Pollution Impacts

Coal is inherently dirty. To export the coal to Asia,  it will be crushed at the strip mine site in giant, uncovered piles, then transfered via a conveyor system to  Ladd Landing  where it will travel 2 miles on a trestle to an artificial, man-made island.  The crushing and trasport of the coal will create tons of air pollution. The area is often raked by high winds pouring down Tunagain Arm. Coal dust, spread by the notorious Turnagain Arm winds will impact every aspect of the natural environment, blackening winter snows and contaminating the vast wetlands of the Chuinta River watershed.

Air Pollution

According to estimates by the State of Alaska, 67.2 tons of coal dust will be released at the mine site each year. At Ladd Landing 240 tons per year. Using the state’s estimates, one should wonder what effect 54.8 pounds of coal dust per hour released from the Ladd Landing loading facility, which lies up wind of Tyonek and Beluga, will do to area residents.  Further more who will cleanup Three Mile Beach, the wetlands, and waterways? Learn more about air pollution from coal the proposed Chuinta coal strip mine.

Water Pollution

Pac Rim Coal’s mine plans call for the de-watering of the mine pit. The the proposed strip mine will dump an average of 7 million gallons a day of mine waste and runoff  in to the Chuitna River, polluting Cook Inlet with over 2.5 Billion gallons of mine waste each year. The massive tides of Cook Inlet will push and pull the contaminated waters in every direction. Migrating salmon fry, Beluga whales, ducks and geese and other species that may not have entered the Chuitna River will still travel through polluted waters at the mouth of Chuit River on their way to the mouth of the Susitna River and other darinages on the west side of Cook Inlet.

Pollution from coal dust is not limited to contamination of the air. Over 300 tons of coal dust will be released annually.  Coal dust will settle on the waters of the Chuitna watershed, Three Mile Lakes and Tyonek streams, contaminating those that are not directly destroyed by the strip mine. will be impacted.

Noise Pollution

Strip mining is a noisy business. Blasting, crushing, large machines, helicopters and a 14 mile coal transfer system to move coal from the mine site to an artificial island 2 miles offshore in to Cook Inlet. Salmon and whale migration is greatly impacted by vibration.  PacRims run the strip mine year round. The transport corridor and heavy equipment will have similar impacts on wildlife from Ladd Landing to the Mine site. What cash value can be place on peace and quiet?

If permitted the land and water use patterns will be replaced by the second largest energy port in Alaska. PacRim has no does not own the land, they are leasing it from the State of Alaska, when the coal runs out or the coal market falls apart, will the proposed restoration plan even work? Probably not