State renews Jonesville coal permit

SUTTON — The state’s renewal of an outside mining company’s Jonesville coal mining permit earlier this month was so quiet, it wasn’t even mentioned at the latest Sutton Community Council meeting.

Then again, only half of the eight-person council was present at the May 25 meeting at Sutton Elementary School, where about 25 residents filled metal folding chairs to hear other items on the SCC agenda.

Despite the lack of a quorum, council members Claudia Dolfi, Jan Mulder, Gene Agnew and Jim McPherson discussed revenue sharing projects, a potential pedestrian/bike trail and a new child care center opening in town.

The council had previously voted 4 to 3 to issue a statement of support for coal mining in the area, causing an uproar in the small community between Miles 57 and 65 of the Glenn Highway.

The Frontiersman was alerted to the May 18 Jonesville permit renewal for Colorado-based Ranger Alaska by anti-coal activist Bonnie Zirkle, who owns 80 acres within one mile of the Wishbone Hill property off Buffalo Mine Road being explored by the Usibelli Coal Mine Co.

Ranger Alaska is a subsidiary of the Australian mining company Black Range Minerals.

Zirkle said last week she wasn’t particularly surprised the Jonesville permit didn’t come up for discussion at the May 25 SCC meeting.

“It’s probably better for the pro-coal people if the issue gets as little press as possible,” Zirkle said. “They’d rather it quietly proceed in the hopes there’s not much opposition to it until it’s too late to stop it.”

The potential Jonesville coal mine is one of a few in the Sutton area that have sparked an array of heated debates within the past year over whether coal mining in the Matanuska Valley can be conducted again in a way that does not disturb the local ecosystem, air and water quality, and general quality of life north of Palmer.

Coal mining representatives and residents in favor of the mines for the economic boost and local jobs they would generate have argued mining can be done responsibly with little to no impact to the environment and quality of life in the area. Those against the mines argue they would generate cancer-causing toxins, pollute the local water table, disturb salmon and other wildlife habitat, damage nearby homes, generate dangerous truck traffic and decrease property values.

The Colorado-based Ranger Alaska LLC is considering a possible restart of the Jonesville Mine less than two miles from the heart of Sutton as Usibelli Coal Mine finishes up its exploration of its 8,000-acre Wishbone Hill property off Buffalo Mine Road.

Recent news over the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority’s plan to consider leasing land for coal mining in the Chickaloon area also has the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council calling on assistance from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international corporate watchdog organization.

The Chickaloon tribe submitted statements against the Jonesville mine as well, arguing ancestral Athabascans have used the land for hunting and fishing over the generations.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water issued its final decision and findings of compliance May 18 on Ranger Alaska LLC’s mining permit renewal for the next five years for the Jonesville coal mine located less than two miles from the heart of Sutton.

The permit authorizes surface coal mining and reclamation as DNR holds a $251,651 reclamation bond to guarantee Ranger Alaska meets its reclamation obligations. The initial operations under the permit are guaranteed by an initial reclamation bond of $669,360.

The permit states that the initial bond will be reviewed upon receipt of the revised operation and reclamation plan and that “this bond must be submitted and approved by the Division before work can begin under this permit.”

General stipulations of the mandate require the mining company to take all possible steps to minimize any adverse impact to the environment or public health and safety. It also requires a 100-foot buffer zone adjacent to Slipper Lake to be clearly marked, and that the water in the refuse embankment, lake and six monitoring wells be monitored on a regular basis.

The permit also requires Ranger Alaska to submit detailed plans on how it plans to reduce the impacts of light and noise to the surrounding community and other special stipulations regarding reclamation of the area after activity is completed.

DNR received 55 written and oral communications containing 140 comments about Ranger Alaska’s permit application at Jonesville between July 21 and Oct. 12, 2010. About 41 people gave oral testimony or presented questions to Ranger Alaska during a public meeting Jan. 24 at Sutton Elementary School, according to DNR’s report on how it responded to public concerns.

The department received 13 comments supporting renewal of the Jonesville mine permit.

Fears that the renewal permit would automatically lead to the mine’s operation are unfounded, DNR said, because Ranger Alaska has not submitted a plan for resuming exploration of the 14,500-acre lease area.

“Should Ranger wish to renew the Exploration Permit, they will need to submit and receive approval of an exploration permit,” the DRN report states. “This will involve public notice and public comment.”

For more information on the variety of concerns expressed by the public and the DNR’s responses to those concerns, visit dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/coal/2011Jonesvillepermit-renewal.pdf.

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.