For Immediate Release

Usibelli Mine Company Challenged for Mining Illegally

Groups seek to protect Mat-Su families from dangerous coal mine

Palmer, AK – As the summer work season approaches, local groups have taken action to hold Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc.  responsible for mining without a valid permit at Wishbone Hill. The Wishbone Hill project would be Alaska’s first coal strip mine to operate in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  Communities throughout the Mat-Su are concerned about public safety, noise and light pollution, toxic coal dust, and impacts to property values. Today’s lawsuit follows unsuccessful attempts by the groups to compel state and federal agencies to enforce the prohibition against unpermitted mining.

“The fact that is has taken so long for the agencies to address our concerns lead us to believe that the complaint has merit,” said Kirby Spangler, President of the Castle Mountain Coalition.   “Thousands of residents have voiced valid concerns and we don’t want to continue waiting on regulators as another construction season approaches.”

According to state and federal law, mining permits expire automatically if the permit holder fails to begin mining within three years, or fails to secure an extension of that deadline. A company first acquired permits for mining at Wishbone Hill in 1991. Those permits expired in 1996 when the company had not begun mining and had not secured an extension. But since June 2010, Usibelli has started operating at Wishbone Hill: constructing the haul road, clearing vegetation and logging, and beginning to stockpile topsoil.  In the more than 20 years that have passed since the permits were first issued, the region surrounding the mine has changed drastically, becoming a residential community.  In fact, the access road joins the Glenn Highway directly across from a local elementary school.

“My family has firsthand experience dealing with the coal industry,” said Bonnie Zirkle, local resident, hunting guide and business owner.  “This coal project is already impacting the property values in our community. Coal is dirty and dangerous to the water, air and health of our community.”

“If Usibelli Coal Company wishes to be a responsible company and good neighbor they must follow the rules, including the most basic- obtaining a valid permit to operate,” Said Jeremiah Millen, Executive Director of Friends of Mat-Su.   “We believe the scale and location of what is being proposed at Wishbone Hill will result in negative impacts to local residents, property values, fish and wild life habitat and overall quality of life throughout the valley.  We look forward to working with the agencies and the company when and if they obtain valid permit.”

###

Recent Media Coverage:

http://www.adn.com/2012/05/02/2449217/groups-file-suit-to-halt-usibelli.html

http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/18436057/article-Groups-seek-halt-to-coal-mining-near-Sutton-?instance=home_news_window_left_bullets

http://www.frontiersman.com/news/lawsuit-seeks-to-halt-wishbone-hill-mining-operations/article_80a9f86e-94a6-11e1-b90b-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/28cb67281932448ab69cf22a2c19626b/AK–Coal-Mine-Lawsuit/

http://www.postcrescent.com/usatoday/article/39197645?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/usatoday/article/39197645?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cs

To join this free call and receive the dial-up instructions, please RSVP to Alaska Community Action on Toxics at heather@akaction.org or (907) 222-7714.

Mat-Su Residents Ask Usibelli to Stop Operating Until the Company Obtains a Permit that Protects the Valley and Its Residents

Palmer,  Alaska.  In an effort to protect their families, their property, and the community, residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley sent a letter to Usibelli Coal Mining Company today asking them to stop operations at the Wishbone Hill site because the company does not have a coal mining permit.

“The development of the proposed Wishbone Hill coal mine will have lasting negative impacts on property values, air and water quality, wildlife, recreational access, public safety, and future economic opportunities for Mat-Su residents.  A residential neighborhood is simply no place for a coal mine, ” said Jeremiah Millen of Friends of Mat-Su, a local planning organization representing residents across the Mat-Su Borough and a signatory of the letter.

According to the law, Usibelli does not have the necessary permit to mine at Wishbone Hill.  However, since the summer of 2010, Usibelli has been engaged in illegal mining activity at Wishbone Hill. Residents hope the company will immediately stop all mining operations until it obtains a permit that ensures that the Valley and the community are protected.  If Usibelli refuses to do so within the next sixty days, residents intend to go to court to protect themselves and the Mat-Su Valley.

“Usibelli Coal Company is not a good neighbor,” said Kirby Spangler, president of the Castle Mountain Coalition.  “How can I trust a company that is mining without a permit? How can we be sure that they are protecting our water, wildlife, and community if they aren’t following the law?”

Many federal and state agencies have begun to question the accuracy of Usibelli’s permit applications.  The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation required Usibelli to resubmit their Air Quality Permit Application twice because of inaccurate information. In addition, the Federal Office of Surface Mining recently got more involved with the project.

This action comes of the heals of the Alaska Mental Health Trust selling about 11 square miles of land in Chickaloon to a massive Australian Mining company.

To view a copy of the letter to DNR click here

Help us send a message  to Usibelli that coal mining in the Mat Su Valley will harm residents, lower property values, and destroy our way of life.

The Wishbone Hill coal strip mine in the Matanuska Valley has become increasingly controversial as Usibelli Coal Company takes steps to fully develop the mine in the middle of a residential community. On Tuesday, hundreds of citizens attended a public hearing hosted by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about Usibelli’s mining plan and permit renewal application to raise concerns about property values, coal dust issues, recreational access concerns and community impacts.

“Over the past year we have heard from thousands of Mat-Su residents who oppose the development of the Wishbone Hill strip coal mine and the negative impacts it will have on property values, air and water quality, wildlife, recreational access, and public safety. A residential neighborhood is simply no place for a coal mine and there are 128 residences within one mile of this project. The Governor and state agencies should take action and provide the leadership needed to protect our communities,” said Jeremiah Millen , Executive Director of Friends of Mat-Su, a local planning organization representing residents across the Mat-Su Borough.

The permit renewal application that Usibelli submitted contains out-of-date and inaccurate information, similar to their air quality permit application that the Department of Environmental

Conservation has asked them to resubmit twice. “As community members, we have a responsibility to speak up to protect our neighborhoods and quality of life,” said Kirby Spangler, local resident and president of Castle Mountain Coalition. “In this case, we’re looking at a mine plan that was designed in the late 1980’s. It does nothing to account for the changes in the community or protect all that we value about living here. ”

Members of the public raised major concerns about how Usibelli would keep the community safe with blasting at the mine site, increased traffic in residential areas, and air pollution related to coal mining. “If DNR approves this permit, they will approve a Valley-wide air quality problem and a serious health hazard. Health effects linked to breathing coal dust include increased asthma in children, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and cancer,” said Heidi Zimmer, Environmental Health Coordinator at Alaska Community Action on Toxics. “If DNR approves this permit, what will happen to our children? What will happen to our YaNeDahAh School?

If we do NOT have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, healthy salmon and moose to eat, how will we perpetuate our culture and traditional practices? How much longer do we have to endure the “Historical” traumas done to our peoples?” said Penny Westing, secretary on the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council.

The DNR has 60 days following the public meeting to make its decision on whether to approve

Usibelli’s permit renewal request.

Please consider contacting the Mat-Valley coalition to learn how you can be involved.

The Wishbone Hill Public Hearing is scheduled for November 15th at 6pm at the Sutton Elementary School.

This is the last chance to voice your concerns about the proposed Wishbone Hill Strip Mine!  Please join us to send a  strong message to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.  

What:   Wishbone Hill Mine Public Hearing – Last Chance to Speak Up!

When:   Tuesday, November 15th at 6pm

Where:  Sutton Elementary School (turn left on Chickaloon Rd. at Mile 62 Glenn HWY.)

How You Can Help:

1. Mark November 15th on your calendar and plan to attend the Wishbone Hill Public Hearing!

2. Get at least 3 of your neighbors, friends, or family to attend with you.

3. Volunteer with the Mat-Valley Coalition to phone bank. Contact the Mat Valley Coalition partners via email at outreach@foms.net

4. If you haven’t submitted comments on the mining permit for Wishbone, please click here.  You can always submit additional comments!

What The Mat Valley Coalition Has For You:

T-shirts and signs to make sure our message is loud and clear: Mat-Su  Residents and our quality of life can’t afford  the Wishbone Hill Coal Strip mine!

Get ready to make some noise! This is our chance to show Usibelli and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the opposition to this project is loud and strong and we will stand up to protect our way of life.

We hope to see you there and thank you for your support!

Protecting Property, Culture, Health and of the Future of the Mat-Su Valley-Tuesday, October 11 at 6pm at the Palmer Train Depot

Please join Friends of Mat-Su and other members of the Mat Valley Coalition for this free fun-filled event to learn about proposed coal mines in the Valley and how you can make a difference.

The event will feature a shortened version of the award-winning documentary Coal Country by Mari-Lynn Evans and presentations from Mat Valley Coalition members.   Food and refreshments will be served.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 11th from 6pm to 9pm at the Palmer Train Depot.

See you there,

Friends of Mat-Su