Talk:Wishbone Hill Coal Mine

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"On July 6, 2011, a state agency withdrew a decision to renew a permit to develop the coal mine near Chickaloon after finding that it needed to respond to comment from Alaska Natives, who have spent more than $1 million restoring salmon streams damaged by decades of coal mining. The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council is among several groups opposed to a resumption of coal mining operations north of Palmer near streams and creeks that feed the Matanuska River. The council appealed a renewal permit granted by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources allowing Ranger Alaska, LLC of Golden, Colo., to operate a surface strip and underground coal mine. Geoffrey Stauffer, the lawyer representing the Chickaloon tribe, said that DNR failed to adequately respond to public comments about the mine and that the state should have required Ranger Alaska to apply for a new permit, which would have required a new look at the project, including all the work the tribe has done to restore salmon streams damaged by past mining, he said."

The citation given for the Forbes article is in reference to the Jonesville lease area, which borders Wishbone Hill, but does not refer to the Wishbone Hill lease area which Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. (UCM) is seeking to permit for coal mining. There is also a third lease, the Chickaloon lease area, leased by the Alaskan Mental Health Trust. These three leases need to be clearly defined as separate entities. UCM, as of Sept. 3, 2011, is seeking two final permits to begin mining as early as spring 2012. The mining permit is through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The air quality permit is through the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.