Chuitna Basics

Location of the proposed Chuitna coal stripmine.

Here are the basic facts about the Chuitna coal strip mine.

Introduction:
PacRim Coal, a Delaware corporation funded by Texas investors, is working to develop Alaska’s largest coal strip mine 45 miles west of Anchorage. If fully developed, this project will:

• If fully developed PacRim’s plan will strip over 32 square miles of the Chuitna Watershed, extracting over 1 billion tons of sub bituminous coal for export to Asian countries.
• The first phase will extract over 300 million metric tons of coal and destroy 15 square miles of the Chuitna watershed, prime Alaskan fish and game habitat.
• The proposed strip mine will remove 11 miles of Middle Creek, a major tributary of the Chuitna and a stream identi- fied by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as “significant to salmon,” setting a dangerous precedent.
• Location of the proposed Chuitna coal strip mine.
• Lock-in the infrastructure and markets to make Alaska’s vast coal reserves available to Asian utilities and indus- tries.
• Become the first project in the State of Alaska’s history to mine completely through 11 miles of salmon-bearing streams.• Produce over 53 billion pounds of CO2 from Chuitna coal combustion annually.
• Add additional mercury from Asian combustion to Alaska’s valuable fisheries

Permitting Progress:
Various permit applications have been filed and a proposed project plan is anticipated in May 2010.