would return windblown to Alaska lakes and streams, further contaminating the aquatic food chain.

The proposed mine would destroy a section of Middle Creek, a salmon stream and tributary of the salmon-rich Chuitna River. Toxic waste — 7 million gallons of water per day laden with zinc, iron and aluminum would flow into the Chuitna River, and from there into Cook Inlet — would total more than 2.5 billion gallons per year, as far into the future as can be predicted. That would affect five species of Alaska salmon attempting to migrate north from upper Cook Inlet into the Susitna River, and from there to all the familiar fishing streams (Sheep Creek, Montana Creek, Goose Creek) all the way up the Parks Highway. Likewise, this would imperil any young salmon attempting to return to Cook Inlet and the Pacific Ocean and set a precedent for ruin of other pristine Alaska streams with mining waste!

Public comment and the state’s consideration of such comment is required by law before approval for mining projects of this environmental scope. In spite of this, however, in July, officials representing the state traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to make a presentation on resource development in Alaska. These representatives referred to the proposed Chuitna coal strip mine with the clear and obvious implication that the project has a predetermined outcome and that production — regardless of public input, the rule of law or scientific data — will invariably commence.

Alaska needs legislation now banning mining in a salmon stream! DNR is accepting comments until 5 p.m. Oct. 13 on renewal of the mine exploration permit. Please send comments about the proposed coal strip mine to Russell Kirkham, DNR manager for coal regulatory permits, at russell.kirkham@alaska.gov so it will become part of the public record.

Please consider also sending comments to the Fish and Game commissioner, AK Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK, call 465-4100 or e-mail. dfg.commissioner@alaska.gov. You can also contact Gov. Sean Parnell at 465-3500 to oppose this proposed mine and its disastrous effects.

There is also a free service offered by the Legislative Information Office in Anchorage. Residents may place free calls to any legislator. Call 269-0111 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., an operator will take comments and send messages directly to Parnell and the Fish and Game commissioner, as well as DNR’s coal regulatory program manager, Russell Kirkham.

Additional background material regarding environmental effects of the proposed mine may be found at chuitna.org.

Valanne Glooschenko

Willow