Usibelli should look elsewhere

In her recent Spectrum piece in the Frontiersman, Kay Slack, representing the Mat-Su Business Alliance, made some outlandish claims that should be an embarrassment to members of the MSBA. The so-called “facts” that Slack presents cannot go unanswered.

Jobs: Slack claims that “75 to 125 high-paying, year-round jobs will be created.” But then she says that Usibelli (currently) has “125 employees.” Assuming that one-third of those are engineers and office workers who would continue to provide services, that means that this mine will be considerably larger than their Healy operation, which is not what Usibelli is saying, though frankly, Usibelli cannot be trusted because what they say seems to change a lot. When Usibelli met with residents in the past, they said that there would be anywhere from approximately 25 to 200 jobs: The high number was to satisfy the pro-coal crowd, and the low number to reassure neighbors that the mine would be small. Note: Construction and remodeling jobs in our neighborhood will also be lost because no one will want to build next to a coal mine or put money into a house that is losing value.

Health effects: Slack says, “Coal extraction does not release toxic chemicals.”

According to OSHA’s website, “Coal dust causes pneumoconiosis, bronchitis and emphysema in exposed workers. … Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) is characterized by lesions consisting of a mass of rubbery well-defined black tissue that is often adherent to the chest wall. This is associated with decrements in ventilatory capacity, low-diffusing capacity, abnormalities of gas exchange, low arterial oxygen tension, pulmonary hypertension, and premature death.”

Several of our neighbors here in the Wishbone area have family who have died or are seriously ill from the effects of coal mining. It is an insult to these people to suggest that coal mining is not toxic.

Remediation: With a 30-plus-year mine life, it will be more than 50 years before we see the wood browse species for moose and a trail system to enhance recreational opportunities. This is assuming Usibelli doesn’t declare bankruptcy and walk away, which is standard operating procedure for mining companies.

Math wizard?: Slack says that UCM has been monitoring revegetation test plots for 22 years, but then she says the mine has been permitted since 1991. That’s only 19 years, and according to the Usibelli Website, Usibelli only purchased the Wishbone lease in 1997.

State support: Slack claims, “State regulatory agencies support the efforts of Usibelli.” Since when does a regulatory agency “support” an industry? Regulatory agencies are in place to police industries to keep them from poisoning us and our environment. On the other hand, the state has long supported the settlement of the Buffalo Mine Road area. The state has paved and maintained the road, and the state has provided grants to bring electric power to the area. Since these two state-sponsored improvements, the population of the area has increased at least four-fold.

Tax revenue: Slack suggests the borough will make money off this mine, but what about the loss of value to properties next to the mine and adjacent to the route those trucks will travel? And who will pay for the damage to the roads caused by the trucks? More importantly, does everything come down to money? What about quality of life? Frankly, we can judge from the experience of other communities with large, polluting industrial sites in the Lower 48. Residents of these areas all pay more taxes there than we pay here because more infrastructure is needed to support industrial activities.

Coal destined for Pacific Rim countries: The mercury and other pollutants will drift on the prevailing winds and come back to Alaska. Burning coal is bad for fish. In addition to mercury, rising atmospheric CO2 levels are increasing the acidity of our oceans.

A recent Scientific American article reports, “New research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks suggests Arctic oceans are particularly susceptible to acidification with potentially dire consequences to Alaska’s rich crab and salmon fisheries.” Far more jobs in Alaska are in the fishing and tourism industries than in coal mining.

Social license: Usibelli sponsors numerous charities such as Little League teams. This is typical. Large corporations routinely attempt to bribe communities into giving them unfettered access.

We hear constantly that Usibelli is a “responsible” company or “good” for the community, yet these people want to place a mine within half-mile of where people live. Placing a mine adjacent to where people live is inappropriate. When this mine was permitted — over two decades ago — few people lived in this area. Usibelli had their chance, and they cannot turn back the clock; people live here now. Usibelli should look for their coal elsewhere.

Pete Praetorius is a resident of the Buffalo Mine Road community.